ModernBusinessSolutions

What Happened

In October 2016, a large MongoDB file containing tens of millions of accounts was shared publicly on Twitter (the file has since been removed). 

The database contained over 58 million unique email addresses, along with IP addresses, names, home addresses, genders, job titles, dates of birth, and phone numbers. 

The data was later attributed to "Modern Business Solutions," a company that provides data storage and database hosting services.

How to Stay Safe

1. Change the password on your email account
Since this leak exposed email addresses, updating your email password will reduce the risk of someone trying to access your inbox. This is especially important if you use the same password on other websites. 

Follow one of our step-by-step guides depending on which email provider you use:

How to Change Your Gmail Password

How to Change Your Yahoo Password

How to Change Your AOL Password

How to Change Your iCloud Password

How to Change Your Hotmail or Outlook Password

How to Change Your Email Password (for other Email Accounts)

Then, turn on Two-Step Verification while you're there, so your account is harder to access even if your password is compromised again in the future. You’ll also find how to do that by clicking the links above.

2. Be extra careful with personal information requests
Since this breach included details like dates of birth, job titles, and home addresses, be wary of anyone using this information to appear trustworthy in scam calls, emails, or identity theft attempts.

Why This Breach Matters

Even though this breach happened back in 2016, leaked data doesn't just expire. It keeps getting bought, sold, and reused by scammers. 

And even if you've never used this exact site before, your email may have still ended up in it through a partner, data broker, or another service behind the scenes. 

If you've ever reused this password anywhere else, it's worth taking a minute to secure it now.