At Zeustek, we believe that security isn’t optional — it’s essential. A new wave of data exposure has hit the internet, and it’s bigger than most people realize.
Security researcher Troy Hunt (creator of Have I Been Pwned) recently uncovered a 1.5TB file called ALIEN TXTBASE — a massive collection of 23 billion rows of stolen data. Among it are 284 million unique email addresses and 244 million never-before-seen passwords now circulating on the web.
These files were found on Telegram, a messaging platform often used to share shady content — tipped off by a government agency concerned about the scale of the leak.
🧠 This Isn’t the First Time…
If this sounds familiar, it’s because breaches like this have become all too common. From LinkedIn to Adobe, Yahoo, Facebook, and more, hackers continue to pull from older breaches, repackage the data, and reshare it.
This is part of a growing trend where stolen information resurfaces years later, still posing real threats. That’s why recycled passwords and reused logins are among the biggest cybersecurity risks we see at Zeustek when helping our clients.
🧪 How to Check If You’ve Been Affected
We recommend every client (and every internet user) take a minute to see if their info is floating out there.
👉 Step 1: Check Your Email
Go to haveibeenpwned.com
Enter your email and click “pwned?”
You’ll immediately see whether your address appears in this or any previous data breach — and how often.
👉 Step 2: Check Your Passwords
Go to haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords
Enter a password (preferably an old one or variation) and find out if it’s been leaked before.
👉 Step 3: Set Up Alerts
Click “Notify Me” on Have I Been Pwned to get alerted when your email shows up in future breaches.
🔧 Zeustek’s Tips for Staying Safe
As part of our mission to protect and empower small businesses through smart technology, here are our top recommendations:
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✅ Use unique, strong passwords for every account
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✅ Enable 2FA (two-factor authentication) wherever available
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✅ Don’t reuse old passwords — ever
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✅ Keep your software, plugins, and systems up to date
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✅ Use a secure password manager (we can help recommend one)
Need Help Securing Your Business?
Zeustek offers hands-on tech support, email and web security, training, and custom solutions to keep your systems safe. Whether you’re managing a small business or freelancing from home, we’re here to make cybersecurity easier and smarter.
📩 Contact us today if you’d like a complimentary security checkup or to talk about next steps for securing your data.