• Blog
  • Support Portal
  • Careers
214.297.2100
Axxys Technologies
  • About Us
  • Services
    • IT Support Services
      • Managed IT Services
      • Co-Managed IT Services
    • Backup and Disaster Recovery
      • Case Study | Financial
    • Office 365
      • Case Study | Health Care
      • Case Study | Commercial Furniture Design
      • Case Study | Financial
    • Voice & Collaboration
      • Case Study | Automotive
    • Strategic Consulting
      • Case Study | Financial Advisory
    • Cisco Meraki Wireless
      • Case Study | Private School
    • Cloud
  • Security Services
    • Managed Security Services
      • Cybersecurity Solutions
      • IT Compliance
      • Vulnerability Management
    • IT Security Assessment
  • Our Process
  • References
  • IT Research
  • Past Projects
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Support Portal
  • Careers
  • Menu

Russian Hackers Collect 1.2 Billion Passwords In A Mega Breach

September 8, 2014/in Alerts, Big Data, General Interest, Networks, Security, Servers /by Axxys Technologies

The New York Times has reported the largest known collection of stolen Internet credentials by a Russian crime ring. These hackers reportedly amassed 1.2 billion username and password combinations, and more than 500 million email addresses from 420,000 websites through botnets (computers that have been infected with and controlled by a computer virus). The sites ranged from small sites to larger household names. Many of the targeted sites are still vulnerable.

2014: The Year Of The Mega, MEGA Breach?

In Symantec’s 2014 Internet Security Threat Report, researchers declared 2013 as “The Year of The Mega Breach”, and recent breaches this year indicate that the situation isn’t getting better. These numbers are surprising, not only because the collection was the largest yet discovered, but also because of the scope of the impact on Internet users.  Roughly 39% (2.76B) of the world’s population of 7.1 billion uses the Internet. The volume of online credentials collected (1.2B passwords) potentially accounts for over one-third of the world’s Internet users. That’s a lot of data.

Given the magnitude of this latest discovery, it is clear that the need for companies to do more to protect your data has become more urgent than ever.

One of the weakest links in protecting your data is the user name and password that you use to identify yourself to websites. Often simply called credentials, in the wrong hands they can be used in fraudulent activity and identity theft, or sold for quick cash on the underground market. You can help keep your credentials safe and by doing so, minimize the risk that your sensitive information will be compromised.

So, what can you do to keep your online credentials safe?

[list style=”bullet”][li]Change passwords on important sites: It’s a good idea to immediately change passwords for sites that hold a lot of personal information, financial details, and other private data. Cyber criminals who have your credentials could try to use them to access more information on these accounts. This is particularly true if you have used the same password on multiple sites. Attackers will often try to use stolen credentials on multiple sites.[/li][li]Pay special attention to your email credentials. A lot of users fail to recognize that their email account can be a front door to their entire digital life. Think about how many times you may have reset your password on some other site by have a ‘recovery’ link sent to your email account. This is why you should carefully guard access to your email account.[/li][li]Don’t re-use passwords: One of the main ways that hackers use credentials is to try to gain access to your other accounts. If you vary your passwords across multiple logins, they won’t be able to access other sites with the same information.[/li][li]Create stronger passwords: Make sure that your password is a minimum of eight characters long, and that it doesn’t contain your real name, username, or any other personally identifying information. It should also contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Have trouble thinking of a good one? Try Norton’s free Password Generator.[/li][li]Use a password manager to store passwords: Norton Identity Safe is free and conveniently remembers your passwords so that you don’t have to.[/li][li]Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Many websites now offer two-factor (or two step) authentication, which adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to enter your password, plus a code that you will receive on your mobile device (via text message or a token generator) to login to the site. Of course, this adds complexity to the login process, but it significantly improves the security of your account. If nothing else, use this for your most important accounts.[/li][/list]

 

As a final suggestion, keep an eye on your online accounts. If you see something suspicious, report it to the website. If you discover a fraudulent charge on one of your financial accounts, in most cases, the charge can be reversed, and your account can be frozen to prevent any further fraudulent activity. For more tips, see more on how to monitor your credit card accounts.

Being vigilant can help stop fraud on your account and keep information and identity protected.

Tags: data, email, identity protection, identity theft, Internet security, network security, password, russian hackers, security, security breach, username
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
You might also like
HP Windows Tablets for Business There's An App for that...But?
HP Windows Tablets for Business Epsilon Data Breach gives hackers loads of emails
HP Windows Tablets for Business See just what the HP Slate can do!
HP Windows Tablets for Business Ronald McDonald House of Dallas Loves Axxys!
HP Windows Tablets for Business My 30 Day iPad Challenge
HP Windows Tablets for Business Memo from a simple email user…
HP Windows Tablets for Business IT Alert: Osama-Themed Phishing Attempts
HP Windows Tablets for Business Open House Brings Rave Reviews

Recent Posts

  • A New Era in Cybersecurity – Assume Breach Mentality
  • Is a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) Right for Your Organization?
  • The Long Way Up: Lessons from An Impossible Journey for Business
  • Where Do Business Owners Even Start with Cybersecurity?
  • How to Get Hacked: Security Worst Practices
Axxys logo
Call Us Today: (214) 297-2100
Customer Support
5850 Granite Pkwy #700 Plano, TX 75024 USA

Stay Connected

Be the first to know about new Axxys’ IT support and security services to help you meet your business goals

  • *We respect your privacy. We'll NEVER sell, rent or share your email address.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
© 2020 Axxys, Inc | Privacy Policy | Back to top
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
New Server or Move to the Cloud? BYOD in K-12 Schools: 5 Tips to Help Parents Keep Their Kids Safe
Scroll to top