A recently discovered database containing 184 million records has sparked concerns over the security of login credentials for various digital services, including Apple, Facebook, and Google. Identified by security researcher Jeremiah Fowler, the database's unknown origin makes it challenging to ascertain how the sensitive information was obtained, raising possibilities of either research compilation or cybercriminal theft via malware. Fowler's analysis indicated that records included plaintext passwords for numerous accounts across several platforms, alongside government email addresses that suggest potential national security risks. Following the discovery, Fowler reported the database to its hosting provider, World Host Group, which subsequently disabled access after initial silence until contacted by WIRED.
