Massive Password Leak Exposes 16 Billion Credentials in Historic Cybersecurity Breach at Google, Apple and Facebook
A record-breaking data breach has exposed nearly 16 billion login credentials from major tech giants including Apple, Google, and Facebook, prompting global alarm across the cybersecurity community. Experts are calling it the largest known password leak to date.
Uncovered on June 19, 2025, the breach came to light through posts on X and independent cybersecurity investigations. Researchers say the data, mostly gathered via infostealing malware, was compiled into 30 datasets—many of which had not been previously reported—and briefly circulated on the dark web.
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The exposed data includes login credentials, passwords, and potentially personal information from millions of users worldwide. While some overlap with earlier leaks is likely, cybersecurity firm Cybernews emphasized that most of the files are new, significantly raising the threat level.
“This is a historic breach in both scale and scope,” Cybernews warned, citing a troubling trend in malware-driven data collection. The firm noted that such mega-breaches are becoming increasingly common due to lax security practices and vulnerabilities in cloud-based systems.
With over 5.5 billion people connected to the internet globally, the potential impact is vast. Experts cannot yet determine the exact number of affected individuals, but the scale suggests a substantial portion of internet users may be at risk.
Security professionals are urging immediate action: users should change all passwords—especially those reused across multiple platforms—enable two-factor authentication, and use trusted password managers to secure their accounts.
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