A major data breach has hit social media giant X (formerly Twitter), potentially compromising the personal details of 200 million users. Cybersecurity researchers discovered a 34GB file on the hacking forum “BreachForums,” which allegedly contains user IDs, email addresses, follower counts, and other sensitive information.

What Was Leaked?

According to security experts at Safetydetective.com, the leaked dataset includes:

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  • X screen names and user IDs
  • Full names and locations
  • Email addresses
  • Follower counts and profile data
  • Time zones and profile images

Who Is Behind the Breach?

A user named ‘ThinkingOne’ posted the file online, claiming that they are not a hacker but a “data enthusiast.” They stated that they attempted to alert X about the breach multiple times but received no response. “This is by far the largest social media breach ever, and there’s a possibility that additional data, including phone numbers and passwords, could also be at risk,” ThinkingOne told Forbes.

Is the Data Real?

Security researchers verified the authenticity of the leaked data by cross-referencing it with actual X user information. They confirmed that the email addresses in the breach were valid, though they could not confirm whether they belonged to the specific accounts listed.

How Did the Breach Happen?

The origin of the breach remains unclear. However, ThinkingOne claims the dataset is a combination of previously leaked X data from January 2022 and a separate breach from January 2025, which allegedly contained 2.8 billion unique Twitter IDs and screennames.

“How could someone gather all X user IDs unless they were an employee or this was a serious hacking operation?” ThinkingOne speculated.

What Should X Users Do?

While X has yet to respond officially, cybersecurity experts advise users to:

  • Change their passwords immediately
  • Enable two-factor authentication
  • Be cautious of phishing attempts using leaked email addresses
  • Monitor their accounts for unusual activity

This breach underscores the growing threats of cyberattacks and data leaks in the digital age. Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.