Nearly 26M Amazon, Facebook, Apple, eBay user logins stolen by hackers
The private login information belonging to tens of millions of people was compromised after malware infiltrated over 3.2 million Windows-based computers during a two-year span.
According to a report by cybersecurity provider NordLocker,
a custom Trojan-type malware infiltrated the computers between 2018 and 2020
and stole 1.2 terabytes (TB) of personal information.
As a result, hackers were able to get their hands on nearly
26 million login credentials including emails, usernames and passwords from
almost a million websites, according to Nordlocker's report, which was
conducted in partnership with a third-party company specializing in data breach
research.
The targeted websites include major namesakes such as
Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Dropbox and LinkedIn.
The malware was transmitted through email and "illegal
software" which included a pirated version of "Adobe Photoshop 2018,
a Windows cracking tool, and several cracked games," according to the
report.
To steal the personal information, the malware was
reportedly able to take screenshots of a person's information and also
photograph "the user if the device had a webcam."
Among the stolen database were 2 billion browser cookies and
6.6 million files, including 1 million images and more than 650,000 Word and
.pdf files.
"Cookies help hackers construct an accurate picture of
the habits and interests of their target," the report read. "In some
cases, cookies can even give access to the person’s online accounts."
Making up the bulk of the stolen database was "3
million text files, 900,00 image files, and 600,000+ Word files."
What was of most concern, according to Nordlocker, was that
"some people even use Notepad to keep their passwords, personal notes, and
other sensitive information," according to the report.
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