Data Breach Storm: Encryption User's Security Self-Check Guide

Recently, a data breach incident known as the "largest scale in history" has attracted widespread attention. According to multiple cybersecurity experts, a massive database containing approximately 16 billion login credentials is circulating on the dark web, covering almost all mainstream platforms we use in our daily lives.

This incident is far from an ordinary information leak; it is a blueprint for a global hacking operation that could be used for "massive attacks." For everyone living in the digital age, especially users holding encryption assets, this is undoubtedly an imminent security crisis. This article will provide you with a comprehensive security self-check guide, recommending that you immediately conduct a check against it to strengthen your asset protection measures.

I. Beyond the Threat of Encryption: The Severity of This Leak

To fully understand the necessity of defense, one must first comprehend the severity of the threats. The reason this leak is so dangerous is that it contains more sensitive information than ever before:

Bulk Attempt Attack: Hackers are using leaked "email + password" combinations to conduct large-scale, automated login attempts, targeting major encryption currency trading platforms. If you have used the same or similar passwords on different websites, your trading account may be unknowingly compromised.

Email Becomes the "Universal Key": Once an attacker gains control of your primary email account through leaked passwords, they can easily take over all your associated financial and social accounts by using the "password reset" feature, rendering SMS or email verification useless.

Potential Risks of Password Managers: If the master password strength of the password management tool you are using is insufficient, or if two-factor authentication is not enabled, then once it is compromised, all sensitive information stored within it, such as website passwords, mnemonic phrases, private keys, API keys, etc., could be captured at once.

Targeted Social Engineering Attack: Malicious actors may exploit your leaked personal information (such as your name, email, commonly used websites, etc.) to impersonate customer service representatives of trading platforms, members of project teams, or even your acquaintances, to carry out highly personalized and hard-to-detect scams against you.

2. Comprehensive Defense Strategy: Security System from Accounts to the Blockchain

In the face of such severe security threats, we need to build a multi-layered defense system.

1. Account-level protection: Strengthen your digital fortress

Password Management

This is the most basic and urgent step. Please immediately set a brand new, unique, complex password consisting of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters for all important accounts (especially trading platforms and email).

Two-Factor Authentication Upgrade

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the "second line of defense" for your account, but its security varies. Please stop using and replace SMS (SMS) 2FA verification on all platforms immediately! This method is vulnerable to SIM card cloning attacks. It is recommended to switch entirely to a more secure Authenticator App. For accounts managing large assets, consider using a hardware security key, which is the highest level of protection currently available to individual users.

2. On-chain protection: eliminate potential "risks" of the wallet

Wallet security is not only about private keys. Your interactions with decentralized applications (DApps) may also leave security vulnerabilities. Please use professional tools immediately to comprehensively check which DApps your wallet address has previously granted unlimited authorization (Approve) for tokens. For all applications that are no longer in use, are untrusted, or have excessive authorization limits, quickly revoke their token transfer permissions, close any "backdoors" that could be exploited by hackers, and prevent the theft of assets without your knowledge.

3. Psychological Defense: Cultivating "Zero Trust" Security Awareness

In addition to technical protection, mentality and habits are the last line of defense.

Establish the "Zero Trust" Principle: In the current severe security environment, maintain the highest level of vigilance towards any requests for signatures, provision of private keys, authorization, or wallet connections, as well as any links proactively sent via email, direct messages, and other channels—even if they appear to come from someone you trust (as their accounts may also have been compromised).

Develop the Habit of Accessing Official Channels: Always access trading platforms or wallet websites through bookmarks you've saved or by manually entering the official website address. This is the most effective way to prevent phishing sites.

Security is not a one-time job, but a discipline and habit that requires long-term commitment. In this risk-filled digital world, caution is the most important and final line of defense in protecting our wealth.