The first quarter of 2024 saw a massive password leak. The file named RockYou2021, reportedly contains 8 billion unique passwords (although some of them are duplicates) that have been uploaded to a hacker forum. Compromised passwords are a big threat to online security, as hackers can use your login credentials to take control of your bank account, email inbox or social media profiles.
Weak Verify if passwords are leaked making it easy for hackers to crack by running a dictionary attack or brute force. Since 62% of us reuse passwords across multiple accounts, a breach of one account puts other accounts at risk as well. To prevent this, you need to check if your passwords are leaked regularly and update them.
Search Exposed Data Breaches – Is Your Information at Risk?
Many web browsers (including Chrome and Firefox) and third-party password managers like 1Password and Dashlane have built-in tools to check if your passwords are in a data leak. These tools scan your passwords against a database of known compromised passwords, such as Troy Hunt’s Have I Been Pwned or similar databases. If a password is found in a database, the tool will warn you and prompt you to change it.
Microsoft Edge has a feature that does the same thing, but is tied directly to your Microsoft Account. To enable it, open Edge and click the Settings and More button in the top-right corner. In the Passwords section, you’ll find an option to “Check for passwords in known breaches”. Once enabled, any time you enter a password in Edge, the browser will automatically scan for it against the known leaks and alert you if it is found.