Hackers do not need you to be rich or famous to find your accounts useful. Automated campaigns can reach large numbers of people, and a compromised email or social account can help criminals impersonate you, contact people you know, or try to access other services. That broad exposure does not mean someone has singled you out or is watching you personally.
Leo A. Notenboom put the point bluntly in an Ask Leo! article posted August 20, 2026: “Wrong. Everybody’s a target.” The useful distinction is between being in the pool an automated campaign reaches and being the focus of a specific, directed attack.
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What could a criminal gain from an ordinary person’s accounts?
Money in a bank account is only one possible motive. Email, social accounts, contacts, personal information, and stored files can be useful in other ways. Notenboom’s Ask Leo! article describes criminals taking over accounts, locking out their owners, impersonating them to send spam or malware, and using personal data to impersonate someone or try to open accounts.
An account can also serve as a stepping stone. If someone controls your email, they may be able to contact your network as you or attempt password resets on other services. That creates risk beyond the value of the compromised account itself. It does not mean every account takeover will lead to those outcomes; they are examples of how access can be exploited.
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Does being a target mean someone is watching you?
No. Notenboom distinguishes broad campaigns from individualized attention. Criminals may use automated methods to cast a wide net, putting many people in the potential-victim pool without choosing each person in advance. Being exposed to that kind of campaign is not evidence that anyone has personally selected or is monitoring you.
A directed attack is different: it focuses on a particular person or organization. The article’s broad claim that “everybody’s a target” is rhetorical shorthand for widespread exposure, not a claim that every reader is a named target.
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Why can avoiding online banking still leave you exposed?
Not using a computer for banking does not remove the value of email, social accounts, contacts, or personal information. The Ask Leo! article also notes that institutions and other services operate online, and that personal information may be exposed or misused through accounts unrelated to banking. The precise exposure depends on the service and circumstances; avoiding online banking alone is not a complete account-security strategy.
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CISA’s Secure Our World guidance centers on four habits: recognize and report phishing, use strong passwords with a password manager, enable multifactor authentication (MFA), and update software. These measures reduce opportunities for compromise; they are not a guarantee that an account or device cannot be breached.
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Use long, unique passwords
CISA’s Secure Our World tip sheet recommends passwords that are at least 16 characters long, random, and unique for each account. It recommends using a password manager to generate and store them. Reusing a password makes one exposed credential more consequential if it is tried on another service. CISA summarizes the benefit this way: “Using strong passwords and a password manager are some easy ways to protect ourselves from someone logging into an account and stealing data or money.” This is general guidance, not a quantified promise of protection.
Turn on MFA where it is offered
MFA requires an additional verification step beyond a password. Enable it on accounts that offer it, particularly accounts that could help someone reach other services. CISA discusses phishing-resistant MFA, including hardware-based FIDO authentication. A security key is an option only when the account and the device support the relevant FIDO method; check compatibility before relying on one, and consider how you would recover access if the key were lost.
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Recognize and report phishing
Phishing attempts to get a person to open a harmful attachment or share personal information. Be cautious with unexpected requests, links, and attachments, especially when a message pressures you to act or provide account details. Use the service’s reporting option for suspicious messages rather than engaging with them.
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Install updates for your operating system, browser, apps, and other software as they become available. Updates can address security weaknesses; keeping software current is one of CISA’s recommended habits, alongside account-focused protections.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to prioritize if you can only do a few things now
- Secure your email account: use a long, unique password and enable MFA if available. Email can be used to impersonate you or attempt access to other accounts.
- Replace reused passwords: prioritize important accounts and use a password manager to create and store a distinct password for each one.
- Enable MFA on other accounts: turn it on wherever the service offers it, and check what recovery options you will need if you lose access to a verification method.
- Update your devices and apps: install available software updates, and treat unexpected messages or attachments cautiously.
For step-by-step guidance, see CISA’s Secure Our World resources and its Secure Our World tip sheet.
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