A significant data breach has exposed . billion unique corporate email addresses along with a substantial amount of business contact information. The leaked data is currently being posted on a popular hacker forum, including the actual addresses, phone numbers, company names, positions, and even personal profiles of many individuals.

The leak, initially released earlier this year, is believed to have occurred on a legacy system that was retired prior to the leak. is a data aggregator and business intelligence provider under , known for compiling and selling data to help companies better target potential customers.

The recent data leak has led many to question how their data was collected and why it was included in the database without their knowledge. is the founder of “ ” (), an online service that helps individuals check if their personal data has been compromised in data breaches. He shared insights on the scale and impact of this leak.

It is pointed out that although these data are public—collected from sources accessible to anyone—many affected users are unaware that their information has been aggregated, packaged, and distributed on such a large scale.

The leak incident has sparked a new round of debate on the ethical considerations of data aggregation, particularly when data collected for one purpose is later used or sold in ways individuals did not anticipate. Although many affected users contacted pointed out that the leaked data was basically accurate and publicly available, whether they had ever intended to buy, sell this information, or associate it with potential security threats remains a question.

In response to inquiries, it was stated that "none of its current operating systems have been exploited," indicating that the leak originated from systems that have since been retired. Given the ongoing nature of the leak, this raises questions about how data security measures should be applied to outdated systems.

Although some users may be indifferent to the exposure of their public information, others are concerned about receiving increasing amounts of spam, phishing, and targeted advertisements. The feedback from users has been mixed, with inquiries about whether they would like to be notified when their data (whether public or not) is leaked. Several users expressed a desire for better control over how their data is used and shared.

The website offers a "Do Not Sell My Information" form, although it appears to be limited to California residents only. This has heightened concerns, as individuals outside the U.S. feel they lack similar means to control the distribution of their data.

After this leak incident, the data has been added to its searchable database. Affected account users will receive alerts so they can take preventive measures, such as monitoring their accounts for unusual activity and updating their passwords if necessary.