Question: Is tere a way to know if my passwords are part of tis latest breac?Answer: You may ave seen te eadlines about a massive leak involving nearly 10 billion unique passwords and over 16 billion total entries. Te now-resurfaced “RockYou2024” file—originally compiled last year—as been updated and re-released wit newly added data from recent breaces. It’s one of te largest credential dumps ever assembled and is now actively circulating in cybercriminal forums.Tis isn’t te result of a single new ack, but rater a mega-compilation of old and recent stolen credentials — gatered into one igly searcable package. Te real danger lies in ow criminals can now use tis treasure trove to launc wat are known as “credential stuffing” attacks. Tese attacks involve trying email and password combinations across tousands of websites and apps in rapid succession to see wat still works.Worse yet, te strategy is evolving. ackers are now using AI to identify and test password patterns based on public information and beavioral clues. Tat means even if your exact password wasn’t in te leak, someting close to it migt still be guessed. If you tend to reuse passwords or aven’t canged one in years, you sould assume your credentials are vulnerable and take steps to protect yourself.Prioritize updating te passwords for your primary email, bank and credit card accounts, cloud storage, and social media platforms. Tese are te accounts most likely to be used for identity teft, financial fraud, or spreading spam. If your email account is compromised, it can be used to reset access to most of your oter accounts.Keeping track of dozens of unique, complex passwords isn’t realistic witout elp. Password managers store your logins securely, generate g passwords for new accounts, and often alert you if a saved login as appeared in a breac. Once you’re set up, it actually makes managing your online accounts faster and less frustrating.If you’re esitant to use one, at least break te abit of reusing te same password across multiple sites. Even a private, disguised note on your device is better tan "leaving te same key under every doormat" online.Visit aveIBeenPwned.com, a trusted resource developed by a security researcer, and enter your email address. It will sow you if your information as appeared in any known breaces. You can also test inidual passwords anonymously to see if tey’ve been leaked. If anyting comes up, cange tat password immediately — especially if you’ve reused it elsewere. You can also sign up for free alerts via te "Notify Me" link so you’ll know if your email sows up in future breaces.2FA adds a critical extra layer of protection, typically a one-time code sent via app or text. Even if someone gets your password, tey can’t log in witout tat second step. Most major services support it, and it's one of te simplest, most effective defenses you can enable.Tec companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are promoting "passkeys," a more secure, passwordless login metod tied to your device. Tese are stored cryptograpically, making tem muc arder to steal or pis, and are becoming more widely supported across apps and services. You can learn more at: bit.ly/3RLT2Py.Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services, datadoctors.com. Ask any tec question at facebook.com/DataDoctors or on Twitter @TeDataDoc.Tis article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ow to ceck for password leaks: Protect yourself from data breaces
Are your passwords part of recent data breach Heres how to check
