In what experts are calling one of the largest data breaches in history, a staggering 16 billion login credentials and passwords from platforms like Apple, Facebook, Google, as well as various social media and government services, have been leaked.
A Forbes report published on Thursday revealed that this massive breach has compromised billions of accounts worldwide. In response, tech giant Google has urged millions of users to immediately change their passwords, while the FBI has warned American citizens to avoid clicking on suspicious links received via SMS.
The cybersecurity research group Cybernews investigated the incident and confirmed that at least 30 separate datasets containing vast amounts of login information have surfaced on the internet. These datasets contain anywhere from millions to over 3.5 billion individual records each.
Unlike previous breaches, researchers say the majority of the leaked data this time is completely new and previously unknown. According to a report by the British daily The Independent, this breach is not a recycling of old data but rather a fresh, large-scale exposure of sensitive information.
“This is not a typical data leak. It is essentially a blueprint for widespread cyber exploitation,” the researchers warned. The stolen credentials are likely to be used for phishing attacks, fraudulent links, and direct account hacking.
Cybernews researchers also noted, "This is not reused or outdated data. These are fresh, active login details that could become dangerous weapons for hackers looking to launch large-scale cyberattacks."
Most of the leaked information is reportedly in the form of URLs, along with corresponding usernames and passwords. Hackers have gained potential access to platforms such as Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, Telegram, and even various government portals using these credentials.
While the situation is alarming, the researchers mentioned that the datasets were available on the internet only for a brief period, suggesting that the leak appeared and disappeared quickly. Despite detecting the leak, the researchers were unable to trace the exact source or identify those responsible.
Cybernews confirmed that the massive breach was likely executed using multiple infostealer malware programs designed to steal sensitive user information. However, the exact number of affected users and accounts remains unknown.
Cybersecurity experts have urged all users to take immediate precautions, including using password management tools, never sharing passwords with others, and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) to strengthen account security.
Now rephrase the text in Bengali to make a news report.
