Researchers from a security firm( name withheld) have uncovered a significant data breach involving Twitter user data, revealing a leaked dataset of approximately 9.86GB. This trove includes over 200 million user records linked to account profiles, names, email addresses, and in some cases, contact numbers. The leaked information has surfaced on a data leak forum, posing a serious risk for potential social engineering attacks such as phishing and identity theft.
The authenticity of the data, purportedly leaked by an entity named ‘Michupa’, has not yet been confirmed to belong to Twitter, which has commercialized its social networking services extensively over the past two years.
In a separate incident, details of a password leak have emerged on platforms like Facebook, where a hacker known as “Obamacare” has publicly disclosed a dataset containing plaintext passwords. This file allegedly comprises around 1.5 billion passwords, in addition to the staggering 8 billion passwords leaked in various incidents since 2009.
Such leaks significantly heighten the risk of cyber attacks, including brute force attacks aimed at compromising individual and corporate accounts.
As more online services adopt single-password login solutions like Google’s, users must prioritize multi-layer security measures to safeguard their accounts effectively against brute force attacks. It is essential for account holders to regularly update their passwords – ideally every month – and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to fortify defenses against emerging cyber threats such as malware.
Additionally, users are advised to exercise caution by avoiding clicking on suspicious URLs sent via email or messages. Conducting regular cybersecurity audits is crucial to proactively identify and mitigate any potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.
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