Audit Breached Accounts

Why

Data breaches are unfortunately common, and your personal information may have been exposed without your knowledge. Regularly checking for compromised accounts allows you to take swift action to protect your identity, change passwords, and minimize the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts.

Action

• Check for breaches and sign up for monitoring:

  • Visit https://haveibeenpwned.com/
  • Enter your email addresses and usernames
  • Check your phone numbers if the service allows
  • Sign up for future breach notifications using services like Firefox Monitor or BreachAlarm
  • Consider using identity theft monitoring services for additional protection

• Review breach details:

  • Note which accounts were affected
  • Identify what types of data were exposed (e.g., emails, passwords, credit cards)

• For each compromised account:

  • Change the password immediately:
    • Use your password manager to generate a strong, unique password
  • Enable two-factor authentication if not already active
  • Review and update security questions
  • Check account activity for any suspicious actions
  • Update any other accounts where you used the same password

• For financial accounts:

  • Monitor statements for unauthorized transactions
  • Consider requesting a new credit/debit card if card info was exposed

• If Social Security numbers were exposed:

  • Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze
  • Monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity

• For email account breaches:

  • Be extra vigilant about phishing attempts
  • Consider setting up email aliases for different services

• Learn from the breaches:

  • Identify patterns in your compromised accounts
  • Adjust your security practices accordingly

Remember

Data breaches are often discovered long after they occur. Regular password changes and unique passwords for each account are crucial practices to minimize potential damage.