184 million leaked passwords from Google and Microsoft exposed online.

In a major cybersecurity incident this year, security researcher Jeremiah Fowler revealed a massive database leak containing over 184 million passwords linked to accounts from major tech services, including Google, Microsoft, as well as popular platforms like Facebook, Apple, Instagram, and Snapchat. According to a report by AndroidHeadlines, the leaked database was found online in an unencrypted form, making it fully exposed and readable by anyone in plain text format, posing a greater risk than usual leaks. Fowler explained that this database was published due to specialized malware designed to steal login credentials, stealing passwords and usernames from browsers, websites, or compromised servers. Despite the severity of the incident, Fowler intervened and contacted the service provider hosting the database, and public access to the data was later removed. However, the fate of the use of this data remains unknown, as the entity that collected it or whether it was actually used for criminal activities or research purposes has not been identified yet. This massive leak highlights the risks of continued reliance on traditional passwords, as major companies are moving towards adopting the "Passkeys" system, which relies on biometric verification technologies like fingerprint or facial recognition. Passkeys are considered more secure as they are stored locally on devices and cannot be accessed remotely, making them less susceptible to hacking compared to traditional passwords or temporary OTP codes. It is worth noting that a wave of organized cyberattacks has targeted several major institutions worldwide in recent weeks, including government facilities and private companies, raising concerns about the escalation of complex cyberattacks amid the spread of espionage and hacking tools.