Sensitive Data Leaked: How Years of Online Formatter Use Exposed Passwords & API Keys

Organizations—including governments, telecoms, and critical infrastructure—have been unknowingly leaking passwords and sensitive credentials for years by pasting them into online code formatting tools like JSONFormatter and CodeBeautify. Recent research by watchTowr Labs uncovered over 80,000 files containing thousands of exposed secrets. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for secure practices when handling code and credentials online. Stay vigilant and avoid pasting sensitive data into third-party tools.