In January, it was revealed that the largest database theft in history had occurred, with more than 26 billion user records exposed – a total of 12 TB.
Now, according to Cybernews (a cybersecurity news site), about 10 billion passwords have been compromised, putting the accounts of users who tend to always use the same credentials at risk.
The passwords were posted in a file on July 4 — the United States’ Independence Day — by a group that had previously shared employee data from law firm Simmons & Simmons, online casino AskGamblers, and application information from Rowan College in Burlington County, New Jersey.
Cybersecurity experts warn against creating short passwords consisting of simple sequences of numbers and letters, as they are easier for hackers to decipher. It is preferable to choose passwords longer than 12 characters, combining numbers, upper and lower case letters, and special characters. Using personal data, special dates, names of family members or even pets is out of the question.
Another warning that experts give us is to create a unique password for each online account. Otherwise, if the credentials for one account fall into the hands of cybercriminals, the rest will be at risk. And do not, under any circumstances, go back to using passwords that you have already used before.
Author: Ana Maria Ribeiro
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.