Change Password NOW: 10 Billion Passwords Leaked – AI-Tech Report
In a staggering data breach named “RockYou2024,” a hacker known as ObamaCare has leaked 10 billion passwords on a crime forum, sourced from various incidents spanning the past two decades.
This vast compilation includes 8.4 billion passwords from a 2021 forum and an additional 1.5 billion from recent years, cracked using advanced Nvidia graphics cards.
The leak impacts over 4,000 databases, including prominent sites like LinkedIn, Adobe, and major Chinese firms Tencent and Weibo. As this leak significantly heightens the risk of credential stuffing attacks, financial fraud, and identity theft, it’s crucial for users to update their passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, use password managers, and verify if their credentials are compromised on Cybernews. Have you ever wondered how safe your online passwords are?
If you think your passwords are bulletproof, it’s time for a reality check. A massive data breach has just shaken the internet’s foundation, putting billions of passwords at risk. The breach, known as “RockYou2024,” is one of the largest in history, and it’s essential that you understand what happened, the risks involved, and how to protect yourself. Let’s dive into the details.
Incident Background
The Unveiling of RockYou2024
Recently, a hacker leaked a staggering 10 billion passwords on a crime forum, and named this colossal database “RockYou2024.” The leak includes passwords harvested from various data breaches over the last two decades. This eye-opening event has sounded alarms across the cybersecurity industry, affecting millions of users globally.
How the Leak Happened
A hacker, operating under the pseudonym ObamaCare, is responsible for this alarming breach. ObamaCare compiled the list using 8.4 billion passwords from a 2021 forum and added 1.5 billion new passwords collected between 2021 and 2024. With the aid of a high-end Nvidia graphics card, the hacker managed to crack some of the older, more complex passwords, making the leak even more exhaustive and dangerous.
Hacker Details
Who Is ObamaCare?
The identity of ObamaCare remains shrouded in mystery, but their actions speak volumes. This individual has established themselves as a formidable entity in the hacking community. By leveraging advanced technology, they were able to amass and decrypt passwords from various sources, creating a database that is both extensive and unparalleled.
Methods Used
ObamaCare didn’t just stop at collecting already compromised passwords. They utilized advanced GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) technology to crack older passwords that had previously managed to stay secure. The choice of using a high-end Nvidia graphics card significantly sped up the decryption process, enabling them to bolster their existing database with an alarming rate of success.
Scope of the Leak
Volume and Variety
The scale of this breach is unprecedented. RockYou2024 contains passwords from over 4,000 different databases. These databases include popular and high-traffic websites such as X, AdultFriendFinder, LinkedIn, Adobe, and MyFitnessPal. From social media platforms to fitness trackers, the scope is vast and varied, making this leak one of the most inclusive we have ever seen.
The Impact on Major Companies
Chinese companies, Tencent and Weibo, are some of the worst-hit. The leak exposed 1.5 billion passwords from Tencent and 504 million from Weibo. Such a massive number underlines the severe impact on these companies, putting millions of users at risk.Potential Risks
Credential Stuffing Attacks
Credential stuffing is a technique where hackers use stolen passwords to gain unauthorized access to multiple accounts. Given the scale of this leak, there’s a massive increase in the potential for such attacks. If you’ve reused passwords across different accounts, you’re especially at risk.