Ethical Hacking News
Flickr has suffered a data breach that exposed personally identifiable information (PII) due to a third-party email service provider. The company is conducting a thorough review and strengthening its security measures with third-party providers.
Flickr suffered a data breach exposing PII and other sensitive user information. The breach was attributed to a third-party email service provider whose identity remains undisclosed. Potentially accessed user info includes names, email addresses, usernames, account types, IP addresses, locations, and activity logs. Flickr took immediate action to contain the breach and notified data protection authorities. The incident highlights concerns about third-party provider security practices and the importance of robust measures. No financial information was affected in the breach, but user awareness and education are crucial for prevention.
Flickr, a popular image-sharing website, has suffered a data breach that exposed personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive markers of its users. The security issue was attributed to a third-party email service provider, whose identity remains undisclosed.
According to an email sent to customers by Flickr, the hack transpired on February 5, and the company took immediate action to contain the breach. It shut down access to the affected system within hours and notified its data protection authorities. The email stated that names, email addresses, usernames, account types, IP addresses, general locations, and Flickr activity were potentially accessed by hackers.
The incident has sparked concerns about the security practices of third-party providers, which are often used by companies like Flickr to manage their online presence. While Flickr did not reveal the identity of the email service provider involved in the breach, it did assure users that it is conducting a thorough review and strengthening its security measures with third-party providers.
The SmugMug-owned company included links to both European and US data protection authorities in its email, suggesting that the impact of the breach may have been felt in multiple regions. Flickr operates in 190 countries worldwide and has approximately 35 million active users per month, generating 800 million page views each month.
Flickr's email warned users to be cautious of phishing emails referencing their account and reminded them that the real Flickr would never ask for sensitive information like passwords via email. The company also suggested users review their account settings for any unexpected findings and consider changing their passwords if they use the same password for multiple services.
Fortunately, Flickr stated that no financial information was affected in the breach. However, the incident has raised questions about the vulnerability of online platforms to cyberattacks and the importance of robust security measures.
The breach highlights the need for companies to prioritize data protection and cybersecurity, particularly when relying on third-party providers. It also underscores the importance of user awareness and education in preventing such incidents.
In an era where data breaches are becoming increasingly common, Flickr's response to this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive security measures and timely notification to affected users.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Flickrs-Data-Breach-A-Third-Party-Email-Service-Provider-to-Blame-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/02/06/flickr_emails_users_about_data_breach/
https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/06/flickr_emails_users_about_data_breach/
https://cybernews.com/security/flickr-issues-warning-user-data-exposure/
Published: Mon Feb 9 03:20:17 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
