Technology
Panera Bread data breach exposes 5.1M customers
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Another major consumer brand has joined the growing list of companies hit by serious data breaches. Panera Bread has confirmed a cybersecurity incident after the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed it stole millions of customer records.
The breach exposes a wide range of personal details, raising real concerns for anyone who has ever placed an order, created an account or shared contact information with the popular bakery chain.
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SUBSTACK DATA BREACH EXPOSES EMAILS AND PHONE NUMBERS
Panera Bread confirmed a data breach after hackers claimed they stole millions of customer records containing contact information. (AP Photo)
What happened in the Panera Bread data breach?
ShinyHunters added Panera Bread to its data leak site earlier this year, initially claiming it had stolen more than 14 million customer records. According to the group, the stolen data includes names, email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses and account-related information.
Panera Bread has since confirmed a cybersecurity incident. In a statement to media outlets, the company described the exposed data as customer “contact information” and said it has contacted law enforcement and taken steps to address the incident. Panera has not shared technical details about how the attack occurred or whether customers need to take specific actions.
Even “contact information” can be dangerous in the wrong hands. When combined, these details can be used for identity theft, targeted phishing and highly convincing social-engineering scams.
ShinyHunters claims the attackers accessed Panera’s systems through Microsoft Entra single sign-on (SSO). While Panera has not confirmed that claim, it closely mirrors recent warnings from Okta about a surge in voice-phishing attacks targeting SSO platforms.
In these attacks, criminals pose as IT or helpdesk staff and call employees directly. They pressure targets to approve authentication requests or enter login credentials on fake SSO pages. Once attackers capture session tokens or credentials, they can bypass some forms of multifactor authentication and move laterally through company systems. This approach relies on human trust rather than technical exploits, making it increasingly effective.
How many people were actually affected?
At first glance, claims that 14 million customers were affected suggested an enormous breach. However, researchers at Have I Been Pwned? later clarified that the attackers stole 14 million records, not data tied to 14 million unique individuals.
After reviewing the leaked dataset, researchers now estimate the breach affected approximately 5.1 million unique people. The exposed information includes email addresses along with associated names, phone numbers, and physical addresses.
That distinction matters, but it does not eliminate risk. Once stolen data is released publicly, it can spread quickly across criminal forums and be reused for years.
149 MILLION PASSWORDS EXPOSED IN MASSIVE CREDENTIAL LEAK
The hacking group ShinyHunters leaked stolen Panera customer data online after an attempted extortion failed. (Panera Bread)
Hackers leaked the data after extortion failed
ShinyHunters reportedly attempted to extort Panera Bread before publishing the stolen data. When those efforts failed, the group released a 760MB archive containing millions of customer records on its leak site.
This reflects a broader shift in cybercrime. Instead of locking systems with ransomware, many groups now focus on quietly stealing data and threatening public exposure. These attacks are faster, harder to detect, and often just as profitable.
ShinyHunters has used similar tactics in other high-profile incidents involving Bumble, Match Group, Crunchbase and other consumer platforms.
Lawsuits filed after Panera breach disclosure
The breach has already triggered legal fallout. Multiple class-action lawsuits have been filed in U.S. federal court, alleging that Panera failed to adequately protect customer data.
The lawsuits claim Panera knew or should have known about security weaknesses and seek damages, improved security practices, and long-term identity theft protection for affected customers. Panera has not publicly commented on the litigation.
A troubling pattern for Panera Bread
This is not Panera Bread’s first major security lapse. In 2018, a cybersecurity researcher revealed that Panera had left millions of customer records exposed online in plain text. That incident later led to lawsuits and settlements.
Repeated breaches often point to deeper challenges. Large organizations can struggle to secure cloud services, identity systems, and employee access at scale. When attackers target identity platforms instead of infrastructure, a single mistake can expose millions of records.
We reached out to Panera Bread for a comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.
GRUBHUB CONFIRMS DATA BREACH AMID EXTORTION CLAIMS
Exposed contact details like names, emails, and addresses can fuel phishing scams and identity theft long after a breach becomes public. (Donato Fasano/Getty Images)
7 steps you can take to protect yourself following the Panera data breach
When a major consumer brand suffers a breach, customers often don’t realize the risk until weeks or months later. These steps help limit what attackers can do with your information if your Panera data falls into the wrong hands.
1) Use a strong, unique password for every account
If you ever created a Panera Bread account, reset its password immediately. If you reused that password anywhere else, those accounts are now at risk, too. Attackers routinely test breached passwords across email, shopping and banking sites.
A password manager helps by generating strong, unique passwords for every account and storing them securely so you never need to reuse credentials. Many password managers also alert you if your email or passwords appear in known data breaches, giving you an early warning to lock things down fast.
Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.
Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.
2) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds a second step to the login process, usually through an app or device you control. Even if someone gets your password through phishing or a breach, 2FA makes it much harder for them to access your account.
3) Be cautious of phishing messages
Cybercriminals often follow up breaches with fake emails or in-app messages pretending to offer help or security updates. Always double-check the sender and avoid clicking links. When in doubt, open the app or website directly rather than responding to the message. Using strong antivirus software adds another layer of protection by flagging malicious links and blocking known threats before they can do harm. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
4) Limit the personal details you share
When names, email addresses, phone numbers and physical addresses are exposed, identity theft becomes a real risk. Identity theft-protection services monitor your personal information, alert you if it appears on the dark web, and watch for attempts to open new accounts in your name.
If something does go wrong, these services often include recovery support to help freeze accounts, dispute fraud, and guide you through the cleanup process.
See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.
5) Reduce your digital footprint with a data removal service
Scammers don’t rely on one breach alone. They combine leaked data with information from data broker sites to build detailed profiles. Data removal services help remove your phone number, home address and other personal details from hundreds of these sites.
While no service can erase everything, reducing what’s publicly available makes it much harder for criminals to target you with convincing scams or identity fraud. This is one of the most effective long-term ways to lower your risk after any major breach.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
6) Secure your email account
Your email account controls password resets for most services. Protect it with a strong password and 2FA. Regularly review login activity and recovery settings, so attackers can’t use your email to take over other accounts.
7) Watch for account changes after breach news
Not every breach leads to immediate account takeovers. In some cases, attackers quietly test access weeks later. That is why staying alert after breach reports matters. Watch for password reset emails you did not request, profile changes you did not make, or new messages you did not send. Unexpected logouts or security alerts are also red flags. If you notice anything unusual, change your password immediately and review your security settings.
Kurt’s key takeaway
The Panera Bread data breach is another reminder that even familiar brands can become major cyber targets. While Panera says only contact information was exposed, that data is often enough to fuel scams and identity theft long after headlines fade. Staying proactive after breach news is now part of protecting your digital life.
Do you still trust large brands to protect your personal information, or have repeated breaches changed how much data you’re willing to share? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar is down to its lowest price to date
When you’re juggling more than just your own calendar, staying organized can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the Skylight Calendar 2 can help simplify things by syncing multiple calendars in a single spot, and now through May 7th, it’s available directly from Skylight for $259.99 ($40 off), its best price to date.
Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar improves upon the original with a brighter screen, faster performance, and a slimmer design with swappable magnetic frames. Otherwise, though, it offers the same core experience, making it easy for the whole family to see events at a glance, whether you mount it on a wall or place it on a kitchen counter using the included adjustable stand. It automatically syncs with Google, Apple, Yahoo, Outlook, and Cozi calendars, pulling them into a single shared space that updates automatically. Each household member gets their own color, too, so it’s easy to keep track of who’s doing what.
In addition to event planning, the Calendar 2 makes it easier to arrange and assign other day-to-day tasks. You can create and manage shared chore charts, grocery lists, and to-do lists directly on the touchscreen device or through the mobile app for Android and iOS, which makes it easy for everyone in your household to stay on track and contribute. Skylight also provides detailed weather forecasts for your events, so you know what to expect before heading out.
If you subscribe to Skylight’s Calendar Plus plan, the Calendar 2 takes even more of the work off your plate. You can forward emails, upload PDFs, or snap photos of flyers and automatically turn them into calendar events. You also get meal planning tools that let you plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the week, as well as the ability to assign chores and reward kids for completing them. Plus, just for fun, there’s a screensaver mode that turns the display into an ad hoc digital photo frame when it’s not actively being used as a calendar.
Technology
Anthropic’s Mythos AI found over 2,000 unknown software vulnerabilities in just seven weeks of testing
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There is a new AI model called Mythos. Anthropic built it for defensive cybersecurity research. It is so effective at finding software vulnerabilities that Anthropic decided the general public cannot have it.
Instead, it is letting a small circle of trusted partners like Microsoft and Google experiment with it first under controlled conditions, while researchers figure out what guardrails need to exist.
That decision alone should tell you something. When the company that built a tool decides the world is not ready for it, you pay attention. And when you understand what Mythos actually did during testing, that caution starts to make complete sense.
WINDOWS PCS AT RISK AS NEW TOOL DISARMS BUILT-IN SECURITY
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Anthropic’s Mythos AI uncovered more than 2,000 unknown software vulnerabilities in just seven weeks, showing how fast AI can now expose hidden weaknesses. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
How Anthropic’s Mythos AI found 2,000 vulnerabilities in seven weeks
Seven weeks. One AI model. One team. More than 2,000 previously unknown software vulnerabilities were found. If you need a moment with that, take it. John Ackerly, CEO and co-founder of Virtru, a data security company, put that figure into perspective in a way that is hard to shake.
“Mythos is absolutely a turning point for cybersecurity. Think about it. Mythos didn’t pick a lock; it found thousands of locks that were never locked in the first place (that no one even knew existed) in software that the best human security researchers had studied for decades.
The math is staggering. One AI model, and one team, in seven weeks, found more than 2,000 zero-day vulnerabilities. That is 30% of the world’s entire annual output prior to AI. When thousands of researchers get access to AI models like Mythos, a single year will surface exponentially more zero-days than the 360,000 recorded in all of software history.
Mythos and other AI models like it can now find and exploit software flaws at a speed and scale that is beyond containment. This means that the old approach of building stronger walls around systems and hoping they hold is becoming much less reliable. It also means that the manual “find a vulnerability, patch the vulnerability” process is not going to keep pace with a threat landscape bolstered by the speed and scale of AI.
The threat surface is now expanding faster than any wall can contain it. The only answer to this new dynamic is to protect the data itself, rather than prop up perimeter protection around it.
Thirty percent of the world’s annual output in seven weeks changes the game entirely.
What makes Mythos AI different from other AI security tools
Cybersecurity teams have used AI tools for years. So, what makes this different?
Ackerly explains it this way: “What makes this different is the level of autonomy and speed it enables. Mythos is being described as a system that can discover vulnerabilities and even generate working exploits much faster than traditional human-led workflows. This model could make it easy for a bad actor to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in software, even if that bad actor isn’t knowledgeable or trained.”
That last part matters most. Before a tool like this, exploiting a serious software vulnerability required real technical skill. Mythos AI lowers that barrier significantly. A person with bad intentions and no technical background could potentially use a model like this to cause serious damage. The expertise gap that once offered some natural protection is closing.
FAKE PAYPAL EMAIL LET HACKERS ACCESS COMPUTER AND BANK ACCOUNT
Security experts warn that tools like Mythos could shrink the time it takes to find and exploit flaws from weeks down to minutes. (Patrick Sison/AP Photo)
Why Anthropic’s Mythos AI is breaking down perimeter security
Most cybersecurity spending, the overwhelming majority of it, goes toward what experts call perimeter defense. Think firewalls, network monitoring, endpoint security and intrusion detection. The entire strategy is built on one core idea of keeping the bad actors out, and the data inside stays safe.
Ackerly describes how that model is now breaking down.
“The perimeter is the digital wall around your systems and the information you possess. For decades, cyber strategies have primarily focused on the idea that if you protected the perimeter well enough — if you built a strong enough wall — the sensitive data on the inside would stay safe,” Ackerly said.
“The industry has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into firewalls, endpoint detection, network security, application security and other perimeter defenses. Traditional security architecture by itself cannot keep pace in this new world.
“The Mythos development from Anthropic is making a hard truth very apparent: Time is running out for companies to prepare for this new reality. Shifting focus from ‘protecting the perimeter’ to ‘protecting the data’ is critically important to mitigate data loss or compromise.”
Hundreds of billions of dollars. And now the model those dollars were built on is becoming unreliable. It forces a full rethink.
Does Anthropic’s Mythos AI give attackers the advantage?
This is the question everyone wants a straight answer to. Ackerly offers one that is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
“I wouldn’t frame it as attackers automatically having an advantage. But, over time, it does mean that ‘bad guys’ and ‘good guys’ will have access to essentially the same tools. As a result, I do think defenders absolutely need a different strategy. If you assume the outer wall may fail, then the smarter move is to protect the data itself so it stays controlled even after a breach.”
The playing field is leveling. And that may sound fair until you remember attackers only need to succeed once, while defenders have to succeed every time.
How fast is Mythos AI changing the cybersecurity threat landscape?
Speed is what makes Mythos AI genuinely alarming. Traditional cyberattacks move through a lifecycle. Reconnaissance takes time. Finding the right vulnerability takes more time. Building an exploit takes more time on top of that.
Ackerly explains what happens when AI compresses all of that.
“AI is accelerating the threat. A model that can find and exploit vulnerabilities autonomously compresses the attack lifecycle from weeks to hours, or even minutes. Every layer of the traditional security stack now has to operate at machine speed. Manual security architectures cannot keep up.
“But AI also makes data-centric security more powerful, not less so. When every piece of sensitive data is protected at the object-level, AI agents can enforce governance at scale by checking entitlements, applying attribute-based access controls, and auditing data flows in real time. The same capabilities that make Mythos a dangerous tool in the hands of ‘bad guys’ make it a valuable tool in the hands of ‘good guys.’”
The question organizations should be asking shifts from “how do I build higher walls?” to “when the walls fail, is my data still protected?” That is the question worth sitting with.
What Mythos AI means for regular people’s personal data
Most of the Mythos coverage has focused on corporate risk. But your bank account and medical records sit in those same vulnerable systems.
“For everyday people, the first change is that breaches and scams could become more frequent, more targeted, and harder to spot. If AI makes it easier to uncover weak points in the systems we all rely on, that can translate into more pressure on the services that hold our personal data, from email and cloud storage to health, banking, and retail platforms.
Consumers shouldn’t assume a company is doing the right thing with their data. Now, they really can’t assume a company’s outer defenses are enough to protect their information.
This also highlights the importance of basic cyber hygiene like unique passwords and MFA, so that when breaches happen, the scope of impact on your own personal data is contained.”
Your bank account, your medical records, your tax documents, your private messages. All of it already lives across dozens of platforms you trust to protect it. If those platforms’ outer defenses are no longer reliable, what exactly is standing between your data and someone who wants it?
Ackerly goes further on where the exposure actually lives. “Data now travels across clouds, devices, partners, and borders. The risk isn’t just one hacked server in one building anymore. It’s all the places your data passes through or gets copied to along the way.
Was Anthropic right to keep Mythos AI restricted?
Anthropic made a choice that is rare in the AI industry. They built something powerful and then decided not to release it widely.
On that decision, Ackerly is direct. “Anthropic’s decision to withhold Mythos from general release is unprecedented and, frankly, responsible. Time will tell what these partners are able to do with regard to safety, but releasing it to the general public would certainly have been ill-advised and dangerous.”
Unprecedented. That word deserves weight here. In an industry that races to release new tech, Anthropic stopped. That speaks volumes.
We reached out to Anthropic for a comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.
THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS
As AI accelerates cyberattacks, the focus is shifting from protecting networks to protecting the data itself. (Kury “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to stay safe as cybersecurity shifts
The perimeter model is deteriorating, but that does not mean you are helpless. Individual behavior still matters, and it matters more now than it did before.
Ackerly’s recommendation is this: “Stop assuming the app, platform, or company perimeter can always protect your information, or that they will do the right thing with your data. People should be much more deliberate about what data they share, where they store it, and who can access it. Protection needs to travel with the data, not just sit at the edge of a network. For you, that means choosing services that give you stronger control over your information and being more cautious about oversharing sensitive data in the first place. The data owner should always have governance over said data.” So where do you start?
1) Use unique passwords for every account
A password manager makes this realistic. If one platform gets breached, unique passwords keep the damage isolated to that one account.
2) Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever it is available
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a layer that survives even when a password is compromised. It is one of the highest-impact steps an individual can take.
3) Run strong antivirus software and keep devices updated
Outdated software is one of the most common entry points attackers use. Strong antivirus software catches threats your instincts might miss, and keeping apps and operating systems current closes the gaps that models like Mythos are built to find. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
4) Be selective about what you share and where
Every app that holds your data is a potential exposure point. The less you overshare, the smaller your footprint becomes.
5) Use a data removal service
Data brokers collect and sell your personal information, often without you ever knowing. Data removal services find where your data is listed and request its removal. You cannot control every place your information travels, but you can shrink the trail it leaves behind. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
6) Choose services that offer real data control
Not all platforms treat your data the same way. Look for services that let you see, manage and limit how your information is used and where it goes.
7) Monitor your accounts and credit
Catching a breach early limits the damage significantly. Set up account alerts wherever your bank or financial platform allows it. A credit freeze costs nothing and stops new accounts from being opened in your name without your knowledge.
8) Stay skeptical of phishing attempts
Ackerly warned that scams will get more targeted and harder to spot as AI lowers the barrier for bad actors. Scrutinize every link before you click it and treat unexpected emails or texts asking for login information as suspicious by default. If something feels off, it probably is.
9) Assume breaches will happen
The goal is to limit how much damage they can do. When you operate with that assumption, your decisions about data hygiene get sharper, and your exposure gets smaller.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Mythos did not create the vulnerability problem. It made the scale of it visible in a way that is no longer ignorable. The foundation of modern cybersecurity, the idea that strong enough walls will keep data safe, is being tested in real time by a technology that moves faster than any human team can. That is a consumer story as much as it is a corporate one. Your data lives in systems built on that old model.
And the moment to think differently about how it is protected is now, not after the next major breach makes the headlines. Anthropic made a responsible call by limiting access to Mythos. But the model exists. The capability is real. Other versions of it are being developed. The question for every organization and every individual becomes the same one Ackerly keeps returning to.
When the walls fail, and experts are telling us they will, what is actually protecting your data on the other side? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Trump fires the entire National Science Board
Multiple sources are reporting that the Trump administration has dismissed the entire National Science Board (NSB). The NSB advises the president and Congress on the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has already been funding research at historically low levels and has seen significant delays in doling out that funding. The NSF has been fundamental in helping develop technology used in MRIs, cellphones, and it even helped get Duolingo get off the ground.
In a statement, Zoe Lofgren, the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, said:
“This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation. The NSB is apolitical. It advises the president on the future of NSF. It unfortunately is no surprise a president who has attacked NSF from day one would seek to destroy the board that helps guide the Foundation. Will the president fill the NSB with MAGA loyalists who won’t stand up to him as he hands over our leadership in science to our adversaries? A real bozo the clown move.”
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