Reports of a major breach dismissed as Valve confirms no compromise of user data
Valve has officially denied rumors of a massive Steam data breach, stating there is no evidence that its systems were compromised or that user data was exposed.
Earlier reports claimed that a database containing sensitive information tied to over 89 million Steam accounts had surfaced on the dark web. The leak was allegedly being sold for $5,000, according to a LinkedIn post by Underdark.ai, a security research firm.
But Valve quickly shut down the speculation.
🔍 Valve: No Account Info, No Passwords, No Breach
In a public statement, Valve explained that the data in question consisted solely of expired one-time authentication codes sent via SMS. These codes were not linked to specific Steam accounts, nor did the leak include any personal information, passwords, or payment details.
“The leaked data did not associate the phone numbers with a Steam account, password information, payment information, or other personal data,” Valve said.
“You do not need to change your passwords or phone numbers as a result of this event.”
Valve emphasized that even if someone had access to these expired codes, they could not be used to compromise accounts. Whenever SMS is used to verify a password or email change, users are also notified via email and Steam Guard, ensuring multiple layers of security.
📡 Where Did the Leak Come From?
While the exact origin of the leak remains unclear, Valve noted that SMS messages are inherently insecure, as they travel unencrypted through third-party providers. The company is currently investigating whether the breach came from a vendor it used to send these codes, though no official confirmation has been made.
🔐 Still, It’s a Good Reminder…
Even though no Steam accounts were affected, the incident serves as a timely reminder to:
- Enable Steam Guard (two-factor authentication)
- Be wary of unexpected verification messages
- Never reuse passwords across accounts
- Avoid clicking links in unsolicited texts or emails
As Valve put it:
“Treat any account security messages that you have not explicitly requested as suspicious.”
