Our Analysts Found the Liverpool Way Leak: 5,716 Records

HEROIC analysts identified a database leak tied to Liverpool Way (liverpoolway.co.uk), a football fan forum built on the IPB (Invision Power Board) platform. The breach is dated February 1, 2016, and involves 5,716 records. Passwords are confirmed not to be part of this particular leak, and the full scope of other exposed data fields is not confirmed in our records.

Why an Unconfirmed Forum Leak Still Matters

Not having a confirmed password field is a genuinely better outcome than most breaches on this list, but it doesn't make the leak harmless. A database of 5,716 records from a football forum likely still includes account details like usernames and email addresses, which are useful to attackers even without a password attached, especially when combined with data from other breaches involving the same person.

What Is Confirmed About the Liverpool Way Breach

• 5,716 total records
• No passwords confirmed as part of this leak
• Forum ran on IPB (Invision Power Board) software
• Breach dated February 1, 2016
• Other specific data fields are not confirmed

Why This Matters Even Without Confirmed Passwords

Attackers don't need a password to make use of leaked data. Emails and usernames tied to a specific fan forum can be combined with passwords stolen in other breaches to attempt credential stuffing, since many people reuse the same email address as their account identifier across many sites. This kind of data is also useful for building convincing, personalized phishing messages aimed at football fans who are active on Liverpool Way.

How an IPB Database Breach Like This Happens

This incident is classified as a database breach involving IPB, a widely used forum software package. Forums running IPB have historically been compromised through vulnerabilities in outdated versions or plugins, letting attackers copy the site's user table directly out of the database. Even when passwords aren't part of what's copied, the rest of the account data still ends up in circulation.

Check If You Are Affected

If you've ever had an account on a fan forum or community site, it's worth checking your exposure across all the places your email address has appeared. HEROIC's free breach scanner checks your email against more than 400 billion leaked records, so you can see the full picture and take action where it matters.