Massive Gmail data breach exposes millions of email accounts

Google has issued an urgent warning to millions of Gmail users worldwide after reports surfaced of a massive data breach exposing over 183 million email accounts and passwords online.

The leaked data, circulating across dark web forums, could give hackers access not only to Gmail accounts but also to any online service linked to those email addresses, from banking apps to social media logins.

Cybersecurity experts have called it one of the largest credential leaks in recent months.

Google has advised users to immediately change their Gmail passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to safeguard their accounts.

The Alphabet-owned company noted that while Gmail’s internal systems remain secure, compromised passwords reused across multiple platforms pose a serious risk.

Notably, Gmail users can check whether their credentials were part of the breach through online monitoring tools that track hacked databases.

One such site has already identified more than 917 breached platforms and over 15 billion compromised accounts worldwide.

Experts have also recommended avoiding password reuse, enabling 2FA, and being cautious of phishing emails that may exploit the incident.

While Google hasn’t confirmed whether its own servers were targeted, the leak serves as a stark reminder that no password is truly safe forever.