A recent security report has uncovered one of the largest electronic data leaks, revealing a criminal database containing approximately 149 million records with leaked credentials.
The report indicated that about 48 million “Gmail” accounts were compromised, along with 17 million “Facebook” accounts, 6.5 million “Instagram” accounts, in addition to 4 million “Yahoo” accounts, 3.4 million “Netflix” accounts, and 1.5 million “Outlook” accounts.
The database was exposed and publicly accessible for a full month before it was discovered and reported to the relevant authorities for removal. It was clarified that the data was not protected in any way; it was neither encrypted nor password-protected, making it accessible to anyone.
The records include thousands of organized files containing email addresses, usernames, original passwords, and login links for various services. Analyses confirmed that this data represents records from past breaches, not a new attack, with most of it originating from “Infostealer” type malware that collects data from infected devices over time.
In an official response, “Google” confirmed it is aware of this data, which includes some “Gmail” accounts, and that its automated systems lock suspected accounts and force users to reset passwords upon detecting any exposure.
Experts advise users to visit the specialized website “Have I Been Pwned” to check if their email has been involved in any past breaches, while taking immediate actions such as changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication on important accounts, and reviewing recovery email addresses to ensure control is maintained.
Experts emphasize that this incident highlights the importance of proper security practices in digital life, including using strong and unique passwords for each account, regularly updating security software, and avoiding clicking on suspicious links or phishing messages.
Gmail
Gmail is a free email service launched by Google in 2004, notable for its then-unprecedented 1 GB of storage. It popularized web-based email with features like conversation threading and powerful search, fundamentally changing digital communication.
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard University roommates. It began as a campus-focused network called “Thefacebook” before expanding globally, fundamentally changing how people connect and share information online.
Instagram
Instagram is a social media platform and cultural site founded in 2010, initially focused on sharing photos and videos with filters. Its history includes a rapid rise in popularity, acquisition by Facebook (now Meta) in 2012, and evolution into a major hub for visual communication, influencer culture, and digital marketing.
Yahoo
Yahoo is an American web services provider founded in 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo, originally as a directory of other websites called “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web.” It grew into a major internet portal offering services like search, email, and news, becoming one of the most iconic companies of the early dot-com era.
Netflix
Netflix is a global streaming service founded in 1997 as a DVD-by-mail rental company before pioneering the subscription-based online streaming model in 2007. It has since become a dominant force in entertainment, producing a vast library of original films and series while fundamentally changing global media consumption habits.
Outlook
Outlook is a town in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, founded in 1908 as a railway point along the Canadian Pacific Railway line. Its development was closely tied to agricultural settlement and the construction of a large concrete grain elevator in 1912, which became a historic landmark for the region.
Google
Google is an American multinational technology company founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. It began as a search engine project and has since grown into a global leader in internet-related services, software, and hardware, profoundly shaping the digital landscape.
Have I Been Pwned
“Have I Been Pwned” is a cybersecurity website and service created by Australian security expert Troy Hunt in 2013. It allows users to check if their personal data, such as email addresses or passwords, has been compromised in known data breaches. The site aggregates information from publicly available breaches to help individuals assess and mitigate their exposure to online security risks.
