/

People Data Labs Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

People Data Labs Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

In October 2019, People Data Labs (PDL) experienced a data breach involving a significant amount of personal data. The breach raised concerns about the potential misuse of the exposed information.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 622 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included email addresses, employers, geographic locations, job titles, names, phone numbers, and social media profiles.

How was People Data Labs hacked?

The breach occurred when security researchers discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch server containing 1.2 billion personal data records. The server, not owned by People Data Labs (PDL), was traced back to a PDL customer who failed to properly secure the database. The exact method of the breach remains unclear, and no individual or group claimed responsibility for the breach.

People Data Labs's solution

In response to the hack, People Data Labs took several measures to enhance their security protocols and prevent future incidents. They improved their security infrastructure, encouraged customers to secure their databases more effectively, and collaborated with cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation. The incident serves as a reminder for companies to be vigilant against hacking attempts and prioritize the protection of personal data.

How do I know if I was affected?

It is unclear whether People Data Labs reached out to affected users following the breach. If you believe your data may have been compromised in this incident, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report it immediately to the respective platform.

For more specific help and instructions related to People Data Labs's data breach, please contact People Data Labs support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the People Data Labs data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

/

People Data Labs Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

People Data Labs Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

In October 2019, People Data Labs (PDL) experienced a data breach involving a significant amount of personal data. The breach raised concerns about the potential misuse of the exposed information.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 622 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included email addresses, employers, geographic locations, job titles, names, phone numbers, and social media profiles.

How was People Data Labs hacked?

The breach occurred when security researchers discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch server containing 1.2 billion personal data records. The server, not owned by People Data Labs (PDL), was traced back to a PDL customer who failed to properly secure the database. The exact method of the breach remains unclear, and no individual or group claimed responsibility for the breach.

People Data Labs's solution

In response to the hack, People Data Labs took several measures to enhance their security protocols and prevent future incidents. They improved their security infrastructure, encouraged customers to secure their databases more effectively, and collaborated with cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation. The incident serves as a reminder for companies to be vigilant against hacking attempts and prioritize the protection of personal data.

How do I know if I was affected?

It is unclear whether People Data Labs reached out to affected users following the breach. If you believe your data may have been compromised in this incident, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report it immediately to the respective platform.

For more specific help and instructions related to People Data Labs's data breach, please contact People Data Labs support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the People Data Labs data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

People Data Labs Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

In October 2019, People Data Labs (PDL) experienced a data breach involving a significant amount of personal data. The breach raised concerns about the potential misuse of the exposed information.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 622 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included email addresses, employers, geographic locations, job titles, names, phone numbers, and social media profiles.

How was People Data Labs hacked?

The breach occurred when security researchers discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch server containing 1.2 billion personal data records. The server, not owned by People Data Labs (PDL), was traced back to a PDL customer who failed to properly secure the database. The exact method of the breach remains unclear, and no individual or group claimed responsibility for the breach.

People Data Labs's solution

In response to the hack, People Data Labs took several measures to enhance their security protocols and prevent future incidents. They improved their security infrastructure, encouraged customers to secure their databases more effectively, and collaborated with cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation. The incident serves as a reminder for companies to be vigilant against hacking attempts and prioritize the protection of personal data.

How do I know if I was affected?

It is unclear whether People Data Labs reached out to affected users following the breach. If you believe your data may have been compromised in this incident, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check your credentials.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report it immediately to the respective platform.

For more specific help and instructions related to People Data Labs's data breach, please contact People Data Labs support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the People Data Labs data breach, check out the following news articles: