Most recently, a hacker published the personal data of 533 million Facebook users online for free on 3rd April 2021, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, account IDs, and bios.
1. Check whether your information was exposed using free online tools
One such resource is HaveIBeenPwned.com, a database maintained by security analyst Troy Hunt. The site lets anyone enter their email address and cross-references it with more than 10 billion accounts compromised in past breaches to determine whether they’ve been “pwned,” or compromised. In some cases, passwords are also exposed in data breaches. Hunt’s site also provides a password search that lets people know if their password has ever fallen into the hands of hackers.
2. If you were affected by a breach, take steps to secure your accounts
If you find out your personal information was stolen in a breach, it’s time to protect your identity. Doing so depends on the severity of the data stolen – if your social security number or drivers’ license number were stolen, you’ll need to file a report with the appropriate government agency.
But in most cases, data breaches include less sensitive information like emails and usernames. If your email address was exposed, you should change your password to that email account and set up multifactor authentication to secure your email.
If you find out your password itself was exposed, you can no longer count on that password to keep your accounts safe, and should immediately change your passwords on all affected accounts. Setting up multifactor authentication is also a best practice.
Finally, stay alert for any suspicious activity on any of your accounts. If you do detect suspicious activity, change your password and contact that account’s administrator.