A massive credential breach, now being called the largest password leak in history, has exposed over 16 billion records, affecting countless individuals and businesses worldwide. Discovered by cybersecurity researchers at CyberNews and reported in multiple outlets, the leak combines years of previous data breaches with newly stolen credentials gathered via infostealer malware.
🔎 What Happened?
The breach, dubbed the "Mother of All Breaches (MOAB)," includes data from well-known hacks like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Tencent, and also contains new credentials harvested by malware such as RedLine, Raccoon Stealer, and Vidar.
Cybersecurity researchers confirmed the leak includes:
- 16 billion unique credentials (usernames + passwords)
- Data from past breaches, phishing campaigns, and malware
- Credentials from platforms like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, and more
The database was compiled and leaked on a popular hacking forum, making it accessible to cybercriminals worldwide who can now exploit it for credential stuffing, phishing, and identity theft campaigns.
🚨 Why This Matters
Many people reuse passwords across multiple platforms. If even one of your accounts is compromised in this leak, attackers can potentially access:
- Your email accounts
- Banking or financial accounts
- Work-related systems and cloud storage
- Social media profiles
Cybercriminals are already leveraging the data for widespread credential stuffing attacks, targeting everything from Netflix accounts to corporate VPNs.
🔐 How to Check If You're Affected
Use the following tools to verify whether your data has been leaked:
- Have I Been Pwned: A trusted site to check if your email or phone number has been part of any public breaches.
-
CyberNews Data Leak Checker: Checks if your email is in the MOAB breach.
✅ 3 Steps to Secure Your Accounts
- Change all compromised passwords immediately. Start with your email, banking, and cloud storage services.
- Use unique, strong passwords for every account. Consider using a password manager like Bitwarden to create and store them securely.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) wherever possible, especially on critical accounts like email and banking.
📽️ Steps You Can Follow (DIY)
- Visit haveibeenpwned.com
- Enter your email and check for past breaches
- Do the same with CyberNews Leak Checker
- Use Bitwarden or another password manager to create unique passwords
- Turn on 2FA in Gmail, social media, and financial accounts
- Educate others about this breach and share this post with your friends & family
📄 Summary Table
| Type of Data | Included? | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Email Addresses | ✔️ | High |
| Passwords (plaintext and hashed) | ✔️ | Critical |
| Phone Numbers | ✔️ | Medium |
| Banking Info | ❌ | Low |
📢 Final Thoughts
This is a wake-up call for everyone. Whether you're an individual or an enterprise, securing your credentials is no longer optional—it's essential. Always be proactive, not reactive.
🎬 Watch the Video Tutorial
We’ve created a step-by-step guide on how to check if your credentials have been leaked and what to do next. Watch below:
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