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Help!! Hacker breaks, releases staggering 10 billion passwords, what you must do now! Read what cyber experts say
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Cyber experts have urgently warned people to update their passwords after a hacker uploaded billions of login details.
The leak, called RockYou2024, was posted on July 4th containing a staggering 10 billion passwords from a compilation of old and new data breaches.
Researchers who revealed the leak said the information could allow hackers to target any system that isn’t protected by strict security software including online and offline services, online cameras and industrial hardware.
This could prompt a wave of data breaches, financial fraud and identity theft using the passwords, which were collected from more than 4,000 databases over the last two decades.
Cybernews researchers revealed that a hacker released a staggering 10 billion passwords collected from 4,000 database.
The user, who goes by ObamaCare, used 8.4 billion passwords from an earlier crime forum released in 2021 and cracked 1.5 billion new passwords
Researchers at Cybernews who investigated the hack said the perpetrator goes by the name ObamaCare.
The person appeared to use 8.4 billion passwords from an earlier crime forum released in 2021.
However, an additional 1.5 billion new passwords were obtained from records from 2021 to 2024.
‘Xmas came early this year,’ ObamaCare wrote on the forum.
‘I present to you a new rockyou2024 password list with over 9.9 billion passwords.
The hacker added that they ‘also cracked some old ones with [their] new 4090,’ – a high-end Nvidia graphics card – containing ‘actual new real passwords from users.’
The file was released in a 45.6-gigabyte zip archive using leaked records from sites like X (formerly Twitter), AdultFriendFinder, MyFitnessPal, LinkedIn and Adobe.
The top two impacted brands are Chinese-based companies that far surpass other online companies.
They include 1.5 billion from Tencent – a tech company that provides internet services – and 504 million from social media platform Weibo.
‘In its essence, the RockYou2024 leak is a compilation of real-world passwords used by individuals all over the world,’ the researchers said, adding ‘revealing that many passwords for threat actors substantially heightens the risk of credential stuffing attacks.’
Credential stuffing occurs when hackers use a password from one data breach to log in to an unrelated service like using a password obtained from the AT&T leak to see if the person uses the same password for their bank account.
Cybernews told Forbes that its researchers have been in contact with the hacker and are working to investigate the datasets and the roughly ‘30 gigabytes of combo lists from which data was extracted.’
Users can check if their password was leaked by visiting the Cybernews site and entering their password.
As a preventive measure, users should immediately reset their leaked passwords on all accounts and select strong, unique combinations that aren’t used on multiple platforms.
They should also enable multi-factor authentication which provides a second level of security by requiring verification like facial recognition or a PIN in addition to the passwords.
‘There really is no excuse not to use unique passwords for every single account as data breaches unfortunately continue to occur and grow,’ Jake Moore, the global cybersecurity advisor for security vendor ESET told Forbes.
‘Luckily, password managers are easier than ever to use and implement into daily life. Plus they offer the hard part of password generation and the secure storing of these complex codes.’
News
Despite hunger, Bauchi Gov, Mohammed budgets N400m to buy six computers
The Bauchi State Government has allocated N400 million in its 2025 budget for the purchase of six computers for the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
In addition, the government plans to spend N1 billion on land acquisition for the construction of offices and buildings, alongside N170 million for a generator to power the SSG’s office.
The budgetary allocation has continued to generate criticism from the public, especially from public affairs analysts.
According to the Guardian, a public affairs analyst, Ibrahim Musa while reacting to the development described the expenditure as a glaring example of misplaced priorities.
He said, “Everyone would believe that prudence will start from different levels of the government, but this appears to be the reverse. We have seen several inflated figures of capital expenditure from this government.”
He further criticised the state government’s economic decisions, stating, “The state government is asking citizens to sacrifice by adjusting their living conditions. On the other hand, you see the same government engaging in wastage. How can you convince a man who has no food on his table that you’re buying six computers at the cost of N400 million?
“This amount can be used to build about six primary healthcare facilities where service delivery could be taken closer to Nigerians. This is what the government is buying yearly and has become a recurring expenditure.”
Musa urged the Bauchi State Government to focus on projects that would directly benefit the people, cautioning against what he termed as “wastage.”
News
READ five reasons why swallowing semen maybe good for your health
…also dangers associated with swallowing semen
Researchers have found that exposure to semen is good for women’s health because of the mood-altering chemicals of this body fluid. But there are some risks involved.
Semen is the thick fluid that comes out of a male’s penis when they ejaculate during intercourse or sexual activities. Semen is also referred to as ejaculate.
Many believe semen is the same thing as sperm, but they are actually two separate things. Semen and sperm are kind of like squares and rectangles — sperm is a part of semen, but semen isn’t a part of sperm.
Earlier research had shown that these chemicals not just elevate mood, increase affection and induce sleep, but also contain vitamins and anti-depressants.
The alleged health benefits of seminal plasma are believed to be activated when a man deposits semen into a woman’s vagina, but research suggests that the same benefits may also be available if it is swallowed.
However, there are some people who are allergic to sperm, a condition called human seminal plasma hypersensitivity (HSP). It’s a very rare allergy where individuals are hypersensitive to the proteins found in semen.
Possible health benefits of swallowing semen
Elevates your mood
Doctors say that when women have an orgasm, then the ‘love hormone oxytocin is released and this helps to elevate their mood. Orgasm for men could work as an anti-depressant because the moment a man ejaculates he gets tremendous pleasure that gets rid of all worries and issues he might have.
Helps you sleep better
You’re usually worn out after sex, but that may not be why you sleep so well that night. Semen actually contains melatonin, which is a chemical that induces sleep and relaxation. Whether you ingest it or receive it through intercourse, it will enter your bloodstream and help you doze off better than most over-the-counter sleep aids.
Oral sex can lower your blood pressure
According to a study, swallowing semen on a regular basis can lower your blood pressure. Women who swallow their male mate’s sperm during oral sex often have a much lower risk of getting preeclampsia — a complication during pregnancy that results in super-high blood pressure. So semen is helpful in making and birthing a baby.
Semen may be good for your skin.
A 2009 study showed that semen may slow down the ageing process of your skin and muscles. Semen contains a healthy portion of zinc, which is an antioxidant.
Potential risks of swallowing semen
You may be at risk of contracting STIs.
If you’re swallowing semen, you’re likely not using a condom. And, like most other sex acts performed without a condom, contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is always a probability.
Experts say having semen in your mouth puts you at risk of bacterial infections such as gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
You could have an allergic reaction.
If you’ve ever felt sick after swallowing semen, it could be because you have a semen allergy.
Known as seminal plasma hypersensitivity, semen allergies affect women and may cause symptoms such as pain, itching, redness, swelling, hives, and difficulty breathing. Some women have also reported feeling nauseous after swallowing semen.
News
Budget defense: Senators hammer ministers, top civil servants
Top shots in the executive arm of government, like the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, the Director General of National Orientation Agency ( NOA) Mallam Lanre Issa – Onilu and his counterpart in the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) , Ali Mohammed Ali , were separately put under fire in the Senate during 2025 budget defence sessions .
While the Minister of Finance , Wale Edun and the Minister of Budget and Economic planning , Senator Atiku Bagudu were put on hot seats by the Senate Committee on Appropriation, the DG of NOA and that of NAN , had very tough encounters with the Senate committee on Information and National Orientation .
Trouble came the way of the Minister of Finance when barrage of questions were fired at him by some members of the Appropriation committee on state of implementation of the 2024 budget , particularly the capital component .
Specifically , Senator Abdul Ningi ( PDP Baichi Central) , in the barrage of questions fired at the Minister , asked him to explain how proceeds from fuel subsidy removal were expended in the 2024 fiscal year .
” What is the budget performance achieved so far , for 2024 fiscal year , particularly in terms of the capital expenditure.
See also FG Approves Loans to Bolster Financial Position
We haven’t heard from the Minister how much has been saved from the removal of fuel subsidy and how much has been expended .
“We also haven’t heard from the Ministers about the debt servicing. How much have we actually used to service our debt in 2004?
” How much are we expecting to service the debt in 2005? Finally ,will the Minister of Finance guarantee that the extension of the capital component of the 2024 budget to June 30, 2025 will give the desired results in terms of implementation that has a very low percentage now ? ”
Apparently unsettled by the question , the Minister hurriedly requested the committee to accord him a close door session for detailed response to the question .
” Are we in a closed door session ? If we are not in a closed door session , i will humbly seek for that for detailed explanations on the questions asked “, he said .
The Committee Chairman , Senator Solomon Olamilekan ( APC Ogun West ) , according asked journalists to excuse them for the closed door session.
Earlier at the budget defence session the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation had with agencies under its purview , the Director General of National Orientation Agency ( NOA) , Mallam Issa – Onilu and his counterpart in the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) Ali Mohammed Ali , were ordered to re – draft and re – present their budgetary proposals for 2025 fiscal year .
The committee chaired by Senator kenneth Eze ( APC Ebonyi Central), tackled the NOA DG on the National Identity Project being implemented by the Agency by saying the project is not known to Nigerians , particularly, those residing at the grassroots .
But the NOA DG , held his ground by telling the committee members that the project is very necessary in putting in place , the right value system .
” The challenge we have about value system is about National Identity which is very necessary at galvanising Nigerians for Nation building , national development and growth “, he said .
The Committee however insisted that he should go back for re – drafting programmes of the agency to be captured and appropriated for , in the 2025 fiscal year .
Similar fate also befell the Director General of News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) , who was told to go and reconcile disnointed figures presented in the 2024 budget implementation before coming for appropriation of projected figures for 2025 fiscal years .
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