The recent massive data leak called RockYou2024 revealed that almost 10 billion internet passwords were offered for sale on the ‘Dark Web’. The developments have also created the possibility of personal information belonging to millions of people falling into the hands of malicious people. Experts have warned that people who think they are victims of a leak should immediately switch to the application called two-factor authentication (2FA). Speaking to Haberglobal Web Özel, Digital Communications Specialist Prof. Dr. Ali Murat Kırık addressed citizens who suspect a leak, saying, “They should reset all their passwords.. Using two-factor authentication (2FA) will increase security. 2FA is a security measure where simply entering your password is not enough, a second verification step is required. E“This layer of security makes it difficult for unauthorized access to your account, even if your password is stolen.”
MUST BE 12 CHARACTERS
Prof. Dr. Kırık also mentioned that cyber security is a personal responsibility and added, “When creating routine password changes and passwords, uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters and numbers should be used, provided that they are not shorter than 12 digits.”
1.5 BILLION NEW PASSWORDS
Cyber Security Expert Berker Kılıç stated that the list put up for sale on the ‘Dark Web’ is an updated version of the data leak in 2021, and said: “While the 2021 list contained 8.4 billion passwords, the RockYou2024 list added an additional 1.5 billion new passwords. These passwords were collected from various old and new data breaches, and some were re-cracked using the NVIDIA RTX 4090.”
ONLINE ATTACK PERIOD
Sharing the information that massive leaks pose great risks to users with weak passwords, Kılıç warned: “A large portion of passwords can be used for offline brute force attacks or online attacks that can be more effective when matched with usernames. 18.7 percent of users use the same password for three or more accounts, increasing the likelihood that cybercriminals could compromise multiple accounts using a single leaked password. “The potential impacts of RockYou2024 include data breaches, financial fraud, and identity theft. Using this massive list of passwords, cybercriminals can target multiple online accounts and compromise personal information.”
“Google Chrome’s password check feature allows users to check if their passwords have been compromised and helps them create stronger and unique passwords. With this feature, users can increase their account security and protect themselves from potential cyberattacks. Users can perform this check from the saved passwords section of the Chrome application.”
ONE IN EVERY 3 PEOPLE
On the other hand, in a study conducted in recent weeks titled “Social and Individual Reflections of Fraud,” it was revealed that 37 percent of citizens were subjected to internet fraud. The results of the study also revealed that 15 percent of citizens were deceived with false information during face-to-face shopping, and 10 percent were defrauded over the phone.
(email protected)
