Massive data breach exposes 183 million email passwords, including Gmail accounts
California: A massive data breach has emerged online, compromising millions of email accounts along with their passwords, with a significant number reportedly linked to Gmail users.
The breach, affecting over 183 million records, was recently discovered and added to the Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) database, a widely used platform that allows users to check whether their credentials have been compromised.
According to a report published by India Today, the exposed dataset, called “Synthient Stealer Log Threat Data,” is among the largest email-password leaks reported in recent months.
However, Google’s servers were reportedly not breached. The stolen information reportedly originated from devices infected by malware. The device collected credentials directly from users’ browsers and computers rather than Gmail’s internal systems.
Cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt, who runs HIBP, said the data came from logs created by infostealer malware, malicious programs that silently record login information, browser cookies, and authentication tokens from infected systems. “This wasn’t the result of a single company being hacked,” Hunt noted. “It’s a collection of information stolen from numerous compromised devices across the world.”
With 183 million unique email addresses paired with plaintext passwords, the dataset was uploaded to HIBP on October 21, 2025. Many of these mail ids are associated with Gmail. Analysts say plaintext storage has increased risk, as attackers can immediately use or sell the credentials on dark web marketplaces.
Warning has been issued by security experts that infostealer malware not only steal login credentials but it is also capable of intercepting browser cookies and authentication tokens, which will allow scammers to bypass two-factor authentication in certain cases.
While Google stated that its systems were not breached, it recommended users utilize its Security Checkup tool to identify suspicious devices or third-party apps linked to their accounts.
“Reports of a Gmail security ‘breach’ impacting millions of users are entirely inaccurate and incorrect,” New York Post quoted a Google spokesperson as saying.
“They stem from a misreading of ongoing updates to credential theft databases, known as infostealer activity, whereby attackers employ various tools to harvest credentials versus a single, specific attack aimed at any one person, tool or platform," the spokesperson added.
In a report published by Yahoo News, Michael Tigges, a security analyst at Huntress noted, “The event here is not one of any specific data breach, but instead aggregated and uploaded data from millions of stealer malware log.” He further added that the attack should serve as a warning to anyone who relies on their web browsers to store credentials.
According to security experts from Cyber Insider and Forbes, the main problem is password reuse across many platforms. Experts further added that users make it easy for the attackers to gain access to banking, shopping, or workplace systems associated with the same email address by using the same passwords for several accounts. They recommended users to opt for hardware-based security keys or passkeys instead of SMS verification for stronger protection.
Users can check whether their data was exposed on (https://haveibeenpwned.com/). They are also advised to protect their accounts by immediately changing the passwords, using a unique, strong combination password, and enable two-factor authentication, if they find their credentials at risk.
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Screenwriter Salim Khan on ventilator support and stable, say doctors
Mumbai (PTI): Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan suffered a brain haemorrhage which has been tackled, is on ventilator support as a safeguard and stable, doctors treating him said on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here.
The 90-year-old, one half of the celebrated Salim-Javed duo which scripted films such as "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don" with Javed Akhtar, is in the ICU and recovery might take some time given his age.
"His blood pressure was high for which we treated him and we had to put him on a ventilator because we wanted to do certain investigations. Now the ventilator was put as a safeguard so that his situation doesn't get worse. So it is not that he is critical," Dr Jalil Parkar told reporters.
"We did the investigations that were required and today we have done a small procedure on him, I will not go into the details. The procedure done is called DSA (digital subtraction angiography). The procedure has been accomplished, he is fine and stable and shifted back to ICU. By tomorrow, we hope to get him off the ventilator. All in all, he is doing quite well," he added.
Asked whether he suffered a brain haemorrhage, the doctor said, "Unko thoda haemorrhage hua tha, which we’ve tackled. No surgery is required.
As concern over Khan's health mounted, his children, including superstar Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, daughter Alvira, and sons-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma, have been seen outside the hospital along with other well-wishers. His long-time partner Akhtar was also seen coming out of the hospital.
Khan, a household name in the 70s and 80s, turned 90 on November 24 last year. It was the day Dharmendra, the star of many of his films, including "Sholay", "Seeta aur Geeta" and "Yaadon Ki Baraat", passed away.
Hailing from an affluent family in Indore, Khan arrived in Mumbai in his 20s with dreams of stardom. He was good looking and confident he would make a mark in the industry as an actor. But that did not happen. And then, after struggling for close to a decade and getting confined to small roles in films, he changed lanes.
He worked as an assistant to Abrar Alvi and soon met Akhtar to form one of Hindi cinema's most formidable writing partnerships. They worked together on two dozen movies with most of them achieving blockbuster status.
Other than "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don", Khan and Akhtar also penned "Trishul", "Zanjeer", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Yaadon Ki Baarat" and "Mr India".
