Information that has been pilfered dating back to the MySpace period is present in the database.
In the event that you have ever pondered whether or not someone has ever made the effort to compile all of the credentials brought about by the numerous data breaches that have occurred over the years into a single database, the answer is yes. An investigation team has found what they are referring to as the Mother of All Breaches (MOAB). This is due to the fact that it is 12 terabytes in size and contains tens of billions of credentials that have been gathered over the course of decades of data breaches. Not only does it contain outdated information, but it also has more recent credentials; therefore, if you have ever needed a reason to change your passwords, here it is just for you.
A report on the database that has 26 billion entries has been issued by the team that works at Cybernews on the subject. The trove of credentials includes a variety of firms, including Chinese corporations such as Tencent and Weibo, as well as American social media companies such as Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn. A number of these companies have been affected. According to the website, the database has been rigorously vetted, and it is searchable; however, at the moment, it is only searchable for URLs that have been affected, which means that it is not very useful to a layperson. As far as the researchers are concerned, they do not know who created the massive document, and they are skeptical that it will ever be made public.
There are 3,800 folders in the repository, and each one represents a different data breach. Researchers believe that duplicates are also likely to exist within the individual files of the database, despite the fact that the database is curated. This is because it is possible for someone to simply find their credentials in various folders due to previous breaches. The fact that the database is aggregated makes it possible for the MOAB to also be a COMB, which stands for a compilation of multiple breaches.
Tencent and Weibo, two Chinese corporations, are responsible for the largest collection of credentials. Tencent has 1.4 billion listings, while Weibo has 504 million listings. Not only is MySpace the most prominent firm in the United States with 360 million stolen credentials, but it also serves as an indicator of how far back in time the database goes. When credentials are reused, even past breaches might still have repercussions in the present day. This is because people have a tendency to reuse passwords.
Despite the fact that the majority of the credentials found in MOAB are from older breaches, it is always a good idea to remain watchful. This is something that TechSpot points out. It is usually a good idea to use complicated passwords, and it is even better to use a different password for each website that you enter into. Additionally, it is recommended to make use of two-factor authentication if it is offered.