Cybercriminals Steal 16 Billion Login Credentials in Largest Data Breach Ever Recorded

Cybernews reports a staggering 16 billion login credentials compromised in what may be history's largest data breach. Researchers identified 30 exposed datasets this year alone, some exceeding 3.5 billion records, containing sensitive information from social media platforms, corporate networks, and cloud services.

The datasets appeared briefly online—long enough for discovery but too fleeting to trace the source. Most data originated from stealer malware, credential stuffing tools, and repackaged historical leaks. Notably, the freshness and organization of these datasets suggest imminent large-scale exploitation.

Security experts warn the breach equips hackers with tools for sophisticated phishing campaigns, ransomware attacks, and systemic account takeovers. The inclusion of business-critical data and encrypted files heightens concerns about targeted corporate infiltration.