16 billion passwords leaked in historic data breach affecting Google, Apple, and Facebook

A record-breaking data breach has exposed approximately 16 billion login credentials from major tech platforms including Apple, Google, and Facebook. According to cybersecurity researchers, this may be the largest password leak ever recorded.

The breach, confirmed on June 19, 2025, was uncovered through multiple posts on X and independent research. Experts believe the data was collected via infostealing malware and compiled into databases that briefly appeared online. The scale of the breach has raised serious concerns across the global cybersecurity community.

Researchers note that the compromised data spans millions of users, with account credentials, passwords, and possibly personal details leaked from some of the internet’s most-used services. While some of the databases had been reported previously, the vast majority of the 30 total datasets are new, increasing the threat level for consumers and businesses worldwide.

Cybersecurity firm Cybernews labeled this incident a "historic breach" and warned that new leaks of this scale are becoming increasingly frequent due to the rise of malware designed to harvest login data. The exposure highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in cloud security and poor data protection practices by organizations.

It remains unclear exactly how many unique individuals have been affected, as overlapping data entries are common. However, with over 5.5 billion global internet users, the impact is expected to be massive.

Security experts urge all users to immediately change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and use password managers to mitigate potential damage.

This breach serves as a critical reminder of the need for stronger cybersecurity protocols and user awareness in an increasingly digital world.