16 Billion Credentials Leaked: What Every Real Estate Leader Must Do Now
A historic breach this summer exposed over 16 billion usernames and passwords — harvested by silent infostealer malware and shared across 30+ open databases.
No single company was hacked. This is bigger than that.
Why Real Estate and Title Firms Should Take Notice
In our industry, the implications are serious. We handle sensitive client data every day, including email logins, financial documents, and wire instructions — and even one exposed password can lead to phishing attacks, identity theft, or wire fraud.
As a result of this record-breaking data breach, you’ve likely been instructed through MLS, Netflix, your bank, or many other platforms to sign in with your username and password again. If you were curious as to why, many tools used by millions, including real estate and title professionals, were affected. That makes every transaction vulnerable unless we act now.
At Canyon Title, we’re taking this seriously. Here are five actions every real estate professional should take immediately:
- Use a unique password for each system (internally and externally)
- Turn on MFA/2FA — everywhere, immediately
- Rotate passwords regularly
- Monitor for suspicious logins and device access
- Train your team on phishing, malware, and social engineering
This isn’t just about cybersecurity, it’s about protecting your clients, your brand, and your business.
We’re doubling down on authentication, staff training, and vendor accountability — and we encourage every firm in the industry to do the same. We also offer CE courses on Cyber Security and Wire Fraud for real estate offices, builders, and lenders. You are welcome to attend one of our sessions or we can help you plan one for your office.