You can find out in just a few seconds whether your data has been leaked — with the help of the “Have I Been Pwned” website.
In today’s digital age, it is impossible to live without using the internet. But did you know that millions of people’s personal information is being leaked to hackers every day? Data theft can occur from anywhere, be it social media, e-commerce sites or office mail. At this time, the “Have I Been Pwned” (HIBP) platform is providing us with a very important service — the opportunity to find out with one click whether your email or password has been leaked in a data breach.
What is Have I Been Pwned?
“Have I Been Pwned” is a free online tool, created by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt. Here you can check with your email ID whether it has been the victim of a data breach or hacking incident. This website scans millions of databases around the world and tells you if your information was in a data breach.
Why use it?
If your email or password is hacked, your bank accounts, social media, personal files — all could be at risk.If you’ve previously opened an account on a compromised site, you can find out that information from it. It helps you determine when to change your password and the site.
How to use it (very easy!)
Go to browser: https://haveibeenpwned.com . Type your email ID. Click the “pwned?” button. In a few seconds, you’ll know which data breaches you’ve been in (if any).
How does a data breach happen?
A data breach happens when a hacker or malware steals your login information, password, phone number, or other personal information. This usually happens:
- From an unsecured website
- By clicking on a phishing email or link
- By using the same password in multiple places
This is where HIBP comes in handy — it lets you know if you’ve been targeted by hackers.
Some additional features of HIBP
- Password Checker: Input any of your passwords and it will tell you if it was previously in a hacked data.
- Notify Me: If you subscribe with your email, you will be notified immediately if that email is in a new data breach in the future.
- Domain Monitoring: A company can monitor their entire domain information if they want.
Warning and what to do if your password is leaked?
- Change your password immediately.
- Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication).
- Use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password.
- Stop using the same password in multiple places.
Price and Availability
“Have I Been Pwned” is a completely free service. You don’t have to pay anything, you don’t have to open an account. You can find out the results just by entering your email.
Disclaimer: This blog is written for educational purposes only. The information provided here is collected from https://haveibeenpwned.com and other open source sources. Before updating your security measures in case of a hacking incident, make your own decisions.
