Russian Gang Amasses Over A Billion Internet Passwords

[Flevokiwi]

A Russian crime ring has amassed the largest known collection of stolen Internet credentials, including 1.2 billion user name and password combinations and more than 500 million email addresses, security researchers say.

The records, discovered by Hold Security, a firm in Milwaukee, include confidential material gathered from 420,000 websites, including household names, and small Internet sites. Hold Security has a history of uncovering significant hacks, including the theft last year of tens of millions of records from Adobe Systems.

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[Deleted]

Your report is extremely troubling!  The latest I heard today on NPR news is that those who have a website have the greatest amount of concern because these
Russian Gang's are going after website host servers! In the same report, it was highly advised that "everyone" change passwords for websites and email, and if able, to use the
two step password identity process.

When I read a post like yours Flevokiwi, and then hear information on the news, my first reaction is, "oh, that won't affect little ol' me, using gmail, hotmail and yahoo!"

Oh..then there's Photobucket, TEG, Got Windows  ?... etc.?

When would a household computer user take these these password threats seriously?

[Wingman]

You should always take the security of your computer and (now) Smart Phones seriously.
Use strong passwords, or a password generator.
Don't open unfamiliar emails or attachments in emails.
All the things you have read about trying to keep your computer secure, should continue to be followed.

Consider this, if the bad guys get into the web site host servers... what information do you think they are looking for:
Member information... email addresses, passwords, personal information, etc.

[Deleted]

@wingman, you make a very good point, and I appreciate the way you worded your response.  It's just at my level to get it.

I've maintained "several" email addresses to compartmentalize my life.  Now I'm thinking I might shrink them down to 2..and change the
passwords daily!! When is too frequent going overboard now with the vulnerability of the Internet?

It will be interesting to see if those who monitor consumer spending will begin to see a decline in on-line shopping because of the heightened Internet vulnerability?

The new Russian sanctions against the world: the information Flevokiwi posted!!! :blush:
 

[Wingman]

When is too frequent to change passwords... some feel once a week, some others, once a month.
The key is to use a strong password or better yet a pass phrase, something long, with numbers and symbols but easy to remember.