If you discover that your data has ended up online, it is crucial to act quickly to minimize the risks.Start by immediately changing the passwords of all compromised accounts . If you don’t know how to change your password , read my guide on the subject, where I talked about the most popular sites and online services.
Make sure that each password is strong and unique, avoiding reusing old credentials. A password manager can help you create and safely store new passwords. Also activate two-factor authentication (2FA) where available, to add an additional layer of protection. You can find everything explained in my dedicated tutorial .
The Surfshark ONE suite includes, in addition to Surfshark Alert, the popular Surfshark VPN , which allows you to protect your connection on a wide range of devices and operating systems, ensuring security when browsing on public Wi-Fi networks, accessing geo-restricted content and international streaming service catalogs (find more details here ).
Additionally, the suite also offers Surfshark Antivirus , a comprehensive protection against viruses, malware, and other digital threats, including those not yet identified in traditional anti-malware databases ( you can read more about it here ). Finally, Surfshark Alternative ID lets you generate an online name, email, and US phone number to log in to online services while keeping your privacy safe.
If you want to check if your email has been involved in a data breach , you can do so by going to the official Surfshark website . Once there, use the side menu to navigate to the Alerts > Monitor Emails section .
Enter your email address in the appropriate field (you can also choose to monitor a different address than the one you are registered with on Surfshark) and click Activate .
After that, you will receive a verification code at the address you entered. Enter this code in the screen that will be shown to you and proceed with the confirmation . This way, you will start receiving notifications about any data breaches that involve your email.
By enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), you can also view sensitive breach data, such as passwords. Once you have done this, go to the Alerts > Monitor Emails section in Surfshark and check the alerts dashboard to see if your email address has been involved in any data breaches. In addition, you can monitor credit cards and social security numbers . For all the details on this, I refer you to my tutorial on how to protect yourself from data breaches .
Data leaks have become an increasingly widespread problem, with millions of cyber attacks occurring every year, putting the personal data of ordinary people and businesses at risk. In 2023 alone, there were over 6 billion cases of information theft, compromising sensitive data such as emails, passwords, credit card numbers and much more. If this information falls into the wrong hands, cybercriminals can use it to commit fraud, such as opening bank accounts or applying for loans in the victim’s name.
To determine if your data has been exposed, it is essential to constantly monitor its security. In fact, keeping tabs on the integrity of your personal information not only protects you, but also the people around you. Fortunately, there are free tools that allow you to quickly check if your information has been involved in a data breach . These tools, such as Surfshark’s Data Leak Checker , give you the ability to enter an email address and find out in a matter of seconds if your data has been compromised. This tool relies on databases of known attacks and can show you the sources of the breach.