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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Rupee falls 9 paise to all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.52 per cent at USD 61.44 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 298.86 points lower at 84,968.80, while the Nifty was down 121.40 points at 25,925.55.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue to be in selling mode in equity and debt while RBI has been selling dollars to fund their long positions," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
