According to a Forbes story, a hacker identified as “ObamaCare” has disclosed 995 crore passwords in an unprecedented data breach. The collection, known as RockYou2024, was made public on Thursday and is thought to be the most extensive password data breach ever.
Cybernews researchers have emphasized the importance of the RockYou2024 breach. They said that the RockYou2024 leak was essentially a collection of actual passwords that people from all around the world use. Credential stuffing attacks, in which hackers exploit stolen credentials to obtain illegal access to several internet accounts, are made far more likely by this huge exposure.
The passwords in RockYou2024 come from a mix of old and new data breaches, creating a comprehensive and dangerous dataset for hackers. “Hackers could exploit the RockYou2024 password compilation to conduct brute-force attacks and gain unauthorized access to various online accounts used by individuals who employ passwords included in the dataset,” the researchers explained.
Furthermore, the RockYou2024 dataset, combined with other leaked databases on hacker forums and marketplaces, can lead to a cascade of data breaches, financial frauds, and identity thefts. These databases often contain user email addresses and other credentials, making it easier for cybercriminals to launch targeted attacks.
This incident is not the first time RockYou2024 has been involved in a major password leak. Previously, hackers had leaked around 8.4 billion plain text passwords, further highlighting the ongoing threat posed by such massive breaches.
People are encouraged to follow personal cyber safety as it is vital in the age of vulnerability that Indian web browsing has entered. In April, all higher education institutions supported by the University Grants Commission (UGC) attended a webinar on “Cyber Hygiene” offered by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
UGC published a notice saying “The Ministry of Home Affairs has given directions which require that the higher institutions of learning engage their students in campaigns against cybercrimes.” Consequently, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) will be holding an hour-long online session on cyber hygiene on April 3, 2024, between 2 and 3 p.m.
To protect their digital lives, people and businesses must be alert and implement strong security measures as cyber dangers continue to evolve.
