A potential data breach at the Florida Department of State could have exposed the info of nearly 500,000 people

On Saturday, March 29, 2025, a post appeared on a popular hacker forum claiming that the Florida Department of State had been hit by a breach.

The person claiming responsibility for the incident claims to have leaked nearly 600,000 records, including almost half a million unique email addresses.

Breach details

On March 29, 2025, a user with a good reputation on the forum named Rey claimed to have leaked 568,835 records containing sensitive personal information from the Florida Department of State.

The alleged breach is said to include 487,961 unique email addresses. If true, this means nearly half a million people might have had their personal information exposed.

The hacker claims the data belongs to “individuals associated with the Department,” suggesting it could include employees, clients, and others who interacted with the office.

The affected data reportedly includes:

• First names
• Last names
• Addresses
• Email addresses.

Although the leaked data isn’t critical, it could still pose risks to any individuals affected. 

Email addresses in the wrong hands could lead to spam campaigns or social engineering attacks like phishing. If approached without caution, such attacks could cause serious financial consequences.

Home addresses are more concerning, as they might lead to address fraud or even physical harm to state employees.

About the Florida Department of State

The Florida Department of State handles a wide range of tasks in Florida, from overseeing business operations and elections to preserving the state’s cultural and historic resources. 

It manages public records, regulates businesses, and takes care of the Florida State Archives, among other responsibilities. 

What to do if you’re affected

If you think you or someone you know could be affected by this breach, here are a few steps to stay safe:

• Update your passwords: While no passwords were reported stolen, it’s a good idea to change them just in case. If you use the same password on other websites, be sure to update those too, and make sure each one is strong and unique.
• Be cautious of scams: Since your contact information might have been exposed, watch out for any emails that seem suspicious. Scammers could try to use your details to trick you.
• Keep an eye on your accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit accounts for any signs of unusual activity. Catching problems early can help you take care of them quickly.

Stay informed

This incident has not been confirmed yet, and the Florida Department of State has not issued an official statement. 

We will update this article with any new information as it becomes available.