16 Billion Passwords Leaked Worldwide! Indian government warns Apple, Google and Facebook users

July 07, 2025 ABP Live

leaked data start?

CERT-In report, these leaked passwords have been collected from more than 30 data dumps, whose main source is these. Info-Stellar malware that infects users' computers or browsers. Incorrectly configured databases, such as the open Elasticsearch server. This leak includes not only passwords, but also the following information, usernames and passwords, session cookies, authentication tokens, metadata information associated with the account.

Why is this threat so serious?

credential stuffing: Hackers can try the same password on multiple sites.

phishing and social engineering: Leaked information can be used to create fake but seemingly trustworthy scams.

account takeover: Hackers can take full control of your bank, social media, or business account.

Business Fraud and Ransomware Attacks: Companies can be targeted and scammed.

? CERT-In Recommendation

CERT-In advises users to take some important measures to protect their data.

Instantly change passwords for all your important accounts, especially for email, banking and social media
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) so that no one can easily log in even if the password is leaked.
password manager to create a strong and different password for each website

phishing emails, especially those who try to reset passwords under the pretext of security alerts

Be careful now

16 billion passwords have been leaked, and this incident is a warning to every internet user. Even if you haven't noticed any suspicious activity yet, it's important to strengthen your digital security. Change passwords, turn on MFAs, and secure your online accounts.

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