In a staggering revelation, a colossal data breach, aptly named the Mother of all Breaches (MOAB), has come to light, comprising a jaw-dropping 26 billion records and a mind-boggling 12 terabytes of information. This supermassive leak, containing data from major platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Weibo, Tencent, Canva and more, stands as one of the largest breaches ever discovered.
Cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, in collaboration with the Cybernews team, unearthed this extensive compilation of records from various meticulously indexed leaks, breaches, and privately sold databases. The MOAB spans over 3,800 folders, each corresponding to a distinct data breach, presenting an unprecedented challenge in identifying the owner of the open instance hosting this colossal amount of data.
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While the leaked dataset primarily comprises information from previous breaches, there is a high likelihood of new, previously unpublished data. This poses a significant threat, as the aggregated data could be exploited for identity theft, phishing schemes, cyberattacks, and unauthorised access to personal accounts.
While the MOAB contains over 26 billion records, duplicates are probable. Nonetheless, the leaked data extends beyond credentials, encompassing sensitive information valuable to malicious actors.
The Cliquey team emphasises the urgency for users to enhance their cyber hygiene by using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, monitoring for phishing attempts, checking for password duplicates, and promptly securing accounts that share passwords. Users are strongly advised to remain vigilant in safeguarding their digital identities.