Recent claims of 16 billion passwords being exposed in a mega-hack are actually a collection of previous breaches, not a singular massive breach.
The report originates from Cybernews, known for inflating previous breach numbers, causing skepticism in the cybersecurity community.
The 16 billion figure is a compilation of data from multiple sources over the years, put together by a researcher, Bob Diachenko.
Major tech companies allegedly included in this 'breach' have not confirmed or addressed the issue publicly, raising doubts about its validity.
Cybersecurity experts point out that the collection may contain recycled or fabricated data, diminishing its credibility.
Websites like haveibeenpwned.com monitor breaches, with the largest noted breach being Collection #1 from early 2019, demonstrating the common occurrence of such collections.
While this 'breach' may not pose an immediate threat, it underscores the importance of using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.
Advice includes using password managers like Bitwarden or Proton Pass and avoiding common passwords like '123456' or 'password'.
Reusing passwords across multiple accounts increases the risk of theft and fraud, emphasizing the need for better cybersecurity practices.