RockYou2024-Almost 10 billion passwords stolen!

In an unprecedented security breach, a database containing nearly 10 billion plaintext passwords was published on a hacker forum on July 4, 2024. This massive collection, known as RockYou2024, represents one of the largest known password leaks in history. The published data comes from a variety of old and new cyberattacks, which significantly increases the risk for users. In light of this threat, it is more important than ever to take effective security measures to protect personal data and online accounts.

What is RockYou2024?

RockYou2024 is the name of a gigantic database containing almost 10 billion plain text passwords. This database was published on a well-known hacker forum on July 4, 2024 and represents one of the largest known password leaks. The name "RockYou2024" is reminiscent of the infamous "RockYou" hack of 2009, in which millions of passwords were exposed.

What happened?

A user with the name "ObamaCare" posted the file "RockYou2024.txt" on a hacker forum. This file contains 9,948,575,739 plaintext passwords from a variety of old and new data leaks. These passwords have been collected from over 4,000 databases over two decades and pose a massive threat to cyber security as they provide cybercriminals with a huge range of possible credentials (Digital Watch Observatory) (NewsBytes).

Comparison with RockYou2021

The RockYou2024 leak follows the "RockYou2021" leak, in which 8.4 billion passwords were disclosed. In comparison, RockYou2024 includes around 1.5 billion additional passwords. This shows that the amount of stolen data is constantly growing and the threat posed by such leaks is increasing.

How can you protect yourself from leaks like RockYou2024?

To protect yourself from the risks of such a leak, the following measures should be taken:

1. Change passwords: Change affected passwords immediately.
2. Use strong and unique passwords: Use a different, strong password for each account.
3. Activate multi-factor authentication (MFA): Additional security through a second authentication level.
4. Use a password manager: These tools help to generate and manage complex and secure passwords.
5. Use verification services: Services such as Cybernews' Leaked Password Checker or HaveIBeenPwned can help determine whether your own data has been affected.

Should I be worried?

Yes, the RockYou2024 leak poses a significant security risk, especially for users who use the same passwords for multiple accounts. Cybercriminals could use these passwords to access different online services and potentially cause damage. It is therefore advisable to take the above-mentioned protective measures to secure your own data and accounts.

The RockYou2024 leak shows once again how important strong cyber security measures are. The amount of passwords exposed is alarming and highlights the need for robust protection mechanisms. Users should act immediately to increase their online security and arm themselves against potential attacks.

How can I check whether I am affected by the RockYou2024 leak?

To check whether your data is affected by the RockYou2024 leak, you can take the following steps:

1. Use a Leaked Password Checker: Websites like Cybernews' Leaked Password Checker offer tools with which you can check whether your passwords are contained in known leaks. Enter your e-mail address or passwords and the service will check whether they are present in the leaked databases.
2. Have I Been Pwned: A well-known and trusted source for checking data leaks is Have I Been Pwned. There you can enter your e-mail address to see if your data is included in one of the many data leaks, including RockYou2024.
3. Password managerSome password managers, such as 1Password and LastPass, offer integrated verification functions that check your stored passwords against known leaks. Use these functions regularly to ensure that your passwords have not been compromised.
4. Security notificationsActivate security notifications in your online accounts. Many services will notify you if unusual activity is detected or if your data may have been compromised.

Steps for verification

1. Cybernews' Leaked Password Checker
   • Visit the Cybernews website.
   • Enter your e-mail address or passwords in the search field.
   • The service checks whether your data is contained in the RockYou2024 database or other known leaks.
2. Have I Been Pwned
   • Go to haveibeenpwned.com.
   • Enter your e-mail address in the search field and click on "pwned?".
   • The website shows you whether your e-mail address has appeared in known leaks, including detailed information on the individual leaks.

Additional measures

• Change passwordsIf your data is affected, change your passwords immediately.
• Use strong passwordsUse complex and unique passwords for each service.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)Enable MFA wherever possible to provide additional protection.
• Using a password managerUse password managers to generate and manage secure passwords.

By following these steps, you can minimize the risk and increase your online security.

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