In recent news, a significant data breach has occurred, involving the distribution of over 10 billion passwords on a hacker forum. According to TechSpot, a hacker forum has recently disclosed a substantial database containing nearly 10 billion passwords, which is believed to be the largest ever. This has raised concerns about the widespread insecurity of personal information.
The leaked database, known as rockyou2024.txt, consists of a compilation of leaked passwords from various old and recent data breaches. While not all 10 billion passwords are new, the addition of 1.5 billion newly leaked passwords poses a significant threat. This database presents an opportunity for hackers to launch cyber attacks, including the theft of personal information and banking details, potentially resulting in financial losses for users. Experts have highlighted that 61% of data breaches stem from the use of stolen login credentials.
To protect yourself, it is recommended to use online tools such as CyberNews’ Leaked Password Checker or Have I Been Pwned to verify if your password is included in the leaked list. If your password is deemed high-risk, it is crucial to change it immediately and use a strong, unique password for each of your accounts.
Additionally, it is advisable to enable two-factor authentication and employ a password manager to enhance the security of your online accounts.