17Media 2016 Data Breach Exposed Millions of Users’ Details

In April 2016, the 17Media live streaming app, which had quickly become popular for connecting users through shared video content, suffered a large-scale data breach. The security incident compromised personal data from over 27 million user accounts. Attackers gained access to sensitive details, including usernames, email addresses, hashed passwords, phone numbers, country codes, and IP addresses. The exposed password data was stored using unsalted MD5 hashes. The breach’s sheer size and the variety of data types impacted underscore its significance in the world of digital privacy and online safety.

What Happened in the 17Media Data Breach?

17Media, a mobile streaming platform founded in Asia, was breached in early April 2016. Attackers managed to extract a database containing tens of millions of user records. This information included essential contact data and a range of account details. The unauthorized access went unnoticed until after the data had already been compromised and distributed.

Scope of the Breach

The 17Media incident affected a staggering 27,870,343 user records. Virtually anyone who registered for the service before April 2016 was potentially impacted by this breach. The variety of data compromised makes this one of the more extensive app breaches for that year.

What Data Was Exposed?

Personal data exposed in the breach included:

• Usernames
• Email addresses
• Passwords (stored as MD5 hashes)
• Phone numbers and country codes
• IP addresses

In addition, some records also included device-related information. While passwords were not in plain text, the use of unsalted MD5 provided limited protection.

Timeline of the 17Media Breach

• April 1, 2016: The breach occurred, resulting in unauthorized access to database contents.
• Following weeks: The breached data began circulating within various online communities and forums.
• Aftermath: Users began reporting unusual activity and correspondence linked to their 17Media accounts, leading to wider awareness of the incident.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What happened in the 17Media data breach?

In April 2016, 17Media’s servers were accessed by unauthorised individuals who obtained a copy of the user database containing emails, usernames, hashed passwords, phone numbers, and other sensitive details.

How many users were affected in the 17Media breach?

The breach impacted over 27 million records and more than 4 million unique email addresses of users registered with 17Media before April 2016.

What data was leaked in the 17Media incident?

The leaked information included usernames, hashed passwords, email addresses, IP addresses, country codes, and phone numbers.

When did the 17Media breach happen?

The breach occurred in early April 2016, with evidence of exposure surfacing shortly after that date.

Who was behind the 17Media data breach?

The specific identity of the attackers responsible for the 17Media breach was never publicly confirmed.

How can i check if i'm in the 17Media breach?

You can check if your information was part of the 17Media breach by utilizing the DeHashed search engine.