184 million passwords compromised in social media leak

Social media users are being warned by the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) of a high-priority alert concerning a massive data breach that has affected key platforms like Facebook, Microsoft, and Google.

The alert claims that more than 1.8 billion user records, including 184 million verified passwords, have been compromised from a number of social networking apps.

 To improve security, PKCERT has recommended that users change the passwords for all sensitive accounts right away and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA).

The agency also recommends avoiding suspicious links and closely monitoring accounts for any unusual activity. 

This is not the first cybersecurity concern flagged by PKCERT.

A critical vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (versions 7 through 11) that allowed unauthorized access to credentials, domain data, and passwords without requiring users to view compromised files was the subject of an advisory released by the agency in December 2024.

Users were adviced at the time to stay away from shared drives, create strong, unique passwords, and change them frequently.

PKCERT continues to emphasize preventive measures to reduce the risk of data theft and system compromise.