16 billion passwords from Apple, Facebook, Google, and more leaked

A massive data breach has exposed approximately 16 billion login credentials from various online services, most likely originating from infostealers. Data in the leaked datasets opens the gates to pretty much any online service imaginable; Apple, Facebook, and Google, to GitHub, Telegram, and various government services.

Cybernews researchers found 30 datasets, each containing millions to billions of records, none previously reported except for one with 184 million records, "These aren’t just old breaches being recycled. This is fresh, weaponizable intelligence at scale,” researchers said.

The data comprises personal login details, making it a "blueprint for mass exploitation," potentially facilitating identity theft and phishing attacks.

While the datasets were briefly accessible via unsecured storage, the overlapping records make it difficult to determine the total number of exposed accounts.

Users are advised to implement strong passwords and regularly check for malware to protect themselves from such vulnerabilities.