Leaked information today is a norm unlike in the past. A recent observation by Cybernews, Kaspersky, and Forbes state that more than 16 billion accounts comprising emails, usernames, and passwords have been leaked and are spreading on the internet. This is the reason for the existence of the breach directory. org. They aid users to discover if their email, password, or even their accounts are part of a public breach. Before proceeding, users must first identify what the leaked information entails, the origins of the data, and what threats it may pose. A breach directory is a lengthy, searchable archive that consolidates emails and passwords from data breaches. Rather than being jumbled across the dark web, the data is stored in an accessible database.
Some parts of a breach directory can contain the following pieces of information:
- Usernames and email addresses
- Plain text and hashed passwords
- Contact information
- Log in pages
- Session cookies and other metadata in certain instances
The quote “breach directory. org search over 16 Billion Public Leaked Records” demonstrates just how large these collections have become.
Where Did These 16 Billion Records Come From?
Recent investigations have found 30 different datasets which total around 16 billion credentials. Here’s how they were collected:
- Infostealer Malware. Any malware on a compromised device can steal stored logins in the browser along with cookies and tokens.
- Old Breaches. Several records originate from leaks of the past that have been consolidated into massive collections.
- Credential Stuffing Lists. Attackers compile known logins and then attempt them on various platforms.
- Underground and Dark Web Forums and Dumps. Stolen information circulates in hacker markets and is later made publicly available.
- Some datasets are massive. One dataset contained 3.5 billion records associated with accounts from Portugal, another had 455 million records from Russia, and about 60 million records possibly related to Telegram users.
Why this leak is more dangerous than those in the past
Wider credential leaks have been around for quite some time, but there appears to be more 'weight' to the 16 billion credential exposure:
- Fresh leaks - It appears that most infostealer malware of recent years has been successful as many of the credentials appear to be more recent and not recycled from previous hacks.
- Details of leaks - Attackers can evade 2 Step Verification with ease as some of the leaks possess session tokens and cookies that contain login credentials.
- The scale of attacks - The leaked credentials appear to have the full spectrum as it includes accounts from virtually every part of the world, from gaming accounts to banking.
- Interrelated dangers - It is important to note that regardless of any duplicated login credentials, the attackers only require a single active login to inflict damage.
The ever-evolving risks you are likely to come across
- Account Takeovers - Accounts of users with a previous data breach get reused to gain access to social media and financial accounts.
- Impersonation - Statistics stolen as a data set makes it easier to pretend to be the target.
- Phishing Attacks - The deceptive messages that attackers throw are directed to targets crafted around the stolen information.
- Monetary Plunder - The breach only has saved login credentials to check for stolen money.
- Diminished Business Reputation - For organizations that suffer information breaches, it ruins the bond with clients and can place the business in a desperate legal position.
What have you done to see that you have not been targeted
In case you want to check for accounts that are exposed, you should only rely on for accounts that have not a single trace of hacked passwords.
- Only provide your email address or username. Do not submit your password under any circumstance.
- If your email address appears on leaks, it is best to presume the password associated to it is compromised as well.
- You should change the associated account password and enable 2FA immediately.
What you should do right now
According to Kaspersky and Forbes professionals, the top five actions you should prioritize are as follows:
Replace your passwords.
Focus on your email, bank, and social media accounts as a priority. Your password should be sufficiently long, unique, and random.
Make use of a password manager.
Tools such as Bitwarden, 1Password, and LastPass are capable of creating and saving individual logins.
Enable 2FA.
Make use of app based 2FA or hardware keys if available.
Remove passwords saved from the browser.
Infostealers are known to capture logins saved within your browser. Delete these logins and use a password manager.
Evaluate passkeys.
Passkeys are much safer than traditional passwords as they cannot be leaked. Many platforms now provide ways to log in without a password.
Practical example.
Let’s say you created a shopping account which is linked to the email and password of your main Gmail account. Your shopping site’s database is compromised and your login details are part of the 16 billion leaked accounts. Hackers trying to use the same email and password combination on her Gmail account. That is the level of ignorance with credential reuse which can compromise your online security.
Checklist for Security
- Delete outdated and reused passwords
- Enable MFA/2FA on every account you can.
- Use an approved password manager.
- Use passkeys instead of passwords.
- Update your system regularly to protect against infostealers.
- Review your accounts regularly for abnormal behavior.
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Conclusion – Hackersking Insights
More than a byte of info, the 16 billion records found leaked speak for the negligence of the fundamental rules of cyber security. Breach directories, though handy in determining exposed records, also reveal the magnitude of the issue at hand.
Proactive and responsive steps to any notified breaches are the core of the security we provide at Hackersking. Along with extended tech security insights, we provide immediate actionable measures for account securing to remain a step ahead of the threats.
With Hackersking, you can be certain- Stay secured, Stay aware, Stay informed.
