If you're a Ledger customer, recent news of the Global-e data breach might have left you feeling uneasy. While Ledger’s systems remain secure, the breach exposed some personal data, raising concerns about potential phishing attacks. Understanding what was leaked, the associated risks, and how to protect your crypto assets is crucial. Let's break down the essentials so you can navigate this situation with confidence.
What Data Points Were Leaked?
The Ledger Global-e data breach rattled a lot of nerves, especially for those who trust Ledger with their crypto assets. Here’s what actually happened: the breach wasn’t in Ledger’s own system, but in Global-e, a third-party payment processor used by Ledger for handling transactions.
What Information Was Exposed?
To clear up any confusion, here’s what attackers managed to get their hands on:
Full Names
Email Addresses
Phone Numbers
Postal Addresses
Order Details (such as items purchased, purchase dates, and shipping information)
If you made a purchase from Ledger’s official store and used Global-e’s checkout service, your personal details might be in this batch.
What Wasn’t Compromised?
Let’s address the elephant in the room—your crypto isn’t directly at risk from this breach. The most sensitive data—your 24-word seed phrases, wallet private keys, and direct payment details (like credit card numbers)—were not exposed. Ledger’s hardware wallet security and core systems remain untouched.
Why Did Global-e Have Your Data?
Global-e handles online orders for many companies, including Ledger. Whenever you made a purchase, Global-e processed your payment and managed shipping details. That’s how your information ended up in their system. Unfortunately, even if you never interacted directly with Global-e, your details were stored there after any Ledger store purchase processed through them.
Bottom line: your contact information and order data may have leaked, but your wallet and assets are still protected. But, there are new risks to watch for—which we’ll break down next.
Should You Be Worried?
No one likes that sinking feeling when you hear your data might be floating around where it shouldn’t be. The Ledger Global-e data breach isn’t just another headline. Even if your wallet addresses or crypto balances weren’t exposed, there are real risks—especially with phishing attacks lurking around the corner.
The Real Threat: Phishing Attacks
Let’s cut through the noise. When your email, phone number, or home address gets out, cybercriminals can weaponize that information fast. Here’s what you need to watch for:
Phishing Emails: Attackers craft emails pretending to be from Ledger or related companies, urging you to “verify” or “secure” your account. The links they provide are traps, designed to steal your recovery phrase or other sensitive info.
Text Message Scams (Smishing): Similar to phishing, but through SMS. These messages might claim there’s an urgent security issue, pushing you to act without thinking.
Phone Calls (Vishing): Fraudsters may even call, posing as Ledger support, trying to coax out details they can use.
Why Stay Vigilant Even If Wallet Details Are Safe?
You might think, “My crypto is safe since my recovery phrase wasn’t leaked.” But attackers don’t need direct access to your funds right away. They’re after your trust—and any slip-up can cost you dearly.
Social Engineering: With enough personal info, scammers can impersonate you or convince others you’re making legitimate requests.
Credential Stuffing: If you use the same email and password combo elsewhere, attackers will try those details on other platforms.
What Could Happen Next?
It’s not just about annoying spam. Here are a few scenarios to keep in mind:
Fake Account Recovery: You get an official-looking email saying, “Your account is compromised—recover now!” The link takes you to a site that looks exactly like Ledger’s, but any info you enter goes straight to the attacker.
Fraudulent Support Contacts: Someone reaches out via phone or email, claiming there’s suspicious activity in your account. They urge you to confirm your seed phrase—something no real support rep would ever ask for.
Physical Threats: In rare cases, addresses exposed in breaches have led to threats or attempted extortion, especially if attackers believe you hold valuable assets.
How Cloaked Helps
Using Cloaked’s privacy features, you can generate masked emails and phone numbers for signups. If a breach occurs, your real contact info remains protected—so phishing attempts hit a dead end. It’s a practical way to keep your personal details out of harm’s way.
Stay sharp. Most phishing attempts succeed because they catch people off-guard or pretend to be urgent. Double-check sender addresses, don’t click on links from unexpected messages, and never share your recovery phrase—not even with someone claiming to be from Ledger.
What Should Be Your Next Steps?
Safeguarding your personal data and crypto assets isn’t just smart—it’s necessary. With scams getting more sophisticated, the best defense is a good offense. Here’s what you can do to stay ahead of threats:
1. Never Share Your Seed Phrase
Your seed phrase is the master key to your crypto wallet. Anyone who gets it, gets your assets.
Don’t store it online, in your email, or in cloud notes. Write it down and keep it somewhere only you can access, like a locked drawer or safe.
If anyone—no matter how official they seem—asks for your seed phrase, it’s a red flag.
2. Double-Check Every Transaction Request
Always verify who is making the request—even if it looks like it’s coming from a trusted company like Ledger or Global-e.
Don’t click on links sent via email or social media. Scammers often mimic official channels.
Use official apps or websites to approve transactions. Avoid shortcuts.
3. Guard Your Personal Information
Avoid oversharing on social media. Hackers use personal details to guess passwords or trick you with convincing messages.
Use strong, unique passwords for every account. Password managers can help you keep track.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. It’s an extra lock on your door.
4. Recognize Phishing Tactics
Watch out for urgent messages that pressure you to act fast—scammers love to create panic.
Look for misspellings, odd URLs, or unfamiliar sender addresses.
If in doubt, reach out to the company directly through their verified contact details.
5. Consider Privacy-First Solutions
If you’re worried about your personal data getting into the wrong hands, tools like Cloaked can help. Cloaked creates masked emails, phone numbers, and passwords so you never have to share your real info with websites or apps. Even if one account gets compromised, your actual identity and main accounts stay safe. This can be a game-changer for those serious about privacy.
Protecting your data and assets is all about being one step ahead. Stay sharp, stay private.
Cloaked FAQs Accordion
Frequently Asked Questions
First, change your passwords—especially if you've reused them across sites. Then enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all key accounts. Review your account and credit activity regularly for any unusual behavior. If suspicious actions surface, consider freezing your credit and alerting your bank. To proactively reduce exposure in the future, tools like Cloaked can mask your personal information before breaches happen.
Cloaked provides you with disposable emails, phone numbers, and payment details, making it harder for bad actors to access your real identity. These tools help you safely sign up for services, communicate, and shop online without putting your core identity at risk.
Commonly targeted data includes full names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, physical addresses, login credentials, and payment info. Tools like Cloaked help shield this information by providing secure, masked alternatives.
Always be skeptical. Malicious links are one of the most common ways hackers infect devices or steal data. Avoid clicking unless you can verify the source. Services like Cloaked can add layers of security so your real contact info isn’t exposed even if you make a mistake.
Using the same contact info across platforms makes it easy for attackers to build a full profile of you. If one platform gets breached, all your accounts can be at risk. That’s why Cloaked allows you to use different, secure contact methods for each service.
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.
