How Do I Know If My Password Has Been Leaked Online?
Your password is often the only thing standing between your personal information and someone trying to steal it. Every day, hackers steal and sell login details from data breaches around the world, and many people never realise their information has been exposed until it’s too late. In recent years, billions of usernames and passwords have been leaked online, from social media platforms and email providers to online shopping accounts and business tools.
But how can you tell if one of your passwords has been compromised, and what should you do if it has?
Checking if your details have been exposed
The first step is to find out whether your passwords or email addresses appear in any known data breaches.
One of the most trusted and well-established tools for doing this is Have I Been Pwned, a free website created by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt.
The site collects and indexes data from hundreds of confirmed security breaches. When you enter your email address, it checks whether it appears in any of those leaked databases. You won’t be asked for a password or personal information, just your email address or phone number.
If your email appears in the results, it means your details were part of a breach. This doesn’t necessarily mean your accounts were accessed, but it does mean your credentials are publicly available online and need to be changed immediately. The results will also show you which websites or services were affected and when the breach occurred.
If your email isn’t found, that’s good news, but it’s still worth checking regularly, as new breaches are discovered all the time.
What to do if you’ve been ‘pwned’
If you appear in a breach, the most important thing to do is change your password immediately for that account and any other accounts that use the same or a similar password. Reusing passwords is one of the most common security mistakes ,once a hacker has one, they can often gain access to several of your accounts within minutes.
When choosing a new password, make it long and complex. Avoid predictable words or personal information such as birthdays, pet names, or the classic substitutions like using “@” for “a” or “$” for “s”. Those patterns used to help but are now easily recognised by modern AI-driven password cracking tools.
Instead, consider using a password manager, which can generate strong, random passwords and store them securely so you don’t have to remember them all.
This also makes it easier to have a different password for every service, one of the most effective ways to protect yourself online.
Add another layer of protection
Even the strongest password isn’t enough on its own. Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of defence. MFA means that, even if someone manages to steal your password, they still need another verification step, such as a code sent to your phone or an authenticator app, to gain access.
This simple feature drastically reduces the risk of unauthorised access and is available on almost every major service, including Microsoft 365, Google, and most banking apps.
Stay alert and stay proactive
The reality is that password leaks are now part of the digital landscape. Cybercriminals use automated tools and artificial intelligence to test stolen credentials on thousands of websites in seconds, a method known as “credential stuffing.” That’s why it’s important to take a proactive approach rather than waiting for a problem to appear.
Make a habit of checking your email addresses on Have I Been Pwned every few months. Review your passwords regularly and update older ones at least once a year.
Encourage your team to report suspicious emails and invest time in security awareness training to help prevent phishing attacks.
How Sunrise Technologies can help
At Sunrise Technologies, we help businesses stay ahead of cyber threats through proactive monitoring, training, and technology management.
Our cybersecurity services include continuous breach detection, user awareness programmes, and secure password policies that reduce the risk of credential theft.
We also help organisations prepare for and maintain Cyber Essentials certification, giving them the reassurance that their defences meet recognised UK security standards.
By combining smart technology with proactive management, we help businesses protect their data, their people, and their reputation, even in an age where passwords alone are no longer enough.