SoundCloud Data Breach Exposes Nearly 30 Million User Accounts
NEW YORK, NY — In a significant cybersecurity incident, SoundCloud, one of the world’s largest audio streaming platforms, has confirmed a data breach affecting approximately 29.8 million user accounts. The breach, which was first noticed by users encountering error messages such as “403 Forbidden,” has exposed email addresses, usernames, profile photos, and other publicly visible profile data to unauthorized actors. While passwords and financial information were reportedly not compromised, the scale and nature of the breach have raised alarms across the tech community and among users worldwide.
Founded in 2007, SoundCloud has grown into an artist-centric platform hosting over 400 million tracks from more than 40 million creators globally. The company detected suspicious activity linked to an internal service dashboard, prompting an immediate incident response. Users reported access issues, particularly when connecting via VPNs, which SoundCloud later confirmed were related to the breach.
According to the data breach notification service Have I Been Pwned, hackers harvested data from nearly 30 million accounts. The compromised information includes email addresses, usernames, display names, profile photos, follower and following counts, and, in some cases, geographic locations. Although the company initially downplayed the extent of the breach, stating that only limited data was accessed and that passwords remained secure, further disclosures suggest a broader exposure of user profile details.
Cybersecurity experts warn that while no passwords were stolen, the exposed information could still be exploited for phishing attacks, social engineering, and other malicious activities. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommends that affected users remain vigilant, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and consider strengthening account security through multi-factor authentication where available.
SoundCloud’s incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by digital platforms in safeguarding user data amid increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The company has urged users to monitor their accounts for unusual activity and has committed to enhancing its security measures. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Division is actively investigating the breach to identify the perpetrators and prevent further exploitation.
Experts emphasize the importance of regular password updates and caution against reusing credentials across multiple services. The breach serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in online platforms and the critical need for robust cybersecurity practices by both companies and users alike. For more information on protecting personal data and responding to breaches, the Federal Trade Commission provides comprehensive resources and guidance.
As the investigation continues, SoundCloud users are advised to stay informed through official channels and exercise heightened caution to mitigate potential risks stemming from this breach.
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