16 billion passwords leaked: Here is how to check if your account was hacked

 NOT A SCAM OR TRAPDOOR...

In what has been referred to as one of the most severe security breaches in internet history, over 16 billion passwords have been found leaked online. This leak reportedly includes login information ranging from personal email and social media accounts to developer tools like GitHub, and in some cases, even government platforms.

Most importantly, the leaked data in this breach does not include recycled old data. According to reports by Cybernews and Forbes, most of the credentials are newly harvested and highly usable by hackers. This thus puts millions of users at risk of cybercrime, including identity theft, phishing attacks, and account hijacking.

The leaked data is believed to have been gathered using infostealer malware — malicious software that quietly infects a user's device, extracts login details from browsers or apps, and sends them to cybercriminals. These stolen credentials are then either used directly or sold in bulk on dark web forums, where access is cheap and often doesn't require technical expertise.

What makes this breach more concerning is the format in which the data has been leaked. Each leaked entry reportedly includes a website URL, followed by a username and password. This makes the data easier for hackers to exploit. Experts warn that this security breach could lead to a rise in identity theft, phishing scams, and account takeovers across various online platforms.

While the news is certainly alarming, you can check if your account has been exposed in this breach or any previous one.

How to check if your account has been exposed

One way to check is through a website called Have I Been Pwned. It is a free platform maintained by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt. The site collects data from hundreds of breaches and allows users to search by email address or password to see if they've been compromised.

To check your credentials-

– Visit the site https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and enter your email address in the search bar.

– Click on "pwned?" to see if your email appears in any known breaches.

– Use the "Passwords" tab to check if any of your commonly used passwords have been exposed.

What if your data has been compromised?

If you find that your email ID or passwords are part of a breach, here are some immediate steps you need to take:

• Change your password for the affected service right away.
• If you have reused the same password elsewhere, change it on those platforms too.
• You can also use a password manager like Google password manager to generate strong and unique passwords.
• Also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of protection to your accounts.
• You can even use passkeys, which are more secure than traditional passwords as they use biometric authentication.   
• 
  
• https://www.msn.com/en-in/technology/cybersecurity/16-billion-passwords-leaked-here-is-how-to-check-if-your-account-was-hacked/ar-AA1H6tT9?ocid=BingNewsSerp