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Guarding Against the RockYou2024 Password Leak: A guide to check your exposure and enhance your cybersecurity

AUTHOR

Kevin Lewis
Sr. Managing Director & CISO

The recent RockYou2024 password leak has caused much concern, affecting millions of users worldwide. A massive collection of over 10 billion plaintext passwords was leaked on the Dark Web over the 4th of July weekend, raising questions about online security.

What is RockYou2024?

RockYou2024 is named after RockYou, a social media company that experienced a similar breach in 2009, which exposed 32 million passwords. The source of the RockYou2024 leak remains unknown. However, it is suspected to be a compilation of previous breaches from various websites and platforms. The leak poses a serious threat to millions of users who reused the same passwords across multiple accounts, as hackers can use these passwords to launch credential stuffing attacks, potentially accessing personal information, financial data, or even taking over accounts.

How to check your exposure:

If you are concerned that your passwords may be part of the RockYou2024 leak, or are vulnerable to similar hacks, there are steps you can take to check your exposure and take preventative action.

  • Manually check your exposure: Visit https://haveibeenpwned.com – This website allows you to check if your email or password appears in any data breach, including the RockYou2024 leak. The website is secure and doesn’t store or share your information.
  • Automate Exposure Monitoring: Third party specialists offer domain monitoring as a monthly service. Clients receive a monthly report and real-time alerts during the month for any Dark Web appearances. Monitoring your organization’s exposure can help you take preventive measures.
  • Password Safety: If you find out your email or password is leaked, change it on all platforms where you use it. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added protection.

 

Enhancing Your Security

To enhance your security and prevent breaches, follow these best practices:

  • Use different passwords for different accounts. This way, if one of your passwords is compromised, it will not affect other accounts. Also consider using a secure password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords.
  • Rotate your passwords regularly, changing them every few months or when suspecting a breach.
  • Enable MFA for added security on your accounts.
  • Stay vigilant against phishing emails. Learn how to spot and avoid phishing attempts, and always be cautious when receiving unfamiliar emails.

 

The RockYou2024 password leak is a historic leak that exposes 10 billion passwords in plain text. It poses a significant threat to millions of users who reused the same password across multiple accounts. Protecting yourself from the RockYou2024 leak involves checking your exposure, changing your passwords, using a password manager, enabling MFA, and avoiding phishing emails. By following these steps and partnering with a third party like E78 Partners to monitor domain exposure, you can enhance your security and prevent future breaches. Ready to safeguard your organization against dark web threats? Contact E78 Partners today for an effective cybersecurity solution suited to your needs.

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Meet the Author

Kevin Lewis
Sr. Managing Director & CISO