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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If your information appears in a breach, change the exposed password on the affected service and anywhere you reused it, then turn on multifactor authentication where available. If the breach exposed financial or identity information, follow steps for that data too; a password change alone may not address the risk.
What the “16 billion passwords” report does—and doesn’t—tell you
Ask Leo! updated its article in June 2025 after reports of “16 billion passwords exposed.” The article said the dataset’s source was unknown and discussed an infostealer aggregation as a possibility, not a confirmed explanation. The figure should not be read as a verified count of unique people, unique passwords, or one breach. The article was posted July 14, 2025; “latest” in its title refers to that 2025 context, not necessarily the latest incident today. Ask Leo!’s article
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A broad credential dump with an uncertain origin calls for securing accounts whose passwords may have been exposed, especially any account where you reused them. When a particular service is known to have been breached, prioritize changing that service’s password as well as every reused instance.
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Check what is known about your email address
You can search an email address with Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) to see whether it appears in data that service has loaded. A result can identify a relevant exposure, but no result does not prove the address is absent from every breach dataset or from a newly reported incident. Ask Leo!’s June 2025 update noted that HIBP did not yet appear to include the dataset then being discussed.
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HIBP’s breached-address search is separate from its Pwned Passwords service, which checks passwords. Its FAQ explains that passwords are not stored alongside personal identifiers in the breached-address dataset. HIBP FAQ
HIBP also published a separate record for Operation Endgame 2.0: law enforcement provided it with 15.3 million victim email addresses and 43.8 million victim passwords after the May 2025 operation. Those figures describe that separate dataset, not the uncertain 16-billion-entry report. HIBP’s Operation Endgame 2.0 record
Secure passwords and account access
Change exposed and reused passwords
Change the password for the affected service, then update every other account where you used the same password. Attackers may try exposed email-and-password combinations on other services, so changing only the password on the initially affected account leaves reused credentials exposed.
Use a unique password for each account
Choose a long, unique password for each service. A password manager can help generate and keep track of distinct credentials; it is an optional tool, not a requirement. CISA includes password managers in its security guidance. CISA guidance on strong passwords
Enable multifactor authentication
Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA), also called two-factor authentication, wherever the service offers it. MFA requires an additional factor beyond the password. A physical security key is one possible option for services and devices that support it; compatibility is not universal. CISA discusses MFA and security keys in its guidance. CISA guidance on multifactor authentication
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Respond according to the type of information exposed
Password changes and MFA address credential risk, but a breach may involve other kinds of information. Check the breach notice for what was exposed. If it includes Social Security or financial information, use the FTC’s data-breach guidance for steps tailored to the type of data and visit IdentityTheft.gov’s data-breach response page. The FTC advises: “First, take a deep breath. Then, visit identitytheft.gov/databreach.” FTC data-breach response video transcript
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