In December 2025, audio streaming platform SoundCloud suffered a major data breach that exposed the personal information of 29.8 million users — nearly one-fifth of its entire user base. The notorious ShinyHunters hacking group claimed responsibility, and by January 2026, the stolen data had been leaked on the dark web. If you have or ever had a SoundCloud account, here is what you need to know and what steps you should take immediately.
What Happened in the SoundCloud Breach
SoundCloud detected unauthorized activity on December 15, 2025, linked to an internal service dashboard that had been compromised. The attackers exploited this access to connect private email addresses to publicly available profile data, effectively linking previously separate pieces of information into rich user profiles.
Users first noticed something was wrong when SoundCloud began returning 403 "Forbidden" errors, particularly for those connecting through VPNs. SoundCloud brought in external cybersecurity experts and began hardening its infrastructure, but the damage was already done.
The ShinyHunters group — previously linked to breaches at Microsoft, Tokopedia, and other major platforms — attempted to extort SoundCloud before publicly releasing the stolen dataset on their dark web portal in early January 2026.
What Data Was Exposed
According to SoundCloud's disclosure and analysis by Have I Been Pwned, the following information was compromised:
- Names — your real name as listed on your profile
- Email addresses — the private email tied to your account
- Usernames — your public SoundCloud handle
- Avatars — profile pictures
- Follower and following counts
- Country — for select users
The Good News
SoundCloud confirmed that no passwords, payment information, or other financial data was accessed in this breach. However, the combination of real names and private email addresses still creates significant risk for phishing and social engineering attacks.
Steps to Protect Yourself Now
1. Check If Your Data Was Exposed
Visit Have I Been Pwned (haveibeenpwned.com) and enter your email address. The SoundCloud breach has been added to the database, so you can instantly see if your account was among the 29.8 million affected. PrivacyOn's dark web monitoring also scans for your personal information across breach databases and dark web marketplaces, alerting you automatically if your data surfaces.
2. Change Your SoundCloud Password
Even though SoundCloud says passwords were not compromised, changing your password is a sensible precaution. If you used the same password on any other service, change those passwords as well. Use a unique, strong password for every account — a password manager makes this easy.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
If SoundCloud offers two-factor authentication (2FA), turn it on immediately. This adds an extra layer of security beyond your password, making it significantly harder for attackers to access your account even if they obtain your credentials in a future breach.
4. Watch for Phishing Emails
This is the biggest real-world risk from the SoundCloud breach. Attackers now have your real name and email address, which means you may receive convincing phishing emails that appear to come from SoundCloud, music labels, collaboration platforms, or other services. Be skeptical of any email that:
- Asks you to click a link to "verify" or "secure" your account
- Creates urgency with threats to delete your tracks or suspend your account
- Asks for payment information or login credentials
- Comes from an email address that looks similar to but is not an official SoundCloud domain
Beware of Targeted Scams
Because attackers know your real name, email, and that you use SoundCloud, they can craft highly targeted phishing attempts. An email saying "Hi [Your Real Name], your SoundCloud track has a copyright claim" is far more convincing than a generic spam message. Always navigate directly to SoundCloud.com rather than clicking email links.
5. Review Connected Apps and Services
If you used SoundCloud to log into other services (via OAuth or social login), review those connections. Revoke access for any services you no longer use. Check your SoundCloud settings for any connected third-party apps you do not recognize.
6. Monitor Your Email for Unauthorized Use
With your email address now circulating on the dark web, it may be used in credential stuffing attacks against other services, added to spam lists, or used to create fraudulent accounts. Monitor your email for unexpected password reset requests or account creation confirmations from services you did not sign up for.
Reduce Your Exposure Going Forward
The SoundCloud breach is a reminder that any online account — even one you might consider low-risk — can become a gateway for attackers. Here are steps to reduce your exposure:
- Use email aliases — services like SimpleLogin or Apple's Hide My Email let you create unique email addresses for each service, limiting the damage when one is breached
- Minimize profile information — avoid using your real name on platforms where it is not necessary
- Remove your data from brokers — the information exposed in the SoundCloud breach becomes more dangerous when combined with data already available on people-search sites. PrivacyOn monitors and removes your personal information from 100+ data brokers, making it harder for attackers to build a complete profile
- Set up dark web monitoring — PrivacyOn's 24/7 dark web monitoring alerts you when your personal data appears in new breach dumps or dark web marketplaces, so you can act quickly
Should You Delete Your SoundCloud Account?
If you no longer use SoundCloud, deleting your account reduces your future risk. You can do this by going to your SoundCloud Settings, scrolling to the bottom, and selecting "Delete account." Keep in mind that this is permanent and will remove all your uploaded tracks and playlists.
If you actively use SoundCloud, deletion is not necessary — just make sure you have taken the protective steps above. The breach did not expose passwords or financial data, so your account remains usable with proper precautions in place.
Stay Ahead of Future Breaches
Data breaches are increasingly common, and no platform is immune. The best protection is a layered approach: strong unique passwords, two-factor authentication, minimal personal information on public profiles, and continuous monitoring for your data across the web and dark web. PrivacyOn provides automated data broker removal and dark web monitoring to help you stay protected even when companies fail to safeguard your information.