{"id":203096,"date":"2025-06-30T19:37:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T19:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/?p=203096"},"modified":"2025-06-30T19:37:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T19:37:01","slug":"after-16-billion-passwords-leaked-experts-warn-they-have-access-to-your-entire-online-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/after-16-billion-passwords-leaked-experts-warn-they-have-access-to-your-entire-online-life\/","title":{"rendered":"After 16 billion passwords leaked, experts warn: \u201cThey have access to your entire online life\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The largest data breach in history was revealed on June 19 by the specialized website Cybernews<\/em>: almost 16 billion combinations of usernames and passwords were stolen and could be used to access bank accounts, virtual communication platforms, government services and even cryptocurrency wallets. Cybersecurity experts warn that this is an attack of unprecedented scale, which exposes billions of users around the world. In an interview with Le Figaro<\/em>, S\u00e9bastien Martin, president of the Web3 Security League, explains the risks and offers crucial advice for protecting personal data.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

On June 19, a news site revealed a data leak that could be the largest of its kind. S\u00e9bastien Martin, president of the Web3 Security League and CEO of RAID Square, answers five questions to shed some light on the subject.<\/p>\n

The news came as a shock. On June 19, cybersecurity website Cybernews<\/em> revealed the largest data breach in history, with nearly 16 billion login credentials stolen. \u201cThis is not a simple leak, but a massive exploitation plan<\/em>,\u201d the publication claims. Malware was allegedly used to steal user data \u2013 especially Portuguese speakers \u2013 from Apple, Facebook, Google, Telegram, but also from VPN services and government institutions. Although \u201cthe information remains to be confirmed<\/em>,\u201d S\u00e9bastien Martin offers his first analysis and advice for users.<\/p>\n

\u201cMalware was allegedly used by criminal networks to extract data, like a vacuum cleaner. We are talking about a phenomenal amount of information \u2013 if it is true, it is completely astonishing<\/em>\u201d, says the specialist. One aspect particularly alarms him: the mention of \u201cgovernment websites, which will need to be defined more clearly<\/em>\u201d. \u201cIt seems a bit strange to me that hackers had access to data from all countries<\/em>\u201d, notes S\u00e9bastien Martin.<\/p>\n

He also wonders about the targeting of Portuguese-speaking users: \u201cThere could be several explanations \u2012 a stronger presence of these criminal networks in these regions, a common vulnerability, or perhaps behaviour of these users that was considered more interesting?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

What information was stolen and how?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are talking about usernames and passwords that can be used to access, for example, users\u2019 bank accounts<\/em>,\u201d explains the expert. If billions of people could be affected by this data leak, \u201cmany use the same credentials on multiple platforms<\/em>.\u201d \u201cOnce you have access to a Gmail address, you can identify all the associated accounts, with the enormous risks that arise from this<\/em>,\u201d warns S\u00e9bastien Martin. This data can then be sold, \u201cat different price ranges<\/em>.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s a bit like a classic market, with supply and demand depending on the sensitivity of the data<\/em>,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

To steal this data, cybercriminals have several methods at their disposal, starting with \u201ccookies that infiltrate the user\u2019s computer space<\/em>.\u201d Through this means, cybercriminals can observe the user\u2019s online activities. Another method is to infiltrate \u201cthe computer\u2019s cache<\/em>,\u201d where passwords and logins are stored.<\/p>\n

What do cybercriminals use this data for?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem is that these criminals can map out the people whose credentials have been compromised, based on their online habits<\/em>,\u201d the president of the Web3 Security League points out. According to him, \u201cthe depth of the data involved is phenomenal, with accounts that can be identified as holding cryptocurrencies<\/em>\u201d \u2013 a type of account that has been increasingly targeted by physical attacks in recent weeks. Cybercriminals can also use this information for \u201cidentity theft<\/em>\u201d or \u201cfraudulently using bank cards<\/em>.\u201d \u201cIt is necessary to clearly understand that it is not just a password and a username, but access to your entire digital life<\/em>,\u201d the specialist insists.<\/p>\n

How can we protect ourselves from these cyber attacks?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen in doubt, the first step is to enable two-step authentication for all accounts, change your passwords and, why not, use a physical authentication device<\/em>,\u201d recommends S\u00e9bastien Martin. Apps like Gmail, WhatsApp or Telegram require, for example, scanning a QR code with your phone or validating the authentication via another device to verify the user\u2019s identity. \u201cIt is also necessary to pay attention to your account history and activate notifications for logins from unknown locations or devices<\/em>,\u201d adds the expert.<\/p>\n

Will cyber attacks become more common?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis attack raises serious questions about the responsibility of platforms in preserving user data<\/em>,\u201d warns the director of RAID Square. In his opinion, \u201cthe stakes now are that platforms not only implement the best cybersecurity tools, but also demand the same from their partners and subcontractors<\/em>.\u201d Thus, \u201cthe entire value chain needs to be protected<\/em>,\u201d otherwise we risk living \u201cin a digital world full of vulnerabilities<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

For now, the information published by Cybernews<\/em> has neither been confirmed nor denied by the platforms concerned. However, the specialized website Bleeping Computer<\/em> claims that it is \u201ca compilation of previously leaked and stolen login data by hackers, already exposed following previous security breaches<\/em>\u201d. Therefore, virtual communication networks, VPN services and government websites would not have been \u201crecently compromised<\/em>\u201d. According to the cited source, this \u201clogin data has already been circulating for some time and has been collected and repackaged in a new database published on the internet<\/em>\u201d. Therefore, we will have to wait a little longer to understand the exact extent of the incident and to find out if, in fact, new information has been leaked on the internet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

yogaesoteric
\nJune 30, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The largest data breach in history was revealed on June 19 by the specialized website Cybernews: almost 16 billion combinations of usernames and passwords were stolen and could be used to access bank accounts, virtual communication platforms, government services and even cryptocurrency wallets. Cybersecurity experts warn that this is an attack of unprecedented scale, which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1093],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-203096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-censored-news-social-5127-en-censored-sensational-news-3480-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203096"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203097,"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203096\/revisions\/203097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yogaesoteric.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}