September 11, 2014
If you’re like a lot of people, your Gmail account is a lifeline. With that single Gmail address and password, you have, as the company boasts, “One account. All of Google.”
Sure, with one login you get Google+, Google Drive, Google Maps, YouTube, Blogger, and more, but that’s not always a good thing. Here’s why.
Reports surfaced on September 10 that a hacker or hackers got his / her / their hands on 5 MILLION Gmail addresses and passwords (give or take) and publicly released them.
Yep. That’s right. All 5 MILLION of them.
Supposedly this data breach and release wasn’t the result of a hacked Google server but instead came from collecting weak passwords.
What should you do? How do you know if your Gmail account was one of those compromised?
Check a site called “Is My Email Leaked” to see if you’re vulnerable from the breach.
If your account has been compromised, log in to your Gmail account and change your password (preferably to something much stronger than before).
Chances are you’re OK, but it’s always smart to keep an eye on your electronic accounts and change your passwords from time to time, whether it’s Gmail or not.
