Breaches Happen More Often Than You Think
Every year, hundreds of companies experience data breaches, from small online shops to major corporations. When this happens, information like email addresses, passwords, phone numbers, and sometimes financial data can end up in the hands of strangers.
You may not hear about every breach that affects you, which is why it is important to check proactively rather than waiting for a notification.
Using Breach Checking Services
The most well known tool for checking if your data has been leaked is Have I Been Pwned (haveibeenpwned.com). It is free, trusted by security professionals, and easy to use:
- Visit the website and enter your email address.
- The site will show you a list of known breaches that included your email.
- For each breach, it tells you what type of data was exposed (passwords, names, phone numbers, etc.).
You can also sign up for free email alerts, so you are notified automatically if your address appears in a future breach.
Other Ways to Stay Informed
Many password managers include breach monitoring as a built-in feature. They check your saved passwords against databases of known leaks and alert you if any of your credentials have been compromised. Some web browsers also offer similar notifications when you log in with a password that has appeared in a breach.
What to Do If You Find Yourself in a Breach
Finding your email in a breach notification can feel alarming, but the steps to protect yourself are straightforward:
- Change the password for the breached service immediately. Choose a strong, unique password you have not used elsewhere.
- Change passwords on other accounts if you reused the same password. This is the most critical step, because attackers often try leaked passwords on popular services like email and banking.
- Enable two-factor authentication on the breached account and any other important accounts, especially your email.
- Check your accounts for any signs of unauthorized activity, such as unfamiliar logins, password reset emails you did not request, or changes to your account settings.
Monitoring Your Accounts
After a breach, keep a closer eye on your accounts for a few months:
- Review your bank and credit card statements for unexpected charges.
- Watch your email for password reset requests you did not initiate.
- Check your social media accounts for posts or messages you did not send.
Credit Monitoring Services
If sensitive financial information like your Social Security number was exposed, consider signing up for a credit monitoring service. These services alert you to changes in your credit report, such as new accounts opened in your name. Many breached companies offer free credit monitoring to affected customers. Take advantage of it if offered.
You can also place a free credit freeze with each of the major credit bureaus, which prevents anyone from opening new accounts using your information.
Checking for data leaks regularly is a simple habit that helps you stay ahead of potential problems. The sooner you know about a breach, the faster you can protect yourself.
