183 Million Email Passwords Leaked Online?

A staggering 183 million email passwords are reported to have been leaked online, putting millions of Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and other major service users at risk. Security experts called it one of the largest password leaks ever, with much of the data stolen via malware secretly installed on infected devices.

However, Google has called reports of a Gmail breach “entirely inaccurate and incorrect”, clarifying that this is not a hack of its systems but a case of stolen credentials. The company urges users to turn on two-step verification and adopt passkeys.

Cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt says the leak includes 16 million email addresses that have never shown up in any previous breach. Most of the data came from shady online forums and Telegram channels where hackers trade stolen logins. While Gmail itself wasn’t hacked, many users had their passwords stolen by malware on their own computers.

Experts warn that stolen logins can give hackers access to everything from bank accounts to social media profiles. “Reusing passwords is a recipe for disaster,” Hunt said. To protect yourself, use unique passwords for each account, store them in a password manager, and keep antivirus software up to date.