Picture yourself on your laptop or phone, having a nice day, when you hear the news—16 billion passwords leaked online. Apple, Facebook, Google… all of them.
You could think, "Who would care about my account?" But hackers don't care about you. They just want to make money or cause chaos using your information.
Even if you had your password stolen years back, it can still be bad today—particularly if you reuse it across lots of accounts.
•Bank accounts – They could steal your money.
•Email – They could pretend to be you.
•Social media – They could post or message people in your name.
One weak password can open the door to all your accounts.
2.Create unique passwords for every account.
3.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added protection.
4.Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity.
With 16 billion floating around out there, you don't want yours to be one of them hackers use next.
You could think, "Who would care about my account?" But hackers don't care about you. They just want to make money or cause chaos using your information.
Where Did This Come From?
This isn't from a single hack. It's a combination of hundreds of old and new leaks. Passwords from websites, email, shopping websites, and social media sites have all been gathered into one massive list.Even if you had your password stolen years back, it can still be bad today—particularly if you reuse it across lots of accounts.
Why This is Bad
Hackers use something called credential stuffing. That means they take your leaked password and try it on other accounts, like:•Bank accounts – They could steal your money.
•Email – They could pretend to be you.
•Social media – They could post or message people in your name.
One weak password can open the door to all your accounts.
Check If You’re at Risk
Visit haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email. It will let you know if your information is in any breaches. If it is—hurry.What to Do Immediately
1.Update your passwords—begin with key accounts such as Apple, Facebook, Google.2.Create unique passwords for every account.
3.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added protection.
4.Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity.
The Bottom Line
This is one of the largest leaks ever. Keep your passwords like house keys—don't give them out, and replace them frequently.With 16 billion floating around out there, you don't want yours to be one of them hackers use next.
