Massive data breach exposes 16 billion passwords

Cybersecurity experts have uncovered a massive data breach that has compromised more than 16 billion passwords, including credentials tied to government institutions as well as Apple, Facebook, and Google accounts.

According to researchers, at least 30 data centers were hacked, though it remains unclear exactly which organizations or companies were affected by the large-scale cyberattack.

The team found that some of the data was stolen using malware, while other credentials were obtained through alternative hacking methods.

Cybernews, the research group that discovered the breach, is urging users to change their passwords as a precaution, as investigators have not yet had enough time to determine the full extent of the affected infrastructure.

"The inclusion of both old and recent infostealer logs makes this data particularly dangerous for organizations lacking multi-factor authentication or proper credential hygiene," the researchers warned.

(QG - Source: The Daily Mail - Picture : © Unsplash)