FBI probing theft of internet credentials

New  York - The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating a report by a US cyber security firm that it uncovered some 1.2 billion internet logins and passwords amassed by a Russian crime ring, the largest known collection of such stolen data.

Hold Security of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, disclosed earlier this month that it had discovered the credentials, collected over several years from approximately 420 000 websites and other servers.

"The FBI is investigating the recently reported incident involving the potential compromise of numerous user names and passwords, and will provide additional information as the nature and scope of the incident becomes clearer," agency spokesperson Josh Campbell said on Tuesday via e-mail.

Hold Security said on 5 August that it obtained the credentials from a criminal gang that it has dubbed CyberVor, which focuses on stealing login credentials.