WASHINGTON: A serious threat has emerged in the world of cybersecurity as passwords and usernames of about 16 billion online accounts have been leaked on the internet, according to a recent report.
This revelation was made by cybersecurity company “Cybernews”, which said that the leaked data is not only old but also fresh, effective, and useful for hacking.
According to experts, this data has been collected by various malware called ‘Infostealer’, which steals users’ passwords, emails, and login details from infected computers and mobile devices.
This malware steals data not only from web browsers but also from various apps and systems.
The leaked data includes logins of the world’s major online services such as Apple, Google, Facebook, GitHub, Telegram, and even government agencies.
According to the report, this is not just an ordinary data leak but a completely planned collection of data that can be used for major cyber attacks at any time.
Cyber experts have warned users that this data serves as a ‘roadmap’ for hackers, with the help of which they can carry out serious crimes such as phishing attacks, identity theft, and account hijacking.
Experts have urgently instructed general users to take the following security measures:
- Change passwords for all your important online accounts immediately.
- Use separate and strong passwords for each service, preferably through a password manager.
- Use modern security methods such as multi-factor authentication or passkeys.
- Scan your computer or mobile with an antivirus to detect possible malware.
- Avoid suspicious emails, SMS, or links, as the risk of phishing attacks has become severe.
