The largest password leak in history has exposed 10 billion passwords in a file named RockYou2024. This massive leak includes passwords from various breaches over the years, making it a significant security threat.
Details of the Leak
RockYou2024 was posted on a popular hacking forum by a user named “ObamaCare”. The file contains 9,948,575,739 unique passwords in plain text. This compilation surpasses previous leaks, including RockYou2021, which had 8.4 billion passwords.
How Did This Happen?
The file’s name, RockYou2024, references a 2009 leak known as RockYou. In that incident, millions of passwords were exposed. The new compilation combines data from numerous smaller breaches, creating a massive database.
The size of the leak means many people’s accounts are at risk. Cyber security experts advise everyone to change their passwords immediately and enable two-factor authentication. Using strong, unique passwords for each account can help mitigate the risk.
Users should stay vigilant and update their passwords regularly. Password managers can help create and store complex passwords. With the rise in cyber threats, securing online accounts is more important than ever.
