In what is being dubbed as the biggest data breach of all times, 16 billion login details, including passwords, have reportedly been leaked, and more are flowing out on a regular basis.
The expanse and potential impact of this data breach, which has been verified by cybersecurity experts, can be judged by the fact that it could potentially grant cyber criminals access to virtually any online service you can think of, including Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, and Telegram.
With more than 16 billion login records compromised, cybercriminals now possess access to passwords unlike ever before in history, which means it is as fearful as it gets — everything from identity theft and phishing attacks to account takeovers and ransomware is possible.
30 Datasets, Billions Of Passwords Exposed
The massive password leak was discovered by researchers at Cybernews. Vilius Petkauskas from Cybernews wrote that so far the team has “discovered 30 exposed datasets containing from tens of millions to over 3.5 billion records each. In total, the researchers uncovered an unimaginable 16 billion records.”
Cybernews added that among these exposed passwords, there were no previous datasets except for 184 million records discovered in May. It now appears that the 184 million were only the tip of the iceberg. More concerning is the claim by researchers that huge datasets are appearing every few weeks, highlighting the widespread presence of infostealer malware.
How To Protect Yourself From Data Breaches
If you suspect that an infostealer could be in your system, run a scan with a reliable antivirus software before changing passwords to avoid new credentials getting compromised as well.
The next step is password hygiene. Use a strong password and never use the same one across sites, because one breach could compromise other channels. Use a password manager for better management.
Use two-factor authentication and apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator to strengthen security. If you can, use passkeys, which are more secure than passwords and resist phishing better.
. Read more on Technology by NDTV Profit.It is as fearful as it gets — everything from identity theft and phishing attacks to account takeovers and ransomware is possible. Read MoreTechnology, Notifications
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