- Total Records13,499,276
- Unique Emails7,832,037
- Unique IP Addresses4,272,094
- Unique Usernames15,729,906
CivilOnline.com 2011 Data Breach: What Was Exposed?
On July 9, 2011, CivilOnline.com, a popular Chinese engineering community website, experienced a significant data breach that led to the exposure of over 13 million user accounts. CivilOnline.com served as a hub for engineering professionals and enthusiasts to share resources, connect, and collaborate. In this incident, a vast amount of personal data was compromised—including usernames, email addresses, hashed passwords, IP addresses, and full birth dates. The leak made headlines in the security community due to the sheer size of the user base affected and the sensitivity of the data involved.
Scope of the CivilOnline.com Breach
The breach impacted a total of 13,499,277 accounts, far surpassing early estimates. Information exposed included key identifiers and contact details such as usernames, email addresses, and birthdates, which could be used for targeted phishing or identity-related risks. Hashed passwords and IP addresses were also leaked, creating further concerns about user privacy and potential unauthorized account access elsewhere.
What Data Was Exposed?
- Usernames
- Email addresses
- Hashed passwords
- IP addresses
- Full birth dates
The combination of these fields provides significant information about individuals, given the wide use of email addresses and personal details across various services.
How Did the CivilOnline.com Breach Unfold?
The breach occurred on July 9, 2011. Attackers reportedly accessed CivilOnline.com’s user database and exfiltrated account data at a large scale. Reports circulated on the breach soon after, with news of millions of exposed records spreading quickly within information security circles and affected user communities.
Timeline of Key Events
- July 9, 2011: Breach occurred, with unauthorized actors gaining access to sensitive user data.
- Shortly after: News and details of the breach surfaced online, with user information appearing in public discussions and breach archives.
Frequently Asked Questions About the CivilOnline.com Data Breach
What happened in the CivilOnline.com breach?
The CivilOnline.com breach involved unauthorized attackers accessing and exfiltrating a database containing account data for over 13 million users, including usernames, emails, hashed passwords, IP addresses, and full birth dates.
How many users were affected in the CivilOnline.com breach?
The breach impacted approximately 13,499,277 user accounts, making it one of the largest reported incidents involving a Chinese engineering website at the time.
What type of data was exposed in the CivilOnline.com data breach?
Exposed data included usernames, email addresses, hashed passwords, IP addresses, and users' full birth dates.
When did the CivilOnline.com data breach happen?
The breach took place on July 9, 2011.
How can I check if I'm in the CivilOnline.com breach?
You can check if your information was part of the CivilOnline.com breach by utilizing the DeHashed search engine.