Data breaches have become a persistent problem, with regular incidents occurring at public-facing companies across various sectors. While hackers are to blame, corporations often share the fault for failing to protect user data properly.
A recent example came to light when cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered an open database containing over 184 million account credentials. The information includes email addresses, passwords, usernames, and URLs for platforms like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and Snapchat. The dataset also covers banking services, medical platforms, and government accounts.
The database was left unsecured, with no encryption, authentication, or access control measures in place. Fowler found the database during routine scanning of publicly exposed assets. The file included sensitive financial and governmental credentials, which are now vulnerable to cyber threats.
To protect yourself from similar breaches, experts recommend six key steps:
1. Use unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication for all services.
2. Monitor account activity for unusual signs, such as login attempts from unfamiliar locations or unexpected messages sent from your accounts.
3. Invest in personal data removal services to continuously scan for and eliminate exposed information from data broker sites.
4. Avoid clicking on suspicious links and use strong antivirus software to protect against phishing emails and ransomware scams.
5. Keep your software and devices up-to-date with the latest security patches to block malware, ransomware, and spyware.
6. Regularly review your digital footprint to ensure that sensitive information is not being shared online.
Cybersecurity expert Kurt says, “Security is not only the responsibility of companies and hosting providers. Users need to adopt better practices to protect their data from hackers and cyber threats.” By following these steps, individuals can reduce their risk of falling victim to a data breach like the one described above.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/massive-data-breach-exposes-184-million-passwords-logins