used with permission from Norton by Symantec
by Solange Desc
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.
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?
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.
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