Facebook, Apple, Google and Netflix hit by login and password data leak
Nearly 200,000,000 passwords have been exposed after digital thieves stole data tied to some of the world’s biggest tech firms. Lists of people’s login details were made available on a public database, including usernames, emails, passwords and, in some cases, financial data (Picture: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty)
Security experts are now warning people to change their passwords to minimise the risk. Among those targeted in the massive hack were:
Google
Facebook
Microsoft
Apple
Snapchat
Roblox
PayPal
Netflix
Discord
PayPal
Health platforms
Government platforms (Picture: Bloomberg/Getty Images)
The data is believed to have been stolen using a type of malicious software called infostealer malware, according to Website Planet. This malware infects individual devices and secretly steals saved passwords, autofill data, emails, documents, and browser cookies (Picture: Getty)
It acts like a digital pickpocket, grabbing sensitive information stored on your computer or phone whenever you’re online. Cybercriminals then use this stolen data to break into other accounts, send fake messages (phishing), or commit identity theft (Picture: Getty)
The database is no longer online after the company hosting the website was alerted. Jeremiah Fowler, who discovered the breach, fears for the wider implications, particularly relating to email credentials being hacked (Picture: Getty)
He said: ‘Many people unknowingly treat their email accounts like free cloud storage and keep years’ worth of sensitive documents, such as tax forms, medical records, contracts, and passwords, without considering how sensitive they are’ (Picture: Getty)
He added: ‘This could create serious security and privacy risks if criminals were to gain access to thousands or even millions of email accounts.’ Fowler advises users to regularly delete old sensitive emails and use encrypted cloud storage instead of relying on email to store and share important documents’ (Picture: Getty)
