Mathway 2020 Data Breach
ObscureIQ Breach Intelligence
Low SeverityWebsite / service breach
Mathway Math Problem-Solving App Breach (2020): 25 Million User Accounts Including Passwords & Social Media Profiles Exposed
Math problem-solving app and service.
Verified by ObscureIQ Intelligence
23/100Breach Risk Index
5Data Value
25Market Recency
512dSince Breach
Breach Intelligence Summary
Entity: Mathway · Actor: Unknown · Sources: 9 references
Attack: Misconfiguration
Profile: Platform · Math problem solving and tutoring · Educational SaaS platform · Global
Timeline: Breach (2020-01-13) · Indexed (Dec 01, 2024) · Year (2020)
Exposure: 25.7M records · 5 fields: Device Information, Email Address, Full Name, Password, Social Media Profile
Status: Confirmed
Executive Summary
Mathway, a widely used math problem-solving app popular with students, suffered a data breach in January 2020 that exposed over 25.7 million user records. The breach stemmed from a misconfiguration, and the stolen data was subsequently sold on a dark web marketplace. Mathway was acquired by educational services company Chegg the same year. The exposed data included names, email addresses, salted password hashes, device information, and social media profile links from connected Google and Facebook accounts. Salted password hashes offer some protection, but they can still be cracked with enough computing effort. The combination of passwords and social media profiles is particularly sensitive, as it allows attackers to link identities across platforms and target accounts elsewhere. Mathway notified affected users and required password resets following the breach. No major regulatory action or class-action settlement has been publicly documented in connection with this incident. Users whose data was exposed face ongoing risks from phishing attempts and credential-stuffing attacks, where stolen login details are tested against other websites and services.
ObscureIQ assessment: Credential reuse and phishing risk. Lower direct financial sensitivity, but still usable for account takeover and identity linkage.
Breach Impact
In January 2020 Mathway experienced a breach exposing over 25 million user records including email addresses, names, passwords, device information, and social media profile links. The data was subsequently sold on a dark web marketplace. Mathway notified affected users and required password changes. No class-action settlement or major regulatory action specific to this breach has been prominently documented in public sources.
About Mathway
Mathway is a math problem-solving application and web service that provides step-by-step solutions across arithmetic, algebra, calculus, and other mathematical disciplines. The platform serves students, educators, and general users globally and operates on a freemium model with premium subscriptions for detailed solution steps. Mathway was acquired by Chegg, the educational services company, in 2020.
Why They Hold Your Data
Educational platforms collect user accounts, emails, usage data, and sometimes payment or subscription information.
Recent Developments
Mathway operates as part of the Chegg product portfolio following its 2020 acquisition. Chegg has faced significant pressure from AI-powered homework assistance tools, with its core business model disrupted by the rise of ChatGPT and similar tools. The company underwent major restructuring in 2024 including significant workforce reductions. Mathway's standalone profile within that context is limited.
Data Points Exposed
5 verified field types
Device Information
Email Address
Full Name High
Password Critical
Social Media Profile
Field names are shown in full for clarity and search visibility. Canonical machine keys are emitted only in this page’s structured data.
Exploitation & Downstream Threats
Threat Activity:High
Primary downstream threats:
- Credential stuffing against reused passwords across other platforms
- Targeted phishing campaigns using exposed email addresses
- Social media account targeting and impersonation
Threat vectors:
- Device fingerprinting & targeted exploitation
- Phishing, credential stuffing & account takeover
- Name-based social engineering
- Credential stuffing & account takeover
- Account impersonation & social graph harvesting
Recommended Actions
If you believe your information may be included:
Change Reused Passwords
Update this account and anywhere you reused the password; use a manager.
Enable MFA Everywhere
Turn on multi-factor authentication on email first, then financial accounts.
Report & Recover
If you spot misuse, start an official recovery plan and report fraud.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Mathway breach?▾
Mathway, a widely used math problem-solving app popular with students, suffered a data breach in January 2020 that exposed over 25.7 million user records. The breach stemmed from a misconfiguration, and the stolen data was subsequently sold on a dark web marketplace. Mathway was acquired by…
What data was exposed?▾
Verified fields include Device Information, Email Address, Full Name, Password, Social Media Profile.
What should I do if I was affected?▾
Change reused passwords, enable MFA, and (if identity or financial data is involved) freeze your credit and monitor your accounts.
Sources & References
Every claim on this page is traceable. This breach draws on:
Breach Index
Breach Index
Cross-source
9ghz
Cross-source
BreachForums_Official_Index
Cross-source
DataViper.io
Cross-source
Dehashed
Cross-source
Keeper
Cross-source
leakfind
ObscureIQ Intelligence
ObscureIQ proprietary analysis
Protect Yourself
Check If You're Affected
Enter your email to check whether your data appears in this breach. We’ll send a 6-digit code to confirm it’s your address.
Get Free Breach Alerts
Be the first to know when new breaches are disclosed. Free forever — confirm your email with a 6-digit code.
High-Risk? Get an Exposure Audit
Executives, public figures, and high-visibility operators can receive tailored exposure intelligence and hardening guidance.
Request Consultation