Finding out if the keys to your own kingdom have been leaked could be difficult, unless you know where to search, as password breaches are becoming more frequent.
An article that described “the mother of all breaches”—that is, the disclosure of an enormous collection of data that was pilfered from multiple corporations and online platforms, including as LinkedIn and Twitter (now X)—was something I recently came across. According to reports, the data cache had an incredible 26 billion entries, all of which contained sensitive data, including login credentials and government data. Read more about is this password leaked

Although there have previously been large-scale user data leaks (and their compilations), the sheer volume of compromised records surpassed those instances. Simply keep in mind that the infamous Cam4 data leak from 2020 revealed about 11 billion records of all kinds, and the Yahoo hack from 2013 affected all three billion user accounts. Not to be forgotten, four additional “collections” of this type were released within weeks of the aptly called Collection No. 1, which leaked 773 million login identities and passwords that had been taken from different organisations.

Disclosures from the company

Certain regulatory requirements may apply to businesses, requiring them to report hacking events and unpatched vulnerabilities. For example, publicly traded corporations in the United States are required to notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of any “material” cyber-incidents within four business days, or 96 hours, of the incident occurring.

How does this benefit average people? Customers may find that this openness not only helps to establish confidence, but it also lets them know if their data or accounts have been compromised. Companies usually inform users when there is a data breach, but since SEC filings are open to the public, you might find out about these instances from other sources, possibly even from news articles that cover them.

Have I pwned?

Visit haveibeenpwned.com to see whether any of your personal information, including your email address and passwords, has been compromised in a data breach. This may be the easiest method to verify. A free tool on the website lets you know where and when your data appeared.

To get started, just enter your email address and select “pwned?” You will receive a notification detailing the security status of your credentials and the specific breach they were exposed to. The site will turn red, indicating whatever data leak(s) your credentials appeared in, while those who are not so lucky will see a green result, indicating no compromise.

Web browser

Web browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome can detect data leaks and suggest stronger passwords. For enhanced security, use a specialized password manager with strong encryption and often included in multi-layered security programs, as they offer enhanced protection.

Users should use two-factor authentication, create strong passwords, avoid writing down their login information, invest in security solutions, use vulnerability management, and set up encryption and backup plans in order to prevent data breaches.