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26 billion reasons to protect yourself after a massive data leak is exposed

A massive data breach has exposed more than 26 billion records online, exposing information from the most visited websites on the web.team of cybernews.com, along with cyber researcher Bob Diatchenko, discovered the records. Later, his data breach search engine Leak Lookup revealed that the company was the owner of all the information leaked due to a firewall misconfiguration in December. Here’s what you need to know about the mother of all breaches and how to protect yourself.

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Computers used in hacking attacks (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)

The source of all infringements

This massive breach exposed the records of thousands of websites. This includes websites such as X, LinkedIn, and Evite. Here’s a breakdown of his 10 websites that had the most data exposed due to breaches:

  • tencent – 1.5 billion records leaked
  • Weibo – 504 million records leaked
  • my space – 360 million records leaked
  • X– 281 million records leaked
  • watt pad – 271 million records leaked
  • NetEase – 261 million records leaked
  • Deezer – 258 million records leaked
  • linkedin – 251 million records leaked
  • adult friend finder – 220 million records leaked
  • Zynga – 217 million records leaked

According to CyberNews.com, the breach also exposed government information. Although this breach primarily contains information from past data breaches, CyberNews.com believes it also contains new information.

26 billion reasons to protect yourself after a major data breach is revealed

hacker typing on keyboard (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)

Read more: How hackers target X-authenticated accounts to trick you

How can I find out if my information has been sold on the dark web?

can go to haibeenpwned.com Check if someone is selling your data on the dark web. Just enter your email address in the search bar. This website searches the web to see if your information has been compromised by hackers or breaches. You will also be notified if there has been a data breach associated with your email address on various sites.

26 billion reasons to protect yourself after a major data breach is revealed

Illustration of data on computer screen (Kurt “Cyber ​​Guy” Knutson)

More information: How to protect yourself from streaming hacks

What should I do if my data is stolen?

If you discover that your information is part of some kind of breach, you should:

1) Log out of your account

First, log out of all accounts in all web browsers on your computer. Once that is done, you need to clear your browser history.

2) Scan your device

Think of it like a digital health check.use Reliable antivirus software, Run a comprehensive scan to detect and remove any residual traces of malware. The best way to protect yourself from data breaches is to install antivirus protection on all your devices.

Installing antivirus software on your device will ensure that you are prevented from clicking on malicious links that can install malware on your device and allow hackers to access your personal information. Read our review of Best Antivirus Protection here.

3) Change your password

If your password has been compromised by a hacker or data breach, change it immediately.Please be sure to create strong password Tailor your passwords to your accounts and devices, and don’t use the same password for multiple online accounts. To securely store and generate complex passwords, consider using a password manager. It helps you create unique, hard-to-crack passwords that hackers can never guess.

It also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and enters them for you when you log into your account, so you don’t have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you are to reuse them on your account. Our tips and expert-reviewed best password managers can be found here:

4) Use two-factor authentication

Implement two elements certification It’s just an additional shield to prevent hackers from breaking into your account. This way, even if someone steals your password, they won’t be able to access your account without his second factor, such as a code sent to your phone or email.

5) Invest in moving services

No service promises to remove all data from the Internet, but if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing information from hundreds of sites over an extended period of time, a removal service is a good option. is the best. These have been found to be very effective for continuous removal.

The first time I tried it, everything I didn’t want to see about myself disappeared. A few months later, it’s back in Google’s cracks. That’s when I learned that my best bet was to sign up for a deletion service that constantly inspects and deletes personal data. Check out my recommended removal services here.

6) Contact your financial institution

If you suspect fraudulent activity on your account, please contact your bank, credit card company, or other financial institution.

7) Monitor your credit report

Monitor your credit report and score for signs of identity theft or unauthorized inquiries.

8) Use a VPN

Consider using a VPN to protect your online activities and data. A VPN protects you from anyone trying to track and identify your potential locations and the websites you visit. Check out my expert reviews of the best VPNs to browse the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices..

9) Report a data breach

Report data breaches to relevant authorities and organizations, such as the Federal Trade Commission, Internet Crime Complaint Center, or local law enforcement.

More information: How hackers can send text messages from your phone without your knowledge

Cart important points

A super leak like this is almost unprecedented.of what we’ve seen Previous major violations, I’ve never seen one with more than 26 billion records. This breach should highlight how important it is to protect your data. Use a password manager and at least use a different password for each login. It’s easy to use two of the same passwords, but if those passwords are exposed, you’re giving hackers unfettered access to other accounts.

How can I protect myself from a data breach? Are you worried about another major data breach in the future? Email us at. Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report newsletter using the link below. Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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