Panera Bread Data Breach Exposes Contact Information of 5.1 Million Customers
CHICAGO, Ill. — Panera Bread confirmed on February 19, 2026, that a significant cybersecurity incident compromised the personal contact information of approximately 5.1 million customers. The breach, initially claimed by the hacking collective ShinyHunters, involved the theft and subsequent leak of a 760-megabyte archive containing sensitive customer details including names, email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses, and account-related information.
ShinyHunters first announced the breach earlier this year on their data leak site, asserting that over 14 million records had been stolen. Panera Bread has since acknowledged the incident, though it has not disclosed the full scope or technical specifics of how the intrusion occurred. The company stated it has notified law enforcement authorities and is actively taking steps to mitigate the impact on affected customers.
While Panera Bread described the exposed information as “contact information,” cybersecurity experts warn that such data can be exploited for identity theft, targeted phishing campaigns, and sophisticated social engineering attacks. The combination of personal details in the wrong hands poses a serious risk to consumer privacy and security.
The breach has prompted multiple class-action lawsuits against Panera Bread, reflecting growing frustration and concern among customers whose data was compromised. The incident joins a troubling trend of high-profile data breaches affecting major consumer brands, underscoring the persistent vulnerabilities in corporate cybersecurity defenses.
Consumers are advised to remain vigilant for suspicious emails or calls and to monitor their financial accounts for unauthorized activity. The Federal Trade Commission provides resources on protecting against identity theft and steps to take if personal information has been exposed. Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offers guidance on recognizing and responding to phishing attempts.
Panera Bread’s response to the breach includes working with cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and enhance security measures. However, the company has not yet detailed whether customers need to reset passwords or take other specific actions.
This breach follows a series of recent incidents targeting consumer data, such as the Substack data breach that exposed emails and phone numbers earlier this year. The increasing frequency and scale of these attacks highlight the urgent need for robust data protection strategies across industries.
For ongoing updates on cybersecurity threats and best practices, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team remains a vital resource for consumers and organizations alike. As investigations continue, affected Panera Bread customers await further guidance on how to safeguard their information in the wake of this troubling breach.
Leave a Reply