MySpace 2008 Data Breach
ObscureIQ Breach Intelligence
Low SeverityWebsite / service breach
MySpace Breach (2008, Disclosed 2016): 359 Million User Accounts Including Plaintext Passwords Exposed
Social networking platform.
Verified by ObscureIQ Intelligence
23/100Breach Risk Index
5Data Value
25Market Recency
512dSince Breach
Breach Intelligence Summary
Entity: MySpace · Actor: Unknown · Sources: 7 references
Attack: Misconfiguration
Profile: Platform · Social networking and content sharing · Legacy social media platform · Global
Timeline: Breach (2008-07-01) · Indexed (Dec 01, 2024) · Year (2008)
Exposure: 358.8M records · 3 fields: Email Address, Password, Username
Status: Confirmed
Executive Summary
MySpace, once the world's largest social network, suffered a data breach in 2008 that exposed roughly 358.8 million user accounts. The breach went undisclosed for approximately eight years before the stolen data appeared for sale in May 2016 on a dark web marketplace called "Real Deal," with a hacker known as "Peace" claiming responsibility. A server misconfiguration enabled direct access to user account data. MySpace confirmed the breach affected accounts created before June 11, 2013, the date it had upgraded its password security systems. The exposed data included email addresses, usernames, and passwords. The passwords were hashed using the outdated SHA-1 algorithm and were not properly salted, meaning only the first ten characters were protected and the hashes were relatively easy to crack. This made the dataset particularly dangerous for credential stuffing, where attackers reuse stolen login credentials to break into accounts on other platforms. Anyone who reused their MySpace password elsewhere was at heightened risk of account takeover across those services. The breach also carries long-tail risks: old profile data, social connections, and personal content associated with these accounts can resurface and cause reputational harm. MySpace's then-owner, Time Inc., launched an internal investigation after the data surfaced publicly in 2016 and responded by invalidating all affected passwords and urging users to reset credentials, particularly if reused on other sites. No significant regulatory action was publicly documented. For affected individuals, the primary ongoing risk is credential reuse across other accounts, identity linkage, and potential targeting through personal details tied to their old profiles.
ObscureIQ assessment: Exposure enables harassment, account takeover, and resurfacing of old identities, media, and social connections. Historic platform data can create long-tail reputational harm.
Breach Impact
The MySpace breach became one of the largest legacy social-media credential exposures ever made public. Have I Been Pwned says the incident affected about 359.4 million accounts and involved email addresses, usernames, and unsalted SHA-1 hashes of the first 10 characters of passwords, with the data later offered for sale in 2016. That combination made the dataset highly useful for credential stuffing, password cracking, account takeover attempts, and identity linkage across other services where users had reused login information.
About MySpace
MySpace was one of the earliest mass-market social networking platforms and became a defining social media brand of the mid-2000s. Its legacy product combined user profiles, messaging, music, photos, and community interaction, and its current live site still presents itself as a place to “discover, share and connect with culture, creativity, sound, images and people.”
Why They Hold Your Data
Legacy social platforms collect user accounts, profile data, messages, photos, music or content activity, and historic social-relationship records tied to early social networking workflows.
Recent Developments
MySpace remains online, but in its present form it appears to function more as a culture and music-oriented legacy social property than as a major general-purpose social network. Its current public-facing site emphasizes music, artists, and discovery rather than the broad social networking posture that once defined the platform.
Data Points Exposed
3 verified field types
Email Address
Password Critical
Username
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:Critical
Primary downstream threats:
- Credential stuffing against reused passwords across other platforms
- Targeted phishing campaigns using exposed email addresses
Threat vectors:
- Phishing, credential stuffing & account takeover
- Credential stuffing & account takeover
- Cross-platform tracking & credential stuffing
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 MySpace breach?▾
MySpace, once the world's largest social network, suffered a data breach in 2008 that exposed roughly 358.8 million user accounts. The breach went undisclosed for approximately eight years before the stolen data appeared for sale in May 2016 on a dark web marketplace called "Real Deal," with a…
What data was exposed?▾
Verified fields include Email Address, Password, Username.
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
BreachAware
Cross-source
BreachForums_Official_Index
Cross-source
DataViper.io
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