Credential theft skyrocketed by 160% in 2025, now accounting for 20% of data breaches with roughly 14,000 incidents per month
. Threats include AI‑enhanced phishing, stealer malware, and on‑demand services sold on the dark web
. Leaked credentials often linger in systems for around 94 days—ample time for attackers to exploit them
. Mitigation steps? Enforce strong password policies, roll out MFA and single sign‑on (SSO), tighten access controls, train staff on security hygiene, and monitor for leaks. It’s clear: identity is the new battleground.