Earlier this week, reports came out claiming that 183 million Gmail passwords were exposed in a data leak. Google has since come out to dispute this claim (via its X account ), attributing "inaccurate reports" to "stemming from a misunderstanding of infostealer databases."

Google issued an explanatory series of posts on X outlining that there were no new passwords stolen, and that any legitimate credentials came from an assortment of prior data breaches stretching back years that have been circulating on underground forums.

Hackers gathered a huge haul: 183 million sets of email addresses + passwords, including tens of millions tied to Gmail accounts.

Learn more about the data leak that saw 183 million email credentials exposed, including millions of Gmail passwords.

Massive data breach exposes 183 million Gmail passwords, experts urge users to change passwords and enable 2FA to protect accounts.

Urgent alert issued to anyone who uses Gmail after 183 million passwords leaked - Breach could also allow hackers to access logins associated with email accounts

The Nigerian government has said it has begun an investigation into leaked passwords affecting 183 million Google Mail users. A senior official at the

Update, Dec. 16, 2024: This story, originally published Dec. 14 now includes additional advice on how to securely recover a forgotten username and password to an inactive Gmail account to prevent deletion in 2025, exceptions to the account deletions rule ...