Linux Forums
HIGH RISKData breach — May 2018
In May 2018, the Linux Forums website suffered a data breach which resulted in the disclosure of 276k unique email addresses. Running on an old version of vBulletin, the breach also disclosed usernames, IP addresses and salted MD5 password hashes. Linux Forums did not respond to multiple attempts to contact them about the breach.
search Check if you were affected — freeData exposed in this breach
What happened in the Linux Forums data breach?
In May 2018, the Linux Forums website suffered a data breach which resulted in the disclosure of 276k unique email addresses. Running on an old version of vBulletin, the breach also disclosed usernames, IP addresses and salted MD5 password hashes. Linux Forums did not respond to multiple attempts to contact them about the breach.
The exposed data included 4 types of personal information. Because passwords were exposed, users who reused their password on other sites are at particular risk. Learn more about what a data breach means for you.
Quick answer — was Linux Forums hacked?
Yes. Linux Forums was breached in May 2018. The breach exposed 275,785 records including email addresses, ip addresses, passwords. This breach has been independently verified. If your email was involved, your data may still be at risk today. Check if you were affected.
Why was the Linux Forums breach so dangerous?
The Linux Forums breach exposed 275,785 records — that is a large number of compromised accounts. The combination of email addresses, ip addresses, passwords makes this a high-risk breach that requires immediate action.
Because passwords were exposed, attackers can use credential stuffing to automatically test your Linux Forums password against hundreds of other websites. If you reused your password anywhere, those accounts are now at risk. Read more about what happens to your data after a breach.
Don't wait to find out — check if your email was exposed in this breach now.
What data was stolen in the Linux Forums breach?
Email addresses — used for phishing attacks and credential stuffing against your other accounts
IP addresses — combined with other data, used for identity theft and physical fraud
Passwords — can be used to access your accounts directly or cracked to reveal your actual password
Usernames — used to build profiles and target you with personalised scams
Is the Linux Forums breach still dangerous in 2026?
Yes. Stolen data from the Linux Forums breach remains dangerous years after the incident. Research shows that over 65% of stolen credentials from older breaches have never been changed by the account holders. Attackers routinely compile data from multiple breaches to build complete profiles, and credentials from 2018 are still actively used in credential stuffing attacks today.
Personal information like email addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth never expire. Even if you changed your Linux Forums password, the other exposed data can be combined with information from other breaches to target you. Learn more about how long stolen data stays dangerous.
Frequently asked about the Linux Forums breach
Approximately 275,785 user records were exposed in the Linux Forums breach in May 2018.
Yes. Leaked credentials are actively used in credential stuffing attacks years after a breach. If you reused your Linux Forums password elsewhere and haven't changed it, those accounts remain at risk today.
Enter your email in the free checker on EmailLeaked. We scan 12 billion+ breach records including the full Linux Forums dataset and tell you instantly whether your email was exposed and what data was taken.
Change your Linux Forums password immediately, change any other account where you used the same password, enable two-factor authentication on all important accounts, and monitor for phishing emails over the next 90 days.
Who was affected by the Linux Forums breach?
The Linux Forums data breach affected approximately 275,785 users who had accounts with the service. While not the largest breach on record, it still represents a significant number of compromised accounts in our database of 970+ known breaches.
If you ever created an account with Linux Forums or used their services, your data may have been included in this breach. Check your email now to find out. You can also read our guide on what to do immediately after a data breach.
If your email was in the Linux Forums breach
Change your Linux Forums password immediately
Go to Linux Forums and change your password right now. Use a strong, unique password that you have never used anywhere else.
Change any account sharing that password
If you used the same password on other sites, change it on every one of them. Attackers test stolen credentials on hundreds of popular sites within hours.
Enable two-factor authentication
Turn on 2FA on Linux Forums and every important account. Even if your password is known, attackers cannot get in without the second factor.
Check your other accounts for this breach
Run a full email check to see every breach your email appears in — not just this one.
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