Social network LinkedIn confirmed Wednesday that some of its users' passwords have been stolen and leaked onto the Internet.
The company did not say how many of the more than six million passwords that were distributed online corresponded to LinkedIn accounts. The company said it was continuing to investigate the situation.
The company said that members that have accounts associated with the compromised passwords will notice that their LinkedIn account password is no longer valid.
These members will also receive an email from LinkedIn with instructions on how to reset their passwords. These affected members will receive a second email from LinkedIn's Customer Support team providing a bit more context on this situation and why they are being asked to change their passwords.
"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our members. We take the security of our members very seriously," the company said in a statement.
Before confirming the breach, LinkedIn issued security tips as a precautionary measure. The company said users should change passwords at least every few months and avoid using the same ones on multiple sites.