Critical warning from expert: Change all your passwords, including E-Devlet and bank accounts

Last week, a list containing nearly 10 billion passwords was shared on a hacker site.

Following the incident, which has been recorded as the largest data breach in history, users are wondering how to take precautions against digital piracy.

Hürriyet columnist Fulya Soybaş conducted an interview with Cybersecurity Expert Osman Demircan on this subject.

Writing an article titled "Change all your passwords immediately, including E-Devlet and bank accounts," Soybaş included the following warnings from Cybersecurity Expert Osman Demircan:

“Just as a key opens the door to our home, our password opens the door to the virtual world. Therefore, hackers are essentially 'digital locksmiths.' We have experienced similar things in the past. Although much of the stolen data turned out to be fake, a significant portion that cannot be underestimated unfortunately turned out to be real. Therefore, not all of the 10 billion data points (passwords and access information) in total, including the 1.5 billion new data points released, will be useful. However, this does not mean we are safe!”

So, what should be done? How can we ensure our data security? Demircan responded with 3 points:

Do not visit any site to check "Oh, I wonder if I've been hacked" and do not search for your name: We see this a lot. Curiosity is good, but sometimes it is bad. The curiosity of "Am I in that database?" increases the likelihood of clicking on other unexpected files and getting hacked. It is highly probable that a file clicked on may look like the real "Rockyou2024" but actually contain malicious software that would allow hackers to take control of your phone, tablet, or computer.

No institution can KNOW or SEE your password: My second warning is regarding phone fraud. No institution can see your passwords, and they do not, and cannot, say "a certain part of your password is this" during phone transactions. If you have a phone conversation like this, do not believe it! Hang up the phone immediately and report the situation to the relevant institution or the authorities that should be notified.

Change your passwords and turn on two-factor authentication: Urgently change all your passwords to new ones that are difficult to guess and contain both characters and numbers. Make your bank, social media, and email passwords different from each other. Because if one password is compromised, those passwords will be tried on other platforms as well. Do not click on any link, even if it comes from someone you know! Also, change your passwords every 3-6 months. And don't forget to turn on two-factor authentication! Accessing the platform you want to reach with a message sent to your mobile phone or a code received from a mobile application after entering your username and password is a more secure option.