How to check if you’re the victim of a breach like the Yahoo hack

In one of the biggest hacks ever, Yahoo confirmed Thursday that at least 500 million users were affected by a security breach from a state-sponsored actor.

For those looking to tighten their security, one of the very first steps you need to take is to see how many of your accounts have already been victimized by a security breach. While several companies alert its users to these breaches as soon as possible, sometimes you don’t find out until months later.

Here’s how your information is exposed in a security breach like the Yahoo hack:

Yahoo is emailing users affected by the hack, so be sure to keep an eye out for an official note from them. Do beware of any suspicious messages, especially ones that prompt you to click on any links. Even if you have not received an email from Yahoo, it’s a wise idea to change your password and enable two-factor authentication.

One of the best tools to use when checking more than one of your major accounts at once is haveibeenpwned, run by security researcher Troy Hunt, who tracks data breaches. To use the feature, enter the email addresses you regularly use to see which (if any) of your accounts have been hacked. The site tells you when the breach occurred and exactly what information was impacted.

Additionally, you can sign up to receive alerts right to your email address so you can be notified as soon as another breach occurs.

While there are other sources of personal information available, Hunt’s website is one of the most comprehensive of its type. It’s not a bad idea to check your email addresses every once in a while.

Source: Mashable