A hacker has leaked nearly 10 billion passwords, the most significant password leak in history. The leak, dubbed “RockYou2024,” was first spotted on a forum on July 4. It is a compilation of 9.94 billion leaked passwords, including entries from the RockYou2021 collection, data from newer breaches and leaks, and data cracked by the person who posted it.
The leaked passwords can be used for credential stuffing attacks, where someone tries to leak login info across the web to see what accounts they can get into. This could potentially lead to a cascade of data breaches, financial frauds, and identity thefts.
To protect yourself, it is recommended to use a unique, random, and strong password for each account. Setting up a password manager can help keep track of your collection of passwords and simplify entering longer, complex ones into login forms. Adding two-factor authentication to your accounts where available can provide an additional layer of protection against credential stuffing attacks.
Despite the alarming scale of the leak, it’s important to note that RockYou2024 is primarily a compilation of previous password leaks. However, the fact that the list has been updated and maintained since 2021 means users should still take the appropriate precautions.
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