On July 4th, a record-breaking password leak dubbed “RockYou2024” was posted on a major hacking forum. The leak includes nearly 10 billion unique passwords, compiled by a hacker known as “ObamaCare.” Despite its massive size, RockYou2024 largely consists of passwords from previous breaches, including the 2021 “RockYou2021” leak. Experts emphasize the importance of using secure password practices, such as employing two-factor authentication and regularly updating passwords, to mitigate potential risks from such compilations.
The RockYou2024 leak has raised significant concerns among cybersecurity experts. They warn that the availability of such a vast number of passwords could lead to an increase in cyberattacks, as hackers can easily use the leaked data to launch credential-stuffing attacks. Users are urged to check if their credentials have been compromised and to change any affected passwords immediately. With the Cybernews exposed passwords checker, https://cybernews.com/password-leak-check/you can verify if any of your passwords are part of the latest RockYou stolen credentials database.
To stay informed about potential breaches, users can sign up for services like “Have I Been Pwned?” (HIBP). Created by security expert Troy Hunt in 2013, HIBP allows users to check if their personal data has been compromised by entering their email address or username. The service collects and analyzes data from various breaches, notifying users if their information appears in future dumps. This proactive approach can help individuals take timely actions to protect their security and privacy.
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About Dr. Tom
Thomas Hyslip currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Criminology, University of South Florida teaching exclusively in the online Master of Science in Cybercrime program. The program is a unique blend of criminology, digital forensics, cybercrime investigations, and incident response course work.
Prior to USF, Dr. Hyslip worked as a Special Agent with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and United States Secret Service for 23 years. While assigned to the DCIS Southeast Field Office, Dr. Hyslip led an undercover operation dedicated to targeting and dismantling the most egregious cyber-criminal enterprises. Dr. Hyslip worked with the National Security Agency, and the United States Cyber Command to identify and infiltrate cyber-criminal organizations targeting the DoD.
In 2012, Dr. Hyslip was promoted to lead the newly created Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Resident Agency. He led daily procedural and operational activities of special agents in eight locations across the eastern United States responding to computer intrusions within the DoD and the Defense Industrial Base. His office also provided computer forensic support to all DCIS offices and investigations within the Eastern United States, Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. During this time, Dr. Hyslip worked proactively to target international Cyber-Crime groups and worked undercover to penetrate underground cyber-crime organizations which resulted in the dismantlement of the WebStresser DDoS platform in 2018; the ExoStresser DDoS platform in 2019; and the PowerStresser DDoS platform in 2020.
Dr. Hyslip is also a retired U.S. Army Colonel. His last assignment was as a Historian with the U.S. Army Center of Military History. He was previously assigned to the Office of the Surgeon General as an Environmental Engineer, and as an Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. COL Hyslip has a mix of active duty and reserve assignments spanning over 27 years including assignments with the US African Command, Office of Inspector General, the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, and the US Army Reserve Information Operations Command. In 2005, COL Hyslip deployed to Iraq with the 306th Military Police Battalion and earned a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge.
Dr. Hyslip earned his Doctor of Science degree in Information Assurance from Capitol College, Master of Science degree in Technology Systems from East Carolina University, and his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University. Tom and his wife Susan live in Tega Cay, SC with their daughter Reagan
