15 Billion Stolen Passwords on Sale on the Dark Web, Research Reveals

There are more than 15 billion stolen account credentials circulating on criminal forums within the dark web, a new study has revealed.

Researchers at cyber security firm Digital Shadows discovered usernames, passwords and other login information for everything from online bank accounts, to music and video streaming services.

The majority of exposed credentials belong to consumers rather than businesses, the researchers found, resulting from hundreds of thousands of data breaches.

The number of stolen credentials has risen by more than 300 per cent since 2018, due to a surge in data breaches. An estimated 100,000 separate breaches have taken place over the last two years.

Top Tips: 

• Security experts advise internet users to use individual passwords for each online service that they use, while also adopting measures like two-factor authentication where possible.

• Online tools like HaveIBeenPwned can also indicate whether a person's email address has been compromised in a major data breach.

• Change all affected passwords.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/security-passwords-dark-web-digital-shadows-a9607871.html