We've been tracking the re-emergence of older breach datasets in various marketplaces, often repackaged and sold as "new" leaks. What really struck us about the HOA Town dataset wasn't its size – at just over **1.4 million** records, it's relatively small – but the longevity and potential for password reuse. This breach, dating back to **March 2018**, highlights the enduring risk posed by even seemingly minor compromises, especially when weak hashing algorithms like MD5 are involved. The dataset's reappearance underscores the need for continuous monitoring and proactive password resets, even for accounts associated with defunct or obscure services.
The HOA Town breach originates from a compromise of StoreLP, a now-defunct Russian e-commerce website specializing in classical music track purchases. The breach occurred in March 2018, exposing the data of 1,435,369 users. While the initial breach likely received some attention at the time, its reappearance in various breach aggregation sites and potentially on dark web marketplaces makes it relevant again.
Our team noticed the dataset being offered on a smaller, less-publicized breach forum. The advertisement highlighted the presence of email addresses and password hashes, specifically noting the use of MD5. What caught our attention was the relatively high percentage of valid-looking email addresses and the risk of password reuse across other, more critical platforms. The age of the data also raises concerns about users who may have forgotten about the account but continue to use the same password elsewhere.
This breach matters to enterprises now because it serves as a potent reminder of the long tail of security incidents. Even breaches from years ago can present a risk if users haven't updated their passwords. The use of MD5, a weak hashing algorithm, makes these passwords particularly vulnerable to cracking, potentially exposing credentials used on other, more sensitive systems. It also ties into the broader threat theme of credential stuffing, where attackers use leaked credentials to gain unauthorized access to accounts on other platforms.
Key point: Total records exposed: 1,435,369
Key point: Types of data included: Email Address, Password Hash (MD5)
Key point: Sensitive content types: Potentially reused passwords
Key point: Source structure: Database
Key point: Leak location(s): Breach Forums, potentially dark web marketplaces
Key point: Date of breach: 05-Mar-2018
While there isn't significant media coverage of this specific StoreLP breach, the broader issue of password reuse and the dangers of weak hashing algorithms are well-documented. Security researcher Troy Hunt, creator of Have I Been Pwned, has consistently warned about the risks associated with password reuse. Numerous articles on sites like KrebsOnSecurity and BleepingComputer highlight the dangers of using the same password across multiple accounts. The continued discovery of MD5-hashed passwords in modern breaches underscores the need for organizations to encourage and enforce strong password policies.
Email · Address · Password · Hash
See if your personal information has been exposed in data breaches
Scan to sign up instantly
We found your data exposed in multiple breaches. This includes:
Your information is protected by enterprise-grade security