BitDefender Finds Exposed Social Media Credentials

Study reveals that 75 percent of social networking username and password samples collected online are identical to those used for email accounts.

BitDefender, an award-winning provider of innovative internet security solutions, today warned those using social networking platforms to pay particular attention to how they set and secure their login credentials.

A study, conducted by BitDefender over the course of a week, revealed more than 250,000 email addresses, usernames and passwords can be found easily online, via postings on blogs, collaboration platforms, torrents and other channels.

In a random check of the sample list consisting of email addresses, usernames and passwords, 87 percent of the exposed accounts were still valid and could be accessed with the leaked credentials. Moreover, a substantial number of the randomly verified email accounts revealed that 75 percent of the users rely on the same password to access both their social networking and email accounts.

BitDefender warns of the numerous security implications - from additional personal and sensitive data theft, to email and social networking account hijacking for spamming and malware dissemination purposes, and even more serious and costly e-troubles. BitDefender is advising consumers to be very careful how they choose their passwords and where they choose to share that information.

BitDefender is the creator of one of the industry's fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified security software. Since its inception in 2001, BitDefender has continued to raise the bar and set new standards in proactive threat prevention. Every day, BitDefender protects tens of millions of home and corporate users across the globe - giving them the peace of mind of knowing that their digital experiences will be secure.