Attorney
Woods Lonergan PLLC is a nationally recognized complex commercial and civil litigation firm that represents clients in select data breach class actions nationwide. Our attorneys have a proven record of holding national corporations, educational institutions, and technology vendors accountable when failures in cybersecurity expose the sensitive personal, financial, and educational information of consumers and businesses.
On January 26, 2026, reports confirmed that ShinyHunters, the group believed to be responsible for the Sound Cloud data breach, released a massive database containing approximately 30 million SoundCloud user records on the dark web. According to CyberInsider, “the actors behind the breach reportedly attempted to extort SoundCloud before leaking the data online“.
Woods Lonergan is actively investigating the SoundCloud data breach. If you have a SoundCloud account—whether you are a listener, a subscriber, a creator, podcaster, or musician—reports indicate your Personally Identifiable Information (PII), including email addresses and profile data, may be compromised and on the dark web.
If you suspect your data was exposed, Call Our Data Breach Lawyers 24/7 at (332) 378-0376 or email loganlowe@woodslaw.com for a free and confidential consultation.
Woods Lonergan takes no fees unless we win.
“While SoundCloud has stated that passwords and financial data were not exposed,” CyberInsider reports that the stolen dataset—including email addresses linked to user profiles—has already been leaked online. By exposing the private contact information of millions of users, this publication of data on the dark web opens the door to targeted phishing scams, credential stuffing, and identity theft.
Investigation: Categories of User Data Exposed in the Sound Cloud Data Breach
SoundCloud has now admitted that roughly 20% of its user base—which aligns with the 30 million record figure—was affected by this incident. The data allegedly stolen puts nearly every type of Sound Cloud user at risk:
- Listeners & Subscribers: Even if you only use SoundCloud to listen to music, the exposure of your email address makes you a prime target for Credential Stuffing. Hackers often use stolen email lists to try and break into other accounts (like banking or social media) where you may have used the same email.
- Independent Artists & Creators: For musicians and podcasters, this breach links your private legal email to your public profile. This potential loss of privacy can lead to harassment or targeted scams posing as industry professionals.
- Paying Customers (Go/Go+): If you pay for a subscription, your account is a high-value target. Phishing emails often mimic “subscription renewal” notices to steal credit card details.
Publicly traded companies are required to notify affected parties whose data may be at risk. However, privately owned companies like SoundCloud do not meet the same notification requirements. In this instance, you may need to check your emails and the SoundCloud website for updates.
If you suspect your data was exposed, Call Our Data Breach Lawyers 24/7 at (332) 378-0376 or email loganlowe@woodslaw.com for a free and confidential consultation.
The Story of the Breach: How ShinyHunters Allegedly Broke In
Much like the recent cyber attack on Crunchbase, reports suggest this was not a flaw in SoundCloud’s core code, but a manipulation of its internal tools and people.
The “Glitch” That Revealed the Breach: The incident first came to light not through a company announcement, but through user confusion. According to eSecurity Planet, “the breach came to light after users began reporting repeated HTTP 403 forbidden errors when attempting to access SoundCloud through VPN connections”.
The Alleged Method: Forensic analysis indicates that ShinyHunters reportedly utilized a social engineering tactic known as “Vishing” (Voice Phishing) to trick employees. Once inside, reports indicate they did not strike the main database immediately; instead, “attackers gained access through an ancillary service dashboard rather than the company’s core production systems”.
The Focus of Our Investigation: Despite industry-wide warnings about this specific threat vector, our investigation will specifically examine the sufficiency of SoundCloud’s IT security training. We are investigating whether adequate measures were in place to stop intruders from bypassing the “Human Firewall” and accessing these internal dashboards.
The Ransom: After allegedly exfiltrating the data, ShinyHunters demanded a ransom. When SoundCloud reportedly refused, the group carried out their threat. eSecurity Planet notes that the group “is attempting to extort the company after allegedly stealing the database” and has since dumped the data on the dark web.
“The ShinyHunters hackers are back in the news… The group has set up a dark web .onion leak site and has published alleged partial databases linked to SoundCloud.” — Security Affairs
Corporate Accountability: A Private Company
SoundCloud is a private company with US headquarters in New York.
- Why this matters: Unlike public companies that must file immediate disclosures (8-Ks) with the SEC, private companies have different reporting standards. You may not receive a formal data breach notification letter from Sound Cloud immediately. The notice you receive may occur after attempts by bad actors to compromise your personal credentials. .
- Jurisdiction: The New York headquarters places SoundCloud under strict state data privacy laws, including the NY SHIELD Act, which mandates the protection of private information for consumers.
SoundCloud has a legal duty to protect your personal data.
If Sound Cloud’s alleged negligence led to your private information being sold on the dark web, you may be entitled to compensation.
If you suspect your data was exposed, Call Our Data Breach Lawyers 24/7 at (332) 378-0376 or email loganlowe@woodslaw.com for a free and confidential consultation.
About Woods Lonergan PLLC
Woods Lonergan PLLC is a nationally recognized plaintiff firm specializing in complex civil litigation, including class action, data privacy, and cybersecurity matters. We have a proven track record of successfully holding corporations accountable for data breaches and protecting the rights of consumers and businesses.
Our firm is currently representing plaintiffs in open litigation for numerous significant data breaches in 2025, including cases involving Powerschool, Ahold Delhaize, Aflac Insurance, Allianz Insurance, Johnson Controls, Community Health Center, Columbia University, DISA Global Solutions, and New Haven Health.
Notably, in 2025, Woods Lonergan settled the 23andMe Data Breach Lawsuit for $30 million in the Northern District of California, reached an $18 million settlement in the Yale New Haven Health data breach, and secured a multi-million dollar settlement in the Sunflower Medical Group data breach case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
Contact Our Data Privacy Team
If you are a SoundCloud User, Subscriber, or Creator and suspect your data may be exposed, do not wait for the damage to spread.
Call Our Data Breach Lawyers 24/7 at (332) 378-0376 or email loganlowe@woodslaw.com for a free and confidential consultation.
Woods Lonergan takes no fees unless we win.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I live in a state with specific privacy laws. Do I have special rights?
Yes. SoundCloud’s own privacy notice acknowledges that numerous states have enacted privacy laws granting residents specific rights. If you reside in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, or Virginia, specific “State Privacy Laws” apply to you. These laws often grant residents expanded rights regarding data access, deletion, and litigation. Woods Lonergan can help determine if your state’s statutes provide additional leverage for your claim.
I am just a listener, not an artist. Is my Personally Identifiable Information(PII) at risk?
Yes. Reports indicate that email addresses were exposed for nearly 30 million accounts. Hackers use stolen email lists for “Credential Stuffing.” If you use the same email and password combination on SoundCloud as you do for your bank or social media, hackers can potentially use this leak to access your other accounts. We recommend changing your passwords immediately.
My password wasn’t stolen, so can I still be part of a Data Breach Class Action Claim?
Yes. In data breach litigation, the theft of “Personally Identifiable Information” (PII)—such as your email address combined with your user profile—is often sufficient to establish standing, especially if it exposes you to an increased risk of fraud, phishing, or identity theft.
How will I be notified since SoundCloud is a private company?
Because SoundCloud is a private company, they do not issue public stock filings. You should monitor the email address associated with your account for a “Notice of Data Breach” and check the footer of the SoundCloud website for security updates. However, notification may be delayed as the company investigates the full scope of the reported leak.
I use a stage name on SoundCloud. Is my real identity safe?
Not necessarily. If you used a personal email address to register your account, this breach links that private email to your public artist profile. This connection could potentially allow bad actors to “dox” you, revealing your real name or location to the public.
Sources & Citations
- CyberInsider: SoundCloud breach added to HIBP, 29.8 million accounts exposed
- Security Affairs: SoundCloud suffers data breach, user information accessed
- SecurityWeek: User Data Compromised in SoundCloud Hack
- eSecurity Planet: SoundCloud Breach Potentially Affects Millions of Accounts