BREAKING: Over 16 Billion Passwords from Apple, Meta, Google, and Other Tech Giants Leaked — Forbes Reports

In one of the largest cybersecurity breaches in digital history, a staggering 16 billion passwords tied to major global tech platforms — including Apple ($AAPL), Meta ($META), Google ($GOOGL), Microsoft, and others — have reportedly been leaked online, according to an exclusive report by Forbes.

The leak, which surfaced on multiple dark web forums over the past 72 hours, has sent shockwaves through the global tech and cybersecurity communities, prompting urgent investigations, password resets, and warnings from security experts.

What We Know

The breach includes login credentials, emails, usernames, and passwords, some dating as far back as 2014, but many are fresh and verified as active.

Initial analysis shows the data includes access to services such as iCloud, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Outlook, LinkedIn, Amazon, and various cryptocurrency exchanges.

Experts believe the dump is an aggregation from years of breaches, combined with newly compromised data, likely through malware, phishing attacks, and third-party app vulnerabilities.

Potential Origin: The “RockYou2025” Leak?

Some cybersecurity analysts have dubbed the breach “RockYou2025”, as it follows the pattern of the infamous RockYou2021 dump — but on a far more massive and dangerous scale.

> “This is a digital nuclear bomb,” said Jake Moore, a cybersecurity advisor at ESET. “We’re seeing billions of active credentials circulating freely. Anyone reusing passwords across services is at serious risk.”

Global Impact and Ongoing Investigations

Major corporations like Apple, Meta, and Google have not officially confirmed breaches from their servers, suggesting that the leak likely stems from third-party apps, poor password hygiene, or cross-platform reuse rather than a direct compromise.

However, global law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, the FBI, and Europol, have reportedly begun tracing the source of the leak and warning affected organizations.

What You Should Do Immediately

Security experts are urgently advising users to:

Change all passwords, especially if you use the same one across multiple platforms

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all important accounts

Use password managers to generate and store unique, secure credentials

Be wary of phishing emails, suspicious login alerts, and unauthorized activity

Bigger Than Just Passwords

The leak raises renewed questions about data protection standards, user education, and corporate responsibility in the digital era. With over 16 billion exposed credentials now floating across cybercrime forums, experts warn we may be entering a new age of automated hacking, identity theft, and account hijacking at scale.

This is a developing story. Vice Reports will continue to monitor and publish updates as global response unfolds.