Cyber security experts are investigating a massive data breach that was recently discovered. 773 million emails and 22 million passwords were discovered on a hacking forum, and were publicly available online for anyone to see.
The collection of private information, labeled “Collection No. 1,” was posted on the cloud storage system Mega. It was reported to cyber security researcher and expert Troy Hunt, who has been investigating the breach. Hunt runs and operates the website Have I Been Pwnd, which helps users detect if their information has been stolen. The data breach marks the largest collection of private information that was uploaded and reported on by his website. The website is now making it possible for people to check and see if their information was part of this massive breach. The collection of information was also reportedly made up from several collections of private information amalgamated into one massive list.
Hunt has stated that most of the email addresses in the collection had been previously reported on his website. In light of the news, many are more focused on ways to keep their data safe, and experts recommend using password management services and checking to make sure you were not one of those affected by the breach.
