In a digital age where we juggle dozens of online accounts, a fresh warning from cybersecurity outlet Cybernews has set pulses racing. Researchers have uncovered a trove of 30 exposed datasets containing a staggering 16 billion compromised credentials – double the number of people on Earth today.
The datasets, featuring login information from popular platforms like Google, Facebook and Apple, weren't the result of a single mega-breach. Instead, they were compiled from multiple incidents over time, then briefly exposed on the open web – giving criminals 'unprecedented access' to everyday accounts.
Cybernews experts point to infostealers – a type of malicious software that infiltrates devices to harvest passwords and other sensitive data – as the likely culprit. But questions remain about just how many people were affected and who might now hold this digital goldmine.
While it's impossible to pinpoint the exact number of unique users compromised, the scale of the leak highlights a hard truth: we all need better cyber hygiene. Here are three key steps you can take right now to protect your accounts:
- Use unique passwords for every site. Never reuse or only slightly alter a password across multiple accounts.
- Adopt a password manager or passkeys to generate and store complex credentials securely.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for an extra layer of security – via your phone, email or a USB authenticator key.
As data breaches become more common, prioritizing these simple habits can save you from headaches – and potentially much worse. Stay curious, stay cautious, and keep your digital world locked down.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
