Researchers at Cybernews have discovered 30 exposed datasets containing billions of leaked login credentials, giving criminals unprecedented access to consumer accounts. The leaked data, including user passwords for Google, Facebook, and Apple, totals around 16 billion compromised credentials, roughly double the number of people on Earth.
The leaked information doesn’t appear to come from a single breach but rather from multiple events over time, compiled and briefly exposed publicly. Infostealers, a type of malicious software, are likely responsible for stealing sensitive information.
Experts stress the importance of maintaining “cyber hygiene” in today’s world, where data breaches are common. To protect yourself, change your password immediately and avoid using the same or similar login credentials across multiple sites. Consider using a password manager or passkey to simplify your login process. Adding multifactor authentication can provide an extra layer of verification.
As the leaked credentials are now out in the open, it’s unclear who has access to them, but experts advise taking proactive steps to secure your account data.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/large-login-leak-cybernews-google-apple-meta-2a758a40c398b0a68fb2371a522f70ed