YouNow 2019 Data Breach
ObscureIQ Breach Intelligence
Low SeverityWebsite / service breach
YouNow Live Streaming Platform Breach (2019): 18 Million User Accounts Including Social Media Profiles Exposed
Live streaming platform.
Verified by ObscureIQ Intelligence
12/100Breach Risk Index
5Data Value
10Market Recency
2475dSince Breach
Breach Intelligence Summary
Entity: YouNow · Actor: Unknown · Sources: 5 references
Attack: Misconfiguration
Profile: Platform · Live streaming and social interaction · Creator platform · Global
Timeline: Breach (2019-02-15) · Indexed (Jul 18, 2019) · Year (2019)
Exposure: 18.2M records · 5 fields: Email Address, Full Name, IP Address, Social Media Profile, Username
Status: Confirmed
Executive Summary
YouNow, the live streaming platform, suffered a data breach that exposed information on approximately 18.2 million user accounts. The data appeared for sale on a dark web marketplace in February 2019, though the date of the underlying intrusion is unknown. The breach is attributed to a misconfiguration rather than an external hack. Because YouNow authenticates users through social media providers rather than its own password system, no passwords were included in the exposed data. The compromised dataset contained email addresses, IP addresses, names, usernames, and links to connected social media profiles. The combination of these fields is particularly sensitive given YouNow's young user base. IP addresses can reveal approximate physical locations, and social media profile links make it straightforward to connect an exposed record to a real person's broader online presence. This creates a meaningful risk of stalking, harassment, and identity linkage for affected users. YouNow acknowledged the incident, but no regulatory enforcement action or legal settlement has been publicly documented in connection with this breach. Affected individuals should be alert to phishing attempts that reference their username or platform activity, and review whether their connected social media accounts show any signs of unauthorized access. The exposure of real identities alongside platform activity is of particular concern for younger users and creators with established fan relationships.
ObscureIQ assessment: High risk of harassment, stalking, account takeover, and identity linkage. Live-streaming context can also expose minors, creator-fan relationships, and real-time behavioral patterns.
Breach Impact
In February 2019 data from YouNow appeared for sale on a dark web marketplace. The exact date of the underlying breach is unclear. The exposed dataset contained approximately 18 million unique email addresses alongside IP addresses, names, usernames, and links to connected social media profiles. Because YouNow uses social provider authentication, no passwords were stored or exposed. YouNow acknowledged the incident. No settlement or regulatory enforcement action specific to this breach has been prominently documented.
About YouNow
YouNow is a live streaming platform that allows users to broadcast video in real time while viewers interact through comments and virtual gifting. The platform was launched in 2011 and has attracted a largely young user base interested in live entertainment, music performance, and social interaction. YouNow authenticates users through social media providers rather than standalone passwords.
Why They Hold Your Data
Live-streaming platforms collect user accounts, profile data, messages, social relationships, payment-adjacent records, and content-creation activity tied to real-time social broadcasting.
Recent Developments
YouNow continues to operate as a live streaming platform, though its cultural prominence has diminished relative to the peak of live streaming growth. Competition from TikTok Live, Instagram Live, and YouTube has compressed the market for independent live streaming services. No major organizational changes have been publicly reported.
Data Points Exposed
5 verified field types
Email Address
Full Name High
IP Address
Social Media Profile
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:High
Primary downstream threats:
- Targeted phishing campaigns using exposed email addresses
- Social media account targeting and impersonation
Threat vectors:
- Phishing, credential stuffing & account takeover
- Name-based social engineering
- Geolocation & account flagging
- Account impersonation & social graph harvesting
- Cross-platform tracking & credential stuffing
Recommended Actions
If you believe your information may be included:
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 YouNow breach?▾
YouNow, the live streaming platform, suffered a data breach that exposed information on approximately 18.2 million user accounts. The data appeared for sale on a dark web marketplace in February 2019, though the date of the underlying intrusion is unknown. The breach is attributed to a…
What data was exposed?▾
Verified fields include Email Address, Full Name, IP Address, Social Media Profile, 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
BreachForums_Official_Index
Cross-source
Dehashed
ObscureIQ Intelligence
ObscureIQ proprietary analysis
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