297,771
Records Exposed
Nov 2015
Date of Breach
Database
Breach Type
Sep 2024
Added to Database
About This Breach
In November 2015, the Ancestry service RootsWeb experienced a data breach, though it went undetected until late 2017 when a file containing nearly 300,000 email addresses, names, and plain-text passwords was discovered. This delay in detection emphasizes the need for vigilant cybersecurity measures to quickly identify and address breaches, protecting sensitive user information from prolonged exposure.
Compromised Data Types
Country
United States
Language
English
Password Storage
Plaintext
Category
IT Services
Indexed On
Sep 20, 2024
Breach Type
Database
What Should You Do?
Get Full Breach Details with LeakedSource Pro
Sign up for a LeakedSource Pro account to see exactly what data was exposed in this breach and get real-time notifications when your information appears in new breaches.
Sign Up for Pro- Change your password immediately on Ancestry and any other site where you used the same password. Use a unique, strong password for each account.
- Watch for phishing emails targeting your inbox. Attackers may use your exposed email address to send convincing scam messages.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all important accounts to add an extra layer of security.
- Use a password manager to generate and store unique, strong passwords for every account.
Were You Affected by This Breach?
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