Leak of 48 Million+ Gmail Logins Highlights the Need for Certified Cyber Security Professionals
The leak of 48 million Gmail usernames and passwords during Data Privacy Week underscores the growing importance of closing the cybersecurity skills gap in the UK and globally.
2026 has not started off well for cybersecurity and data privacy. Users of the popular password manager LastPass received phishing emails earlier this month, leading to the leak of 149 million login credentials, including 48 million for Gmail accounts, in a massive data breach.
Jeremiah Fowler, a cybersecurity researcher who uncovered the leak last week, has confirmed that a staggering 149,404,754 unique logins and passwords for platforms including Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook, Instagram, Outlook, and Netflix have been exposed online in an unprotected database.
Although it is currently unclear who created this database, how they did it, and why, this collation of sensitive data from past breaches and infostealer logs clearly illustrates the need for more skilled, knowledgeable and qualified cybersecurity professionals in the UK to keep us safe.
Here’s what we know so far about this cyber attack, and how you can use learnings from Data Privacy Week to protect your data online.
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With four years at Learning People and a solid foundation in IT and Cyber Security, Chris guides people through the fast-evolving tech landscape and into their dream jobs. He combines hands-on technical expertise with insider industry insights to help learners make informed career decisions.
What we know so far about the Gmail data breach
Originally reported to ExpressVPN by Fowler, this publicly exposed database, made up of an enormous 96 GB of raw credential data, was not encrypted or password-protected. The 149 million+ unique logins and passwords contained in this dataset were arranged into countless publicly-accessible files.
Inside the dataset were login credentials for a variety of platforms, with the biggest hitter, Gmail, having a massive 48 million accounts compromised.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest email providers and platforms that have been affected:
Unlike other recent significant cyber attacks - such as those on retail giant Marks & Spencer and car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover - this data breach was not a ransomware attack perpetrated through social engineering. Rather, this database was the result of using keylogging and ‘infostealer’ malware: a type of malicious software designed to silently collect credentials from infected devices.
The stolen data was organised by victim and source, including emails, usernames, passwords, and the exact login URLs.
Gmail data breach: risks and consequences
Because this dataset included emails, usernames, passwords, and the exact login URLs, criminals could automate ‘credential-stuffing’ attacks against compromised accounts, potentially gaining access to email, financial services, social networks and more. This dramatically increases the risk of fraud and identity theft for those affected.
95% of cyber attacks succeed because of human error - including weak passwords
The latest research by the House of Commons Library found that 95% of cyber breaches are due to human failure, including: clicking malicious attachments, using weak passwords and not installing security updates.
Worryingly, despite the average cost of one cyber attack in the UK around £195,000, only 19% of UK companies have invested in cyber training.
What this means for cyber security and data privacy in the UK
Data privacy can feel more difficult in 2026 than every before because the volume and reach of data collection keeps growing. As we rely more on digital services and devices, the importance of mitigating data breaches - whether miscellaneous or otherwise - is now non-negotiable.
The theme ‘take control of your data’ for Data Privacy Week 2026, highlights how individuals and organisations can make better choices to treat personal data with the care it deserves.
But the bottom line? Increasing the number of certified cybersecurity professionals is key to reducing the risk of cybercrime.
As the UK is now the most targeted country for cyber attacks, the demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals is increasing rapidly. In turn, employers are willing to pay cyber professionals far above the national average to avoid the huge cost of a cyber attack.
Our range of courses and pathways is created to equip you with job-ready skills from globally recognised cybersecurity certification providers like CompTIA, EC-Council, and Cisco.
Our commitment to providing best-in-class cyber education is also supported by the work we’ve done to fully map our Security+ course to the Associate level of the UK Cyber Security Council’s Standard of Professional Competency & Commitment - the nationally recognised standard for early-career Cyber Professionals.
If you’re looking to make a career change into cybersecurity with no experience, or if you’re looking to improve your skillset to stand out in a highly lucrative career, then why not arrange a free, no-obligation call with me or one of my colleagues to see how we can support you? We’re here to answer any questions you might have about cybersecurity qualifications or our services.
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