XKCD
MediumThe XKCD forum's phpBB suffered a significant breach in July 2019, exposing usernames, emails, IPs, and weakly hashed passwords of over 561k users.
- Records exposed
- 561,991 records
- Breach date
- Breach Jul 1, 2019
- Last update
- Updated Sep 1, 2019
What data was exposed?
Fields reported as compromised in this breach record.
Why does this breach matter?
In-depth analysis of the breach and its implications.
In July 2019, a data breach occurred on the phpBB forum for the webcomic XKCD, impacting 561,991 subscribers. Various data types were exposed, including usernames, email addresses, IP addresses, and passwords stored using the MD5 phpBB3 hashing algorithm. The breach was disclosed through the efforts of a security researcher promoting awareness.
Impact Analysis
Understanding the scope and consequences of this breach.
- User Impact
- Exposed users may face increased phishing attempts or account compromise risks.
- Business Impact
- The breach resulted in reduced trust in the XKCD forum's security measures.
- Affected Sectors
- Web Forums
- Online Communities
- Geographic Impact
- Global
What You Should Do
Recommended actions to take in response to this breach.
If You Were Affected
- •Change passwords associated with affected accounts.
- •Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
Preventive Measures
- •Avoid reusing passwords across platforms.
- •Regularly audit your online account credentials.
- •Use modern, secure cryptographic algorithms for password storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this breach and what it means for you.