Steam users were recently rattled by rumors of an enormous security breach, with claims that nearly 89 million accounts were on sale for a paltry $5,000 on the dark web. Thankfully, Valve has stepped forward to clear the air: Steam’s systems remain untouched, and there’s no evidence of a massive hack.
In an official statement, Steam confirmed that their internal systems weren’t compromised. Instead, the data in question came from a third-party SMS service that delivers two-factor authentication codes. While any leak can be alarming, this particular incident poses very limited risk to your Steam account’s security.
Steam Rubs Out Breach Rumors
Valve was quick to respond once the rumor mill started churning. According to the company, an internal investigation found zero signs of a breach in Steam’s servers or databases. Those alarming messages claiming your gaming credentials and personal details were stolen turned out to be unfounded.
Steam’s official blog post clarified that the only information exposed consisted of old SMS messages containing one-time codes and the phone numbers to which they were sent. These snippets of data hold almost no value on their own, especially since they expire within minutes.
The Real Source: Old 2FA SMS Messages
So where did these leaked messages come from, if not from Steam itself? The answer lies in one of the third-party vendors responsible for routing the SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. Steam relies on external services to handle the bulk of text message delivery, and that’s where the slip-up occurred.
Apparently, an archive of historical SMS logs was exposed, showing one-time codes valid for a 15-minute window and the associated phone numbers. These codes were never tied back to individual Steam accounts, meaning any snippets of leaked data are effectively useless once they expire.
SMS 2FA: Why It’s Not the Gold Standard
Despite its popularity, SMS-based 2FA has always been considered a weaker form of authentication. Text messages can be intercepted, SIM cards can be swapped, and logs stored by carriers or delivery services can be leaked—and that’s exactly what happened here.
Security experts have long advised moving away from SMS 2FA in favor of more robust methods like time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) or hardware security keys. While SMS codes are better than no 2FA at all, they shouldn’t be your first choice for protecting sensitive accounts.
Understanding the 2FA SMS Leak
The leaked archive contained only old messages, not a live feed of codes. Even if hackers got their hands on these logs, the codes had long outlived their 15-minute lifespan. Moreover, without knowing which Steam account each phone number belonged to, there’s no direct pathway to hijack an account.
In short, this leak was a data exposure of literally disposable codes—and an important reminder that SMS isn’t infallible. The good news is that no passwords, usernames, or Steam Guard keys were ever at risk, keeping your gaming library safely under lock and key.
How to Keep Your Steam Account a Fortress
While this particular incident is low-risk, it’s a perfect opportunity to tighten up your account security. If you’re still relying on SMS-based authentication, consider switching to a more secure alternative. The Steam mobile app includes an integrated Steam Guard authenticator, which generates codes locally on your device.
You can also opt for any industry-standard TOTP app like Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator. These apps generate new codes every 30 seconds and are immune to the same vulnerabilities that plague SMS-based systems. Adding a hardware security key (like a YubiKey) takes security one step further by requiring physical presence for every login.
Bonus tip: Always keep your Steam client and operating system up to date. Regular software updates often include patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities, closing potential loopholes before attackers can exploit them.
By following these best practices, you’ll ensure that your Steam account remains safe and sound—no matter what sensational headlines pop up next.
