DETROIT – An urgent warning has been issued following a massive data breach that affects billions of online accounts. Reports indicate that 16 billion passwords have been compromised, with many users likely having at least one of these passwords. This breach also includes government accounts.
Experts believe it could be one of the biggest data breaches ever.
According to a new report from Forbes, the stolen passwords leave users on multiple platforms exposed to hackers. The passwords reportedly were linked to accounts with major companies like Apple, Facebook, and Google, as well as some government services.
Cybersecurity experts indicate that this breach appears to involve new data on a scale never before seen.
So what can you do to protect yourself? Experts say it starts with good cyber hygiene
Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, suggests having different passwords on every account and using multi-factor authentication. The two-step process makes it harder for hackers to access multiple accounts.
As our lives become even more integrated with tech, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Loria said companies are doing a lot to protect American users behind the scenes, but added that regulations in other countries are stricter.