CERT warns after massive global data breach affecting 180 million users

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT) has issued an advisory following a massive data theft involving passwords and sensitive information of over 180 million users worldwide. The breach affected major platforms including Google, Facebook, Apple, Instagram, Snapchat, and even some government portals.

CERT has urged Pakistani users to immediately change their account passwords due to increased risks of identity theft, account hacking, and cyberattacks. The advisory warns that government institutions and financial accounts may also be vulnerable, potentially endangering critical national infrastructure.

Users are advised to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts and to use password managers instead of storing passwords in emails or unsecured files. Regular updates of antivirus and security software are also recommended.

The advisory stresses the importance of monitoring unusual login activity and calls on institutions to promptly notify affected users. Failure to take swift action, CERT warns, could compromise the country’s digital security landscape.