Back to Radar
QU

QuinStreet

High

The QuinStreet breach in late 2015 exposed 4.9 million user records across 28 technology forums.

Records exposed
4,907,802 records
Breach date
Breach Dec 14, 2015
Last update
Updated Dec 17, 2016

What data was exposed?

Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.

Dates of birthEmail addressesIP addressesPasswordsUsernamesWebsite activity

Why does this breach matter?

In-depth analysis of the breach and its implications.

In late 2015, the performance marketing enterprise QuinStreet experienced a security breach compromising 28 of its online platforms, primarily technology-focused forums. Over 4.9 million user records were exposed, including dates of birth, email addresses, IP addresses, usernames, website activity, and passwords protected with salted MD5 hashes. QuinStreet responded by notifying affected users and enforcing password resets.

Impact Analysis

Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.

User Impact
Users faced potential exposure of their personal information, leading to targeted phishing risks.
Business Impact
The organization faced reputational damage and increased scrutiny on its security practices.
Affected Sectors
  • Technology
  • Marketing
Geographic Impact
  • Global

What You Should Do

Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.

If You Were Affected

  • Change any reused passwords that match those used on QuinStreet-affiliated sites.
  • Monitor online accounts for suspicious activity.

Preventive Measures

  • Utilize complex, unique passwords managed with a password manager.
  • Enable multi-factor authentication on accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this breach and what it means for you.

Data including email addresses, dates of birth, usernames, IP addresses, website activity, and MD5-hashed passwords were compromised.