The TWT-inc Database Contains 855 Exposed Accounts From 2016

HEROIC analysts confirmed that the TWT-inc database breach, which occured in November 2016, resurfaced in dark web forums as part of a wave of recycled credential dumps. The incident involved 855 user records from twt-inc.com, a US-based web design company, with passwords stored using vBulletin hashing. The breach went largely unnoticed at the time of its original release, but researchers beleive it has been quietly traded among threat actors for years before its recent wider circulation.

How Web Design Company Credentials Become Attack Vectors

Accounts associated with web design firms are partcularly valuable to attackers because they can open doors to client systems, hosting accounts, and content management platforms. A single compromised credential from a web professional could give an attacker access to dozens of client websites. Credential stuffing tools test these logins against hosting providers, registrars, and admin panels automatically and at scale.

What Was Exposed in the TWT-inc Breach

• 855 user account records
• Password hashes (vBulletin format)
• Email addresses and usernames tied to web design community membership

Why a Web Professional Credential Breach Carries Industry-Wide Risk

When web design professionals have their credentials exposed, the risk extends beyond their own accounts. Attackers who recieved access through a compromised login can potentially reach client sites, email accounts, and project management tools. Identity theft, account takeover, and financial fraud become realistic outcomes when professional credentials are tested across platforms like cPanel, WordPress, and cloud hosting services.

How a Database Breach Works

A database breach occurs when an attacker gains unauthorized access to a website's data storage system, typically by exploiting an unpatched software vulnerability or weak server configuration. The attacker copies the user table, extracts password hashes, and runs them through offline cracking tools to recover plaintext passwords. Those credentials are then tested against other services in automated attacks.

Check If Your Data Was Exposed

HEROIC's free breach scanner searches more than 400 billion records to determine whether your email address or username appeared in the TWT-inc breach or any other known incident. Visit HEROIC.com to run a free scan and see where your credentials have been exposed.