NexusMods.com 2013 Data Breach: What Happened and What Was Exposed?

In July 2013, NexusMods.com, one of the world’s largest platforms for sharing and downloading video game modifications, suffered a significant data breach. Attackers gained unauthorized access to the website’s user database, exposing more than 5.9 million user records. The breached information included usernames, email addresses, and passwords that were protected using salted hashes. Despite the scale of the compromise, the incident remained under wraps for more than two years. It wasn’t until December 2015 that Nexus Mods publicly acknowledged the breach, informing users and implementing necessary security measures.

What Led to the NexusMods.com Breach?

The breach occurred in July 2013 when malicious actors managed to access the site’s database. NexusMods.com is well-known for hosting custom modifications for video games like the Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, making it a popular community hub. The attackers targeted this active user base, extracting millions of account records in the process. The compromised data, although hashed and salted, still put user privacy at risk.

What Data Was Exposed in the 2013 Nexus Mods Breach?

During the breach, the attackers were able to access and extract the following personal data associated with NexusMods.com accounts:

• Usernames
• Email addresses
• Password hashes (with salt)

Passwords were not stored as plain text, but as salted hashes, which adds a layer of protection. However, the exposure of both the hash and its associated salt elevates the risk, especially for users who reused passwords across different online accounts.

How Many Users Were Affected by the NexusMods.com Breach?

The number of records affected in the breach reached approximately 5,920,920 user accounts. This represented a large portion of the active modding community worldwide.

Timeline: From Breach to Disclosure

• July 2013: The initial breach occurs, with attackers obtaining unauthorized access to the site’s database.
• 2013–2015: The breach remains undisclosed to the general public and user base.
• December 2015: Nexus Mods releases an official statement acknowledging the breach and alerts users to the incident.

FAQ About the NexusMods.com 2013 Data Breach

What happened in the Nexus Mods 2013 data breach?

In July 2013, NexusMods.com’s user database was accessed by attackers, exposing usernames, email addresses, and salted password hashes of over 5.9 million users. The breach was later confirmed by the site in December 2015.

How many users were impacted in the NexusMods.com breach?

Roughly 5.9 million user accounts were affected, making this breach one of the more notable incidents in the gaming modding community.

What data was leaked in the NexusMods.com breach?

The data exposed included usernames, email addresses, and passwords stored as salted hashes. No plain text passwords or payment information were part of the breach.

When did the Nexus Mods breach happen?

The breach took place in July 2013. The incident was publicly disclosed by Nexus Mods in December 2015 after remaining unknown to users for more than two years.

How can I check if I'm in the Nexus Mods breach?

You can check if your information was part of the Nexus Mods breach by utilizing the DeHashed search engine.