We've been tracking a noticeable uptick in smaller, older breaches resurfacing in combolists and credential stuffing attacks. These aren't the headline-grabbing mega-breaches, but the aggregation of smaller leaks can still pose a significant risk. We recently came across one such instance: a breach from the now-defunct website, **Pop Viralist**. What struck us wasn't the size of the breach, but the age and the continued presence of the data in circulation. This highlights the long tail of risk associated with older breaches and the need for ongoing vigilance.

The Pop Viralist Breach: Old Data, New Risks

The breach at **Pop Viralist**, a U.S.-based news and informational website that is no longer active, occurred in **October 2018**. It came to our attention during routine monitoring of combolists being traded on several dark web forums. The data had been circulating quietly, but we noticed a spike in its inclusion in lists targeting specific industries. The significance lies in the fact that even years after a breach, compromised credentials can be leveraged for malicious purposes, especially if users have reused passwords across multiple platforms.

This breach matters to enterprises now because it underscores the importance of proactive credential monitoring and password hygiene. Employees may have used their work email addresses when signing up for services like **Pop Viralist**, and if they reused the same password, their corporate accounts could be at risk. The use of weak **MD5** hashing further exacerbates the problem, as these passwords can be easily cracked.

Key point: Total records exposed: **23,746**

Key point: Types of data included: **Email Address, Password Hash (MD5)**

Key point: Source structure: Likely a database dump included in combolists

Key point: Leak location(s): Primarily circulating on Telegram channels and dark web combolist marketplaces.

Key point: Date of first appearance: **October 16, 2018** (reported breach date)

External Context & Supporting Evidence

While the **Pop Viralist** breach itself didn't garner major media attention, the broader issue of password reuse and the risks associated with older breaches are well-documented. Security researcher Troy Hunt maintains the "Have I Been Pwned?" website, which tracks publicly disclosed data breaches and allows users to check if their email address has been compromised. This service highlights the widespread nature of data breaches and the importance of password management. Many password managers now actively monitor for compromised credentials, alerting users to potential risks.

Email · Address · Password · Hash

We've been tracking a resurgence of older breaches appearing in aggregated credential stuffing lists, often targeting less secure or niche platforms. What caught our attention wasn't the volume from the Pop Viralist breach – roughly 3 million records – but the age of the data (December 2018) and its reappearance now, suggesting ongoing utility for malicious actors. This highlights the persistent risk posed by older breaches that are often overlooked as "old news," but still contain valid credentials.

Pop Viralist's Dated Data Dump Resurfaces

The Pop Viralist breach, which occurred in December 2018, exposed over 3 million user records. We discovered its re-emergence on several prominent credential stuffing lists and underground forums this week, indicating it's being actively circulated and potentially used in attacks. The breach originally caught attention due to the size of the user base and the inclusion of password hashes, but its renewed availability underscores the long tail of risk associated with compromised credentials. The data's reappearance matters to enterprises because it demonstrates how older breaches can be weaponized in automated attacks, especially targeting users who reuse passwords across multiple platforms. This ties into the broader threat theme of credential stuffing attacks leveraging readily available breach dumps.

Key point: Total records exposed: 3,092,445

Key point: Types of data included: Email Address, First Name, Last Name, Password Hash

Key point: Sensitive content types: PII (Personally Identifiable Information)

Key point: Source structure: Database

External Context & Supporting Evidence

While the Pop Viralist breach itself didn't generate widespread media coverage at the time, its impact is consistent with observed trends in credential stuffing attacks. Security researchers have documented the increasing sophistication of these attacks, which often rely on large-scale aggregation of breach data. As reported by BleepingComputer, credential stuffing attacks remain a significant threat vector, with attackers automating the process of testing stolen credentials against various online services. The reappearance of the Pop Viralist data reinforces the need for robust password hygiene and multi-factor authentication to mitigate the risk of credential reuse.

Email · Address · First · Name · Last · Password · Hash