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Have I Been Pwned

Have I Been Pwned: Protecting Your Online Security in the Age of Data Breaches

What is Have I Been Pwned?

Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) is a free online service that allows users to check if their email addresses or passwords have been compromised in a data breach. The site was created by Troy Hunt, a security researcher and Microsoft Regional Director, in 2013. Since its launch, HIBP has become one of the most popular online security tools available, with over 10 billion accounts checked to date.

How Does HIBP Work?

HIBP collects data from a variety of sources, including data breach notifications, public databases, and security researchers. The site then hashes the collected data and stores it in a searchable database. When a user enters their email address or password into HIBP, the site checks the hash against the database. If a match is found, it means that the user's account has been compromised in a data breach.

What Can You Do If You've Been Pwned?

If you find out that your account has been compromised, there are a few things you should do to protect yourself:

• Change your password immediately.
• Enable two-factor authentication on your account.
• Be cautious of phishing emails and other scams.
• Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized activity.

How Can You Avoid Being Pwned?

There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of being pwned:

• Use strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long and contain a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Don't reuse passwords across multiple accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts.
• Be cautious of phishing emails and other scams.

Conclusion

Have I Been Pwned is a valuable online security tool that can help you protect your accounts from data breaches. By using the site, you can check if your email address or password has been compromised and take steps to protect yourself from identity theft and other online threats.