Over 18 Crore Facebook, Instagram & Apple Passwords Leaked Online: Report
The internet has been abuzz with news of a massive data breach, which has left millions of users in a state of panic. Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler has disclosed that over 18.4 crore (184 million) account credentials, including login information and passwords, have been leaked online. The leaked credentials belong to accounts on government portals, bank and financial sites, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Microsoft, Apple, and Google.
The alarming news has sent shockwaves across the globe, with users scrambling to change their passwords and secure their online accounts. The file containing the credentials, which is a staggering 2.7 GB in size, is not even password-protected, making it easily accessible to anyone who wants to take advantage of the situation.
According to the report, the leaked passwords are a treasure trove for hackers and cybercriminals, who can use them to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and wreak havoc on the affected individuals. The news has also raised serious concerns about the security measures in place by the affected companies, with many users questioning why such a massive breach could occur in the first place.
The sheer scale of the breach is staggering, with Fowler stating that the leaked credentials include passwords from over 100,000 government portals, 150,000 bank and financial sites, and 200,000 accounts on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The list also includes passwords from Microsoft, Apple, and Google, which has raised concerns about the security of these tech giants’ platforms.
The leak is believed to have occurred due to a vulnerability in a third-party plugin, which was used by many websites to secure login credentials. The vulnerability allowed hackers to gain unauthorized access to the password database, resulting in the massive leak of sensitive information.
The news has sent shockwaves across the tech industry, with many experts warning users to change their passwords immediately and enable two-factor authentication to secure their accounts. The affected companies are also scrambling to contain the damage, with many issuing statements assuring users that they are taking immediate action to protect their sensitive information.
In a statement, Apple said, “We take the security of our users’ personal data very seriously and are working to determine the scope of the issue. We are also working to notify the relevant authorities and are taking steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.”
Microsoft also issued a statement, saying, “We are aware of the issue and are working to determine the scope of the breach. We are also working to notify the affected users and are taking steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.”
The news has also raised concerns about the lack of security measures in place by the affected companies, with many users questioning why they were not notified about the breach sooner. The incident has also highlighted the need for better security measures in place, including regular password changes and two-factor authentication.
In conclusion, the massive leak of over 18.4 crore account credentials is a stark reminder of the importance of online security. Users must take immediate action to secure their accounts, including changing their passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. The affected companies must also take immediate action to contain the damage and prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
