Phishing Attack on Troy Hunt's Mailchimp Account Exposes 16,627 Subscribers

TL;DR

• In March 2025, a phishing attack on Troy Hunt’s Mailchimp account exposed 16,627 subscriber emails and additional data.
• The breach highlights the ongoing threat of phishing attacks and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

Phishing Attack on Troy Hunt’s Mailchimp Account

In March 2025, a sophisticated phishing attack targeted Troy Hunt’s Mailchimp account. The attack successfully gained access to his account and automatically exported a list of subscribers to his personal blog’s newsletter¹. The exported data included:

• 16,627 email addresses
• IP addresses
• Derived geographical data (latitude, longitude, and time zone)

This incident underscores the persistent threat of phishing attacks and the need for vigilant cybersecurity practices.

Details of the Breach

The phishing attack was meticulously planned and executed, allowing the perpetrators to access Troy Hunt’s Mailchimp account without raising immediate suspicion. The compromised data included not only email addresses but also other sensitive information automatically collected by Mailchimp, such as IP addresses and geolocation data¹.

Implications and Next Steps

This breach raises significant concerns about data privacy and security. Subscribers affected by this incident should be vigilant for potential phishing attempts and other malicious activities targeting their compromised information.

For more details, visit the full article on Have I Been Pwned².

Conclusion

The phishing attack on Troy Hunt’s Mailchimp account serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat landscape in cybersecurity. It highlights the importance of robust security measures and user awareness in protecting sensitive data. As cyber threats evolve, continuous vigilance and proactive security strategies are essential to safeguard against such breaches.

References

1. (2025). “A sneaky phish just grabbed my Mailchimp mailing list”. Troy Hunt. Retrieved 2025-03-25. ↩︎ ↩︎²

2. (2025). “Troy Hunt Mailchimp List”. Have I Been Pwned. Retrieved 2025-03-25. ↩︎