16 Billion Passwords Leaked

16 Billion Passwords Leaked: What You—and Your Kids—Need to Know

Hacking isn’t just a side hustle for a few people in hoodies—it’s a full-blown industry. Personal information, passwords, and data are bought and sold like currency on the dark web. And with 16 billion (yes, billion) passwords recently exposed in a massive breach, it’s a wake-up call for all of us—especially parents and anyone working with youth.

The article headline might sound a little clickbaity, but the situation is very real. If your email address has ever been tied to an account, there’s a good chance it’s floating around somewhere it shouldn’t be. Kids and teens often use simple, recycled, or guessable passwords, and they need to know why that’s risky—and how to do better.

What You Need to Know

• The leak involved a massive “combination file” of stolen credentials from previous breaches—16 billion of them.
• Hackers use tools like brute-force attacks, phishing schemes, and malware to get into accounts.
• Once a hacker has a working password, they test it across multiple sites—because many people use the same password everywhere.
• Kids are especially vulnerable. They often don’t think their online accounts matter much, but even something like a stolen Instagram login can lead to identity theft, blackmail, or impersonation.

What You Can Do as an Adult in a Young Person’s Life

• Teach kids how to build strong, unique passwords. Encourage using a passphrase they’ll remember—something longer than a single word, with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Use a password manager (like Bitwarden or 1Password) to keep track of different logins.
• Enable two-factor authentication on every account that offers it.
• Talk to kids about never clicking on links or attachments in unexpected emails or messages—even if it looks like it’s from someone they know.
• A good place to start is Have I Been Pwned, a free and reputable website where you can check if your email address has been exposed in a data breach. Have your kids run their email too—it can be a real eye-opener. (you can trust that link)
• Make it a habit to change passwords every so often, especially for important accounts like email, banking, or school portals.

The digital world keeps evolving, and so do the threats. But with a little education and stronger digital habits, we can help young people stay safer online.
Click here for more about this latest hack.  

✌️ Ryan