🔐 How to Check If Your Accounts Have Been Compromised
Whether you're worried about phishing, credential stuffing, or leaked data from major breaches, here are step-by-step methods to verify if your accounts have been exposed or hijacked.
🕵️♂️ 1. Use Data Breach Checkers
These tools compare your email address or phone number against massive breach datasets (often over 500GB in size). Enter your email to receive a private report.
✅ Recommended Breach Checking Tools
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Tool |
Description |
|---|---|
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Most widely used free tool with domain alerts |
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Checks massive datasets, including recent dark web dumps |
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Sends report via email with tips for next steps |
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Privacy-focused checker for breach exposure |
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Shows dark web exposure and password risk levels |
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Integrated with Norton 360 identity protection plans |
⚠️ These tools do not expose leaked data — they alert you to exposure and may recommend resets or monitoring.
🔎 2. Watch for Direct Signs of Compromise
|
Symptom |
What It Means |
|---|---|
|
Password no longer works |
May have been changed by an intruder |
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Login from unrecognized location/device |
Someone else may have accessed your account |
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Messages sent you didn’t write |
Your email or chat account could be sending spam |
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Forwarding rules or filters changed |
Attacker may be stealing messages silently |
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2FA codes or login alerts you didn’t request |
Active login attempts or session hijack attempts |
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Account locked or placed in “Lost Mode” (Apple) |
Strong sign of a takeover |
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Increased spam volume |
Your email could be part of a publicly known leak |
🛡️ 3. Use Ongoing Monitoring Services
Security suites now include identity monitoring as a key feature.
|
Service |
Features |
|---|---|
|
Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection |
Tracks email, phone, social media impersonation |
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Avast BreachGuard |
Monitors email + password leaks + offers data removal |
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Norton Identity Advisor Plus |
Alerts for SSN, credit card, email, password exposure |
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F-Secure Total |
Full system protection + identity theft monitoring |
These tools scan dark web forums, breach data, and black markets to detect if your sensitive information is being traded or sold.
📤 What to Do If You Find You’ve Been Compromised
- Change affected passwords IMMEDIATELY
- Enable MFA on exposed accounts
- Review account settings for unfamiliar recovery info or devices
- Monitor bank and credit card transactions
- Freeze credit reports with the 4 major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, Innovis)
- Scan your devices for malware or keyloggers
- Report the breach to the appropriate platform or provider
🔐 Final Tip
Don’t wait for symptoms — check proactively.
Data breaches are often silent. Running periodic scans and setting up breach alerts ensures you're not the last to know your identity is at risk.
