Hackers leak nearly 10 billion passwords in what is considered the biggest cyber security breach

The rising cases of cyber-security breaches have become a matter of concern. According to a report by Semafor, a file containing nearly 10 billion (1,000 crore) passwords was leaked through an online hacking forum. Uploaded on July 4th, this incident is considered the largest cyber-security breach ever recorded.

The report highlighted how this massive leak has raised the risk of credential-stuffing attacks. Credential stuffing is a type of cyberattack where hackers use stolen usernames and passwords from one data breach to attempt to gain access to other accounts owned by the same user.

Forbes quoted some researchers saying, “In its essence, the RockYou2024 leak is a compilation of real-world passwords used by individuals all over the world, revealing that many passwords for threat actors substantially heightens the risk of credential stuffing attacks.”

A Lancet Journal study revealed that since 2020, cyberattacks have doubled globally, with the financial and healthcare sectors being heavily impacted by it.

However, a Forbes report claims that the size of the leak will possibly make the file unusable. The report also stated that more password leaks do not increase the likelihood of cyber attacks, but they do highlight significant weaknesses in online security.

Some steps to avoid a cyber security breach

• Use a strong and unique password
• Don’t use a single password for all the accounts
• Use a password manager
• Regularly change your passwords
• Keep your passwords private
• Enable two-factor authentication

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