Major data theft 16 billion passwords compromised

Will changing Password help? The same process which helped in stealing the data can be used again. Besides Password are needed at so many sites that storing them for one's own use can become very cumbersome. Any other solution to prevent misuse of already stolen data? more  

This is all the most scary and serious incident. Thanks to Shri. Sudharshan Venkatraman Sir capturing the incident in brief and outlining the precautions. more  

Any authentic confirmation from appropriate authority? more  

Security researchers have confirmed a massive collection of around 16 billion login credentials, including usernames and passwords tied to services like Apple, Google, Facebook, GitHub, Telegram, and even some government platforms being leaked. What’s the story? * The leak comprises 30 separate datasets, each containing anywhere from tens of millions to over 3.5 billion records, adding up to approximately 16 billion entries. * The data is traced back mainly to "infostealer" malware—malicious software that silently steals credentials from compromised devices. * Fresh vs recycled: Experts emphasise that this isn’t just a recycling of old breaches—the majority of the data appears to be recently harvested and previously unreported. 🧠 Is it the single largest breach ever? * In terms of credential count, yes—this 16 billion entry breach surpasses other major known incidents. * However, some credential entries could be duplicates, and many were gathered from varied sources over time, meaning it may not represent unique user accounts. * Yet researchers stress that because the data is "fresh" and well-structured for easy misuse, its threat is significantly magnified. 🚨 Why it matters * Phishing & account takeovers: With this volume of credentials, attackers have a potent arsenal for credential-stuffing attacks. * Tactical exploitation: The organization of the data (i.e., URLs mapped to login/password pairs) means it can be weaponized immediately. * Widespread alert: Major platforms and authorities (such as Google and the FBI) have issued urgent advisories urging password changes and caution . ✅ What you should do now 1. Change passwords immediately—especially for critical accounts (email, banking, cloud). 2. Use a password manager to generate and store unique, strong passwords for every site. 3. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. 4. Consider passkeys instead of passwords on platforms that support them (e.g. Google). 5. Monitor for unusual activity and exercise caution with unexpected SMS or email links. ✅ Bottom line This confirmed 16 billion-record leak stands as potentially the largest password exposure on record, and its fresh, structured nature makes it especially dangerous. Even if your credentials weren’t directly affected, the scale of this breach is reason enough to adopt strong password hygiene and security practices now. For further reading on this incident, here are top news sources covering it: * [news.com.au](https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/hacking/16-billion-apple-facebook-google-passwords-exposed-in-historic-data-leak-report/news-story/19ea7c26d818e2213adc5591941f161f?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [1]: https://cybernews.com/security/billions-credentials-exposed-infostealers-data-leak/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The 16-billion-record data breach that no one's ever heard of" [2]: https://www.ndtv.com/feature/16-billion-logins-stolen-in-mega-data-breach-threatening-apple-google-and-more-8712948?utm_source=chatgpt.com "16 Billion Logins Stolen In Mega Data Breach Threatening Apple ..." [3]: https://gulfnews.com/technology/worlds-largest-password-leak-exposes-16-billion-credentials-1.500170232?utm_source=chatgpt.com "16 billion passwords leaked in historic data breach: Are you at risk?" [4]: https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/hacking/16-billion-apple-facebook-google-passwords-exposed-in-historic-data-leak-report/news-story/19ea7c26d818e2213adc5591941f161f?utm_source=chatgpt.com "16bn logins leaked, change password now" more  

Yes fully agree more