OnRPG Data Breach: 1 Million Accounts Compromised in 2016

TL;DR

In July 2016, the defunct online gaming list website OnRPG experienced a significant data breach, exposing over 1 million email and IP addresses, usernames, and passwords stored as salted MD5 hashes. The breached data was later redistributed as part of a larger dataset.

Introduction

In the realm of cybersecurity, data breaches are a persistent threat, impacting both large corporations and smaller entities. One notable incident occurred in July 2016 when OnRPG, a now-defunct free online games list website, suffered a data breach. This event exposed sensitive user information, highlighting the vulnerabilities in online gaming platforms and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

Details of the Data Breach

Scope of the Breach

The data breach at OnRPG compromised just over 1 million email and IP addresses, along with usernames and passwords. The passwords were stored as salted MD5 hashes, a method that adds an extra layer of security by appending a unique salt value to each password before hashing. However, despite this precaution, the breach still posed a significant risk to users¹.

Redistribution of Data

The breached data from OnRPG was later redistributed as part of a larger corpus of data. This redistribution amplified the potential impact, as the compromised information could be used in various malicious activities, including credential stuffing and phishing attacks².

Implications for Users

For users of OnRPG, the breach meant that their personal information was exposed to malicious actors. This could lead to unauthorized access to other accounts if users reused their passwords across multiple platforms. The incident underscored the importance of using unique, strong passwords for different online services.

Conclusion

The OnRPG data breach serves as a reminder of the ongoing threats in the cybersecurity landscape. Users and organizations must remain vigilant and implement strong security practices to protect sensitive information. As the digital world continues to evolve, so must our strategies for safeguarding data.

Additional Resources

For further insights, check:

• CyberNews Article on Data Breaches
• Have I Been Pwned

References

1. (2025, May 8). “OnRPG Data Breach”. Have I Been Pwned. Retrieved 2025, May 8. ↩︎

2. (2025, May 8). “Billions of Passwords and Credentials Leaked”. CyberNews. Retrieved 2025, May 8. ↩︎