Unraveling a Disturbing Privacy Breach: How My Google Credentials Ended Up in a Stranger’s Account

In an alarming turn of events, I recently discovered that my Google account credentials had somehow been cloned to a complete stranger’s Google account. This unsettling experience began when I received a message from an individual I had never interacted with before, reaching out through social media to share her startling discovery.

Just days prior, she noticed her MacBook Pro was suggesting my login credentials whenever she attempted to access certain websites via Google Chrome. It was disconcerting to learn that my personal data—credentials I had diligently saved to my Google account over the years—were now accessible on her device.

The trajectory of this peculiar incident is perplexing: we had never exchanged devices, nor had we ever logged into each other’s accounts. Until that fateful contact, we were complete strangers with no overlapping digital footprints.

Following our conversation, we decided to meet in person to investigate the situation further. Upon reviewing her browser settings, I was shocked to find that her configuration mirrored mine almost identically—bookmarks, extensions, and even preferences were the same. However, despite these similarities, it was clear she remained logged into her own Google account, which inexplicably contained all my credentials as if they had been duplicated.

This series of events leaves me searching for answers: What mechanism could have led to this bizarre overlap of personal information? It’s a question I’m grappling with, and I’m not alone in my quest. I have reached out to Google’s support team, but as of now, I’ve only managed to submit a message through their help center and am awaiting a response.

Has anyone else encountered a similar situation or have insights into how such a privacy violation might occur? I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or advice on this alarming matter.