Largest Password Leak Releases 10 Billion Passwords
Cybernews has reported that the recent RockYou2024 password leak included one of the largest compilations of user data so far. Almost 10 billion user passwords were released on a popular hacking forum.
This type of breach is particularly dangerous to individuals who reuse passwords on multiple accounts or websites. In it’s “2024 Consumer Cybersecurity Assessment Report“, Bitdefender notes that password management is a major consumer weakness, with many users relying on written passwords or the same password for two or more accounts.
Steps to take to protect your passwords and personal information.
There are a few basic steps to take if you think you are at risk:
- Immediately reset your passwords with a strong, unique password not used on other accounts.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This requires a text confirmation or unique code from an Authentication App or file backup.
- Utilize a password manager to securely generate and store complex passwords. Although they are not 100% immune from data breaches, they offer increased protection by storing your credentials in the cloud and accessible on multiple devices, and prompting frequent password updates.
