The biggest password leak of recent years took place. Exactly 10 billion passwords were shared on hacker forums. This huge leak threatens many users. The file named RockYou2024 contains 9.9 billion passwords and seriously jeopardizes users’ account security.
RockYou2024: the biggest password leak in history
In July, the Cybernews research team discovered that a massive password file called RockYou2024 had been shared on a hacker forum. This file broke the previous record of 10 billion passwords. RockYou2024 combines 8.4 billion passwords from the RockYou2021 file and 1.5 billion new passwords estimated to have been collected between 2021 and 2024.
This massive password leak seriously threatens users’ account security. Experts say these passwords could be used by malicious actors in attacks such as phishing and fraud. Cybernews warns that RockYou2024 could lead to multiple data breaches and identity theft.
In the wake of this massive leak, Cybernews recommends some precautions for users to keep their accounts safe. First, immediately change the passwords of all accounts associated with the leaked passwords. Choosing strong and unique passwords is one of the most important steps to increase security.
Second, it is important to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. This goes beyond password-only security, requiring additional verification and increasing account security.
Finally, it is recommended to use a password manager to create and securely store complex passwords. Password managers increase security by preventing the same password from being used for different accounts.
This major password leak incident once again shows how careful users need to be to protect their online security.
Regularly checking sites like HaveIBeenPwned.com is a good way to see if your accounts have been compromised. Remember, it is up to you to ensure your security in the digital world.