Iqbal Jakati183 Million Email Passwords Leaked: Check If Your Gmail Account Is Safe
New Delhi: A massive data breach has shocked internet users worldwide, exposing more than 183 million (18.3 crore) email accounts and passwords online. According to cybersecurity reports, this could be one of the largest email credential leaks recorded in recent times.
The leaked information reportedly originated not from a single company but from multiple malware-infected systems across the world. Experts clarified that Google’s servers have not been hacked; instead, the stolen data was collected through malicious software installed on users’ personal computers and browsers.
Cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt, who operates the well-known platform Have I Been Pwned (HIBP), stated that the leaked database is linked to the “Synyhiont Stealer Log Threat Data.” Users can visit https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to check whether their email IDs have been compromised in the leak.
If your Gmail account details appear on the website, experts recommend taking immediate action:
- Change your password to a strong, unique one.
- Perform Google’s Security Checkup to identify suspicious logins or connected apps.
- Remove any unknown devices or access permissions.
Cyber experts further advise enabling two-step verification (2FA) — preferably using a hardware key or passkey instead of SMS-based authentication — to enhance account safety.
According to a report by Mashable, passkeys offer stronger protection, ensuring that even if hackers know your password, they cannot easily gain access to your Gmail account.
With millions of credentials exposed, experts urge users to remain vigilant, update their passwords regularly, and avoid reusing the same password across multiple platforms.
Source: Vartha Bharathi (Translate in english)
