Google Announces Cleaning Up After Password Dumps

(RTTNews) - Internet giant Google Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) Wednesday announced cleaning up after password dumps.

"One of the unfortunate realities of the Internet today is a phenomenon known in security circles as "credential dumps"—the posting of lists of usernames and passwords on the web...This week, we identified several lists claiming to contain Google and other Internet providers' credentials,'' a blog post from the company read.

Google found that less than 2 percent of the username and password combinations might have worked, and its automated anti-hijacking systems would have blocked many of those login attempts.

The company said it has protected the affected accounts and has required those users to reset their passwords.

Google noted that the leaked usernames and passwords were not the result of a breach of Google systems. Often, these credentials are obtained through a combination of other sources, it added.

GOOG closed up 0.4 percent on Wednesday at $583.10 and GOOGL advanced 0.2 percent to $593.42.