Flickr Security Breach Exposes User Information: Names and Emails at Risk

Flickr Notifies Users of Data Breach

Flickr, a popular photo-sharing platform, has alerted its users about a potential data breach that occurred due to a vulnerability at a third-party email service provider. This breach exposed users’ real names, email addresses, IP addresses, and account activity.

Established in 2004, Flickr is renowned as one of the largest photography communities and sharing sites globally, boasting over 28 billion photos and videos. With 35 million monthly users and 800 million monthly page views, it is a significant player in the online photography space.

The company has not disclosed the identity of the third-party provider involved in the breach or the exact number of users affected. Despite attempts to reach out for further details, a Flickr spokesperson was unavailable for comment at the time of contact.

Upon discovering the security flaw on February 5, Flickr promptly disabled access to the affected system. While the vulnerability may have allowed unauthorized access to certain member information, the company reassured users that passwords and payment card details were not compromised.

Flickr informed affected users via email, stating, “We were alerted to a vulnerability in a system operated by one of our email service providers on February 5, 2026. This flaw may have granted unauthorized access to some member information, prompting us to shut down access to the affected system swiftly.”

The exposed information includes member names, email addresses, Flickr usernames, account types, IP addresses, general location data, and platform activity. Flickr has advised impacted users to monitor their account settings for any unusual changes and stay vigilant against phishing attempts that could misuse their Flickr credentials.

Users are also urged to update their passwords promptly if they use the same login details on other services. Flickr emphasized its commitment to data privacy and security, expressing regret for the incident and reassuring users of immediate actions taken to prevent similar issues.

“We sincerely apologize for this incident and the concern it may raise. Protecting your data is our top priority, and we are actively investigating, enhancing our system architecture, and bolstering our oversight of third-party service providers to prevent future breaches,” Flickr stated in the email notifications.

Modern IT infrastructure evolves rapidly, outpacing manual workflows. Discover how your team can eliminate hidden delays, enhance reliability with automated responses, and build intelligent workflows using existing tools in the new Tines guide.

Get the guide