Adecco, a Fortune 500 company and one of the world's largest human resource and staffing firms, experienced a significant data breach in January of 2021. The breach was reported when it was discovered that the personal information of users from Adecco's database had been leaked online.

How many accounts were compromised?

The data breach affected 5,470,063 users.

What type of data was leaked?

The leaked data included email addresses, genders, geographic locations, marital statuses, names, passwords, and phone numbers.

How was Adecco hacked?

While specific details about the breach method were not fully revealed, such incidents can occur through various means, including cyberattacks exploiting system vulnerabilities, phishing schemes targeting company employees, or unauthorized access through compromised security systems.

Adecco’s solution

Following the discovery of the data breach, Adecco took immediate steps to address the security lapse. This included launching an investigation to ascertain the breach's scope, enhancing their cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents, and working with cybersecurity experts to bolster their data protection efforts. Adecco also committed to communicating with affected users and providing guidance on how to protect their personal information.

How do I know if I was affected?

Adecco likely notified individuals directly affected by the data breach. Users concerned about their data security can also check platforms like HaveIBeenPwned to see if their information was compromised in this or other data breaches.

What should affected users do?

Individuals impacted by the Adecco data breach should take proactive steps to safeguard their information:

1. Change Passwords: If you used the same password for Adecco and other accounts, update your passwords to strong, unique combinations.

2. Monitor for Identity Theft: Keep an eye on your financial and personal accounts for any signs of unauthorized activity.

3. Be Aware of Phishing Scams: Be cautious of suspicious emails or messages that might use your leaked information for fraudulent purposes.

4. Reach Out to Adecco: For more specific advice or concerns, contacting Adecco directly may provide additional support and guidance.

For further assistance and information, visiting Adecco's official contact page is recommended.

Where can I go to learn more?

For additional details about the Adecco data breach and tips on protecting your online data, consider visiting the following resources:

• HaveIBeenPwned: Adecco

• CyberNews report on Adecco user data leak

• CISO MAG's coverage of the Adecco Group data breach

• Staffing Industry Analysts report on Adecco's investigation into the data breach