16 billion Apple, Facebook, Google passwords exposed in historic data leak: report
In what experts call a “blueprint for mass exploitation,” 16 billion passwords have been leaked online, according to bombshell new research.
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A staggering 16 billion passwords to Apple, Facebook, Google, and various US government services have been leaked online, triggering global security alerts in what experts are calling the most significant data breach in history.
The mammoth security breach has forced Google to urge billions of users to change their passwords immediately.
At the same time, the FBI has issued warnings to Americans about opening suspicious links in SMS messages.
Cybersecurity experts at Cybernews, who investigated the breach, discovered a whopping 30 exposed datasets containing between tens of millions and over 3.5 billion records each.
Perhaps most alarmingly, researchers confirmed that nearly all these exposed datasets contain previously unreported information, making this an entirely fresh security crisis.
“This is not just a leak – it’s a blueprint for mass exploitation,” the researchers said via Forbes this week.
The leaked information mainly consists of URLs paired with login credentials and passwords, potentially giving hackers access to “pretty much any online service imaginable, from Apple, Facebook, and Google, to GitHub, Telegram, and various government services.”
The datasets appeared online only briefly – long enough to be discovered but too quickly for researchers to identify who controlled the data.
“These aren’t just old breaches being recycled,” researchers said.
“This is fresh, weaponisable intelligence at scale.”
Cybernews investigators believe the breach is the work of multiple “infostealers” – malicious programs designed to harvest credentials from infected devices.
While the total number of affected people is unclear, security experts are strongly advising the public to take immediate precautions.
Users are being urged to invest in password management solutions, never share passwords across multiple platforms, and remain vigilant for signs their accounts may have been compromised.
Investigators also warn this breach could fuel phishing attacks and account takeovers in the coming months.
Originally published as 16 billion Apple, Facebook, Google passwords exposed in historic data leak: report
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