The recent breach in Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Siege shook the gaming world, not just because of the billion in-game credits granted to players but due to the potential risk to personal data. As players, it's crucial to understand the implications of such breaches and how they might affect your privacy and security.
What Data Points Were Leaked?
When the Rainbow Six Siege breach hit, headlines focused on the billion in-game credits glitch. But what about your real-world information? Here’s what actually happened.
Breakdown of Accessed Data
Attackers exploited vulnerabilities, most notably the MongoBleed bug. MongoBleed is a weakness in some MongoDB databases where misconfigured permissions can allow unauthorized users to access stored information. In the case of Rainbow Six Siege, this meant that hackers could potentially view more than just game scores or virtual currency.
What Was at Stake?
In-game assets: Yes, massive amounts of in-game credits were exposed. That’s the visible part of the iceberg.
Personal data: The big worry—did the breach go deeper? Hackers had the means to access usernames, email addresses, account IDs, and possibly hashed passwords if the database wasn’t properly segmented.
Did Hackers Access Your Personal Info?
Public statements from Ubisoft focused on the gaming impact. However, the use of MongoBleed suggests that sensitive data, not just gaming stats, could have been accessible. It’s critical to understand that even if passwords weren’t stolen in plain text, hashed passwords can sometimes be cracked, especially if users re-use passwords across multiple services.
Potential Impact of MongoBleed:
Contact details like email addresses could be sold or used for phishing.
Account credentials could be targeted for brute-force attacks.
Linked information (such as connected social accounts) might also be at risk if the breach exposed related data points.
Takeaway: While there’s no public proof that all personal data was downloaded, the technical nature of the breach means it’s possible. Stay alert and treat your account as if it may have been exposed.
Should You Be Worried?
When news of a breach like the one affecting Rainbow Six Siege surfaces, the first question that comes to mind is simple: Was my personal information at risk? Here’s what you need to know—direct, clear, and without the tech jargon.
What Was Allegedly Exposed?
Reports on the Rainbow Six Siege breach sparked anxiety because of claims about stolen user data. Let’s break down what that actually means for you:
Account Details: In most gaming breaches, hackers target usernames, email addresses, and sometimes hashed passwords.
Personal Data: There were claims that personal information—like names, birthdates, and possibly payment info—could be in play. But official statements from Ubisoft have generally pushed back, noting that there’s no evidence of widespread exposure of sensitive personal data.
Game Progress & Stats: Not typically a hacker’s first prize, but sometimes game stats or progress can be compromised, leading to account resets or stolen in-game items.
Risks of Personal Data Exposure
If your data does end up in the wrong hands, here’s what can realistically happen:
Credential Stuffing: Hackers use your stolen username and password to try and access other accounts you own. If you reuse passwords, you’re more vulnerable.
Phishing Attacks: If your email was exposed, expect more suspicious emails trying to trick you into revealing more information.
Identity Theft: While rare with just a gaming breach, if enough personal info is out there, someone could attempt to impersonate you online.
Sorting Fact from Fiction
Not every claim about stolen data is true. Sometimes, reports get exaggerated, or threat actors inflate their success to cause panic. Ubisoft has stated that after investigating, they found no evidence of a significant leak of personal data from Rainbow Six Siege accounts. Still, it’s smart to stay cautious.
How to Protect Yourself Going Forward
Change your password for your Ubisoft account, especially if you haven’t done so in a while.
Don’t reuse passwords across multiple sites. A password manager can help generate strong, unique passwords for each account.
Be wary of phishing emails—never click suspicious links, even if the sender looks familiar.
Monitor your account activity for anything unusual.
If you want to take your privacy a notch higher, tools like Cloaked allow you to create alternate email addresses and phone numbers. This way, if your gaming account is ever involved in a breach, your real contact info stays hidden—making it a lot harder for hackers and spammers to target you.
Staying informed and proactive is the best defense. There’s no need to panic, but ignoring the issue can put you at risk. Treat every breach alert as a prompt to check your security hygiene—your future self will thank you.
What Should Be Your Next Steps?
If your gaming account has been compromised, quick action is non-negotiable. Here’s a direct, step-by-step guide to lock things down and keep your personal data safe.
1. Change Your Passwords Immediately
Switch out your current password for a strong, unique one. Use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Don’t recycle old passwords—hackers know the common tricks.
If you use the same password elsewhere, change those too. One breach can lead to another.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Turn on 2FA wherever possible. It’s a second lock on your door, and it can stop most intruders cold.
Most gaming platforms support 2FA—look for it in your account settings.
3. Monitor for Suspicious Activity
Check your recent login history and transaction records. Look for any actions you don’t recognize—new friends, purchases, messages, or strange device logins.
If you spot anything odd, report it to the platform right away.
4. Secure Your Connected Email
Attackers often try to reset passwords through your email. Make sure your email account has a strong password and 2FA as well.
5. Review Linked Accounts and Remove Unnecessary Access
Many gamers connect accounts from different platforms. Review third-party apps and services linked to your profile. Revoke access to any that you don’t use or trust.
Cloaked offers privacy tools like masked emails and phone numbers. If you’re using Cloaked, swap out your exposed contact info for a Cloaked alias. This adds an extra barrier if hackers try to use leaked data elsewhere.
Tools like these also help you manage your online identity without exposing your real details.
7. Stay Updated
Keep your software and devices updated. Patches often fix vulnerabilities hackers exploit.
Set reminders for regular security checks. Even a quick monthly review can prevent long-term headaches.
8. Be Ready to Act Again
If you notice new breaches or suspicious activity, repeat these steps. Cyber threats evolve, so your defenses should, too.
Staying on top of account security isn’t just a one-time thing. It’s an ongoing habit. The goal: make yourself a hard target, not an easy win for hackers.
At Cloaked, we believe the best way to protect your personal information is to keep it private before it ever gets out. That’s why we help you remove your data from people-search sites that expose your home address, phone number, SSN, and other personal details. And to keep your info private going forward, Cloaked lets you create unique, secure emails and phone numbers with one click - so you sign up for new experiences without giving away your real info. With Cloaked, your privacy isn’t a setting - it’s the default. Take back control of your personal data with thousands of Cloaked users.
*Disclaimer: You agree not to use any aspect of the Cloaked Services for FCRA purposes.
