Unsecured Database Exposes 184 Million Login Credentials: A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity
Discovery Highlights Common Data Handling Gaps In May 2025, cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler identified an unsecured ElasticSearch database that had been left publicly accessible. The dataset included over 184 million records, many containing usernames and plaintext passwords associated with popular platforms such as Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. While there is no confirmation that this data has been actively exploited, the discovery underscores the ongoing need to review how credentials are managed, stored, and potentially aggregated without oversight. What Was Found The database entries included an ID tag indicating the type of account, the associated URL, and plaintext credentials. The use of the Portuguese word "Senha" for "password" may point to the original source or intended users of the system. A small sample of 10,000 records showed the following: Facebook: 479 Google: 475 Instagram: 240 Roblox: 227 Discord: 209 Additional records from Microsoft, Netflix, PayPal, Apple, Amazon, and others A…
