A massive security incident has shaken the internet as over 1.3 billion passwords and 1.9 billion email addresses have been leaked online, making it the biggest data breach in history.

Cybersecurity experts warn that this dataset is being actively used by hackers for so called brute force and credential stuffing attacks, automated attempts to log into accounts using leaked credentials.

Out of the 1.3 billion passwords, 625 million were previously unknown, meaning that millions of accounts could now be at higher risk. Among the leaked data are 394 million Gmail addresses, but almost every major provider is affected.

Many users in the leak have not changed their passwords in over ten years, which makes it even easier for attackers to gain access.

If you want to check whether your data is part of this leak, visit Have I Been Pwned. The site allows you to safely enter your email and see if your credentials have been compromised.

How to protect yourself:
• Change your passwords immediately and use unique ones for every service
• Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords
• Activate two factor authentication wherever possible, as it adds a critical security layer
• Avoid reusing passwords across different accounts, especially for sensitive services like banking or online shopping

Stay safe and make sure your data is not part of this historic breach.

Link: https://haveibeenpwned.com/