Steam Accounts Safe Despite Rumors, Says Valve

News recently made the rounds claiming that a massive data breach put over 89 million Steam accounts at risk due to leaked SMS messages tied to two-factor authentication (2FA). Understandably, this caused concern among many gamers. However, Valve, the company behind Steam, has stepped in to shut down those rumors.

Valve confirmed that the leak in question did not involve any Steam account data. The supposed breach came from an old batch of SMS messages that included expired 2FA codes. These codes were only valid for a short 15-minute window and were specific to the phone numbers that requested them. After checking the leaked sample, Valve found that no Steam accounts were linked to the exposed data.

Steam, which has been a go-to PC gaming platform since 2003, continues to be a top choice for gamers despite growing competition from other platforms like Epic Games Store and Xbox for Windows. Valve regularly listens to user feedback, adding useful features like hiding games from friends or cracking down on intrusive in-game ads.

While Valve reassured users that there’s no need to change passwords or phone numbers at this time, it’s still wise to take basic precautions. Changing your password now and then, enabling two-factor authentication, and checking your login history are smart habits for staying secure online.

If you haven’t yet, using the Steam mobile app is a great way to boost your account’s safety. The app includes Steam Guard, a security feature that helps prevent unauthorized access. Plus, you can easily monitor devices connected to your account and adjust your settings anytime.

So far, Valve hasn't found any signs that the leak affected Steam accounts, but they’re continuing to investigate. In the meantime, users can take comfort in knowing that their information remains safe, and maybe take a moment to update that password just in case.