Analyzing the Impact and Implications of COMB: A Comprehensive Study of 3 Billion Breached Credentials

In early 2021, a file containing an organized, interactive dataset of 3 billion email and password combinations was posted on a hacker forum. This dataset, known as the ’Compilation of Many Breaches’ (COMB), represents the largest and most recent data breach compilation to spread on the internet, comprising data from various company breaches. This paper aims to dissect the architecture of COMB, explore its contents, and assess the security dangers it poses. In this study, COMB is analyzed in relation to other data breach compilations, uncovering concerning patterns in the lifecycle of these data files. We find that the risk posed by cybersecurity attacks, such as credential stuffing and deep learning password cracking, escalates significantly when these attacks utilize data breach compilations. Despite the absence of prior academic literature on data breach compilations, the evolution of these compilations and the hazards they create highlight the necessity for further investigation. This study emphasizes the importance of implementing defense solutions, such as proper password hygiene, at both individual and organizational levels to mitigate the damage of COMB and prevent similar future incidents.