"Billions of Passwords Now Available on Underground Forums, Say Security Researchers"

An 18-month analysis conducted by cybersecurity researchers at Digital Shadows on cybercriminals' access to and use of stolen account details revealed that usernames and passwords for more than 15 billion accounts are being distributed on the dark web. The stolen credentials circulating on underground forums allow cybercriminals to access network administrator accounts, bank accounts, virtual private networks (VPNs), streaming services, and more. Researchers warn that many account credentials are getting leaked online because of the use of weak passwords, which can easily be cracked through the performance of brute force attacks. Users are encouraged to create a unique password and apply multi-factor authentication (MFA) for each of their online accounts. This article continues to discuss the proliferation of stolen account credentials on the dark web, the value of these credentials to attackers, and how people can strengthen their online accounts' security. 

ZDNet reports "Billions of Passwords Now Available on Underground Forums, Say Security Researchers"