Search Your Email: The EyeEm Breach Exposed 18 Million Accounts

HEROIC analysts recently flagged the EyeEm breach as a renewed threat after its data began recirculating through underground forums and Telegram channels in late 2024. The original incident occured in February 2018, when attackers gained access to EyeEm's user database and walked away with over 18 million records. The exposed data included real names, usernames, email addresses, and password hashes from accounts on the German photography marketplace. What concerns our team now is how actively this dataset is being traded, putting millions of people at fresh risk years after the initial incident.

Why SHA1 Password Hashes Put EyeEm Users at Serious Risk

SHA1 is an outdated hashing algorithm that attackers can crack with modern hardware in a matter of hours or days, depending on how simple the original password was. Once cracked, those passwords become usable login credentials. Attackers who get your real name, username, and email address alongside a crackable password hash have everything they need to impersonate you or break into other accounts where you reused that same password. This combination is partcularly dangerous because it allows both automated and targeted attacks against the same person.

What Was Exposed in the EyeEm Breach

• Email Address
• Username
• First Name
• Last Name
• Password Hash (SHA1)

Why the EyeEm Breach Still Matters in 2025

A breach from 2018 might feel like old news, but credential stuffing attacks do not care about age. Automated tools constantly test old username and password combinations against major platforms like Gmail, banking apps, and shopping sites. If you used the same email and password on EyeEm as you did anywhere else, those accounts are still at risk today. The leak also exposes your real name alongside your email, which helps attackers craft convincing phishing messages that feel personal. Identity theft, account takeover, and financial fraud are all realistic outcomes for people whose data was recieved by these threat actors.

How a Database Breach Works

A database breach happens when an attacker finds a weakness in a website or application that lets them copy or download the underlying data storage system. This could be through an unpatched software vulnerability, a misconfigured server, or stolen administrative credentials. Once inside, they can pull entire tables of user records in minutes. The stolen data is then typically sold or shared through private channels before eventually appearing on public forums where anyone can download it. Most users have no idea their data was taken until a security researcher or service like HEROIC flags it.

Check If Your Data Was Exposed

HEROIC offers a free breach scanner that searches across more than 400 billion compromised records to tell you if your email address appears in known data breaches, including EyeEm. Run a free scan now to find out what information of yours is circulating and what steps you should take to protect your accounts before attackers get there first.