How to find out if your password has been compromised or hacked?

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Passwords are an essential component of our online security. They protect our personal information, financial data, and confidential documents from prying eyes. However, passwords can be compromised, leaving us vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In this blog, we will discuss how to find out if your password has been compromised.

Check if your password has been involved in a data breach:

One of the most common ways that passwords get compromised is through data breaches. Cybercriminals can steal login credentials, including passwords, from various websites, and then sell them on the dark web. To check if your password has been involved in a data breach, you can use the following tools:

a. Have I Been Pwned: Have I Been Pwned is a free online tool that allows you to check if your email address or password has been compromised in a data breach. You can enter your email address or password on the website, and it will check its database of known breaches.

b. Google Chrome Password Checkup: Google Chrome Password Checkup is a free browser extension that alerts you if any of your saved passwords have been compromised in a data breach.

Enable two-factor authentication:

Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of security that requires you to provide two forms of identification to log in to your account. This could be a password and a one-time code sent to your phone, for example. Enabling two-factor authentication can help protect your account, even if your password has been compromised.

Use a password manager:

A password manager is a tool that generates strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and stores them in an encrypted database. Using a password manager can help you avoid reusing passwords, which can be a common cause of password compromise.

Read: Best 5 password Managers

Change your password:

If you suspect that your password has been compromised, the first thing you should do is change it. Make sure that you choose a strong, unique password that you have not used before.

Monitor your accounts:

Even after changing your password, you should continue to monitor your accounts for any unusual activity. Check your account activity regularly, and set up alerts for any suspicious activity.

By following the tips above, you can check if your password has been compromised and take steps to protect your accounts. Remember to use strong, unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your accounts regularly.