Britons are being urged to review their email accounts following the exposure of stolen details in a significant database update. The latest update to a vast database of compromised credentials has disclosed that 183 million user details were leaked from various sources. These details encompass email addresses from platforms like Gmail, along with associated passwords and the corresponding websites they were used on. Troy Hunt, the individual behind compiling and publishing the data on his website Have I Been Pwned, indicated that a total of 3.5 terabytes of data were made public.
In light of this extensive new dataset, Hunt is reminding internet users to ensure the security of their data, with Google affirming the strength of its defenses. The stolen data, according to database records, predominantly consists of “stealer logs and credential stuffing lists.” Cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt mentioned to the Daily Mail that the stolen information impacts “all major mail providers,” with Gmail being notably prominent.
Google spokesperson emphasized that the security measures in place are robust, stating that Gmail’s defenses are reliable, ensuring user protection. Hunt highlighted that approximately 90 percent of the stolen data had been previously detected, with approximately 16 million new entries included in the dataset shared on HIBP. Google clarified that the posted data stems from continuous analysis of pilfered credentials across the internet and does not signify a new targeted attack on any individual or platform.
A Google spokesperson, speaking to Forbes, outlined that users could mitigate the risk of potential data harvesting through minor adjustments utilizing the existing tools provided by the company. Gmail users were advised to monitor their account activity and utilize the account recovery page if they suspect unauthorized access. Specific processes were mentioned for resetting passwords affected by significant credential dumps to assist users in enhancing their account security.
Individuals concerned about their passwords being compromised in the recent data leak or suspecting weak password strength can utilize Google’s password checkup feature. This feature can be accessed in Chrome by navigating to Passwords and autofill in the top right menu, leading to the Google Password Manager – Checkup page.
