HACKED! Change Your Password IMMEDIATELY!

It seems like everyone’s passwords might be out there on the internet right now. A massive data leak in June 2025 exposed over 16 billion passwords from platforms like Google, Instagram, and even government sites. This video explains how hackers are stealing data, why two-factor authentication might not be enough anymore, and what urgent steps you need to take to protect yourself.

How Hackers Steal Your Passwords

There are several ways hackers try to get your passwords. Understanding these methods is the first step to staying safe.

Key Takeaways

• Phishing: Hackers trick you into giving them your password through fake emails, messages, or texts.
• Credential Stuffing: Hackers use passwords leaked from one site to try and access your accounts on other sites.
• Password Spraying: Hackers try a common password against many different usernames.
• Brute Force: Hackers use software to try every possible password combination.

Phishing

This is a really common method. Hackers send emails, WhatsApp messages, or texts that look like they're from legitimate companies like Facebook or Instagram. They might offer you something like a blue tick if you just click a link and enter your details. The problem is, the link doesn't go to the real company; it goes to a fake page created by the hacker. When you enter your username and password, it goes straight to them. The same applies to fake bank messages that ask you to log in via a link to avoid account suspension. These fake websites often look very similar to the real ones, making it hard for people to tell the difference. The best way to avoid this is to never click on links in emails, texts, or messages to log in anywhere. If you need to check something on a website, open your browser yourself and type in the website address directly.

Credential Stuffing

This technique uses passwords that have been leaked in past data breaches. Even if you think your account on a site that was breached isn't important, hackers will take your username and password from that leak and try it on other websites you use, like Facebook, Apple, or Google. They hope you've reused the same password or a similar one across different platforms. This is why it's so important to use completely different passwords for every website.

Password Spraying

Here, hackers try one common password against many different usernames. This works because many systems lock accounts after a few failed login attempts. By only trying one or two times per account, hackers can avoid triggering these locks. For example, if a hacker has a list of 500 government employee email addresses, they might try a common password like 'India123' on all of them. It's likely that a few people will have used such a simple password, giving the hackers easy access.

Brute Force

Think of a simple three-digit lock on a suitcase. There are only 1000 possible combinations (000 to 999), so it's easy to guess the code. Brute force is similar, but for passwords. Hackers use special software that can try millions or billions of password combinations very quickly. The longer and more complex your password, the harder it is for this software to crack it. A four-digit password is easy to crack, but a password with many characters, numbers, and symbols becomes much more difficult.

Creating Strong Passwords

The strength of a password is measured by its entropy, which is basically how random and unpredictable it is. The more unique, random, and longer your password, the higher its entropy and the harder it is to hack.

Here's a simple formula to understand entropy:

Entropy (in bits) = log₂(n^L)

• L is the total length of the password.
• n is the number of possible characters for each position.
• If your password only uses lowercase letters (a-z), n is 26.
• If you add numbers (0-9), n becomes 36 (26 + 10).
• If you add uppercase letters (A-Z), n becomes 62 (26 + 26 + 10).
• Adding special characters like !@#$% further increases n.

A password with low entropy (like 'dhruv') is weak. Even adding numbers and a capital letter ('Dhruv123') makes it stronger, but it can still be cracked relatively quickly. Passwords with less than 50 bits of entropy are considered weak. Aim for over 100 bits for a strong password.

Common Weak Passwords:

Many people use very weak passwords. In India, some of the most common passwords include:

1. 123456
2. password
3. 123456789
4. 12345678
5. 111111
6. 123123
7. 100123
8. 12345
9. India123
10. 1qaz@wsx (a keyboard pattern)

Using keyboard patterns or common words is very risky. Even using the names of loved ones or celebrities with numbers is a bad idea, as this information is often publicly available and can be easily guessed by hackers.

How to Create Unbreakable Passwords

To create strong passwords that are hard to crack:

• Use a long password: Aim for at least 12-16 characters. A password of 12 characters can take over a year to crack.
• Use a mix of characters: Include lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.
• Avoid personal information: Don't use names, birthdays, phone numbers, or anything easily associated with you.

Here are two effective techniques:

1. First Letter Combination: Think of a memorable sentence and take the first letter of each word. For example, "My first car was a 1995 Honda Civic that I loved" could become Mfcwa1995Hctil. Adding capital letters can make it even stronger.
2. Passphrases: Choose four random words that are easy for you to remember and combine them. For example, CoffeeMountainBicycleJustice. You can add capital letters and symbols for extra security.

It's also vital to use a different password for every online account. If one account is compromised, the others remain safe.

Additional Security Measures

Beyond strong passwords, take these steps:

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security. Even if a hacker has your password, they'll also need a second verification method, like a code sent to your phone or a fingerprint scan.
• Never Share OTPs: Do not give out One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to anyone.
• Use a Password Manager: These tools securely store and manage your passwords. Many operating systems and browsers have built-in password managers.

Check if Your Data Has Been Leaked

You can check if your email address has been part of a data breach on websites like haveibeenpwned.com. Simply enter your email address, and it will show you if your information has appeared in any known data leaks. If it has, change your password immediately for that account and any other accounts where you might have used the same password.

Remember, protecting your online security is crucial. Start by changing your passwords for all important accounts right away.