The online security It is a fundamental priority in our days. Most users should be familiar with creating strong passwords, the importance of not using the same password for multiple accounts, and taking caution when sharing login information. However, there are circumstances in which protecting your passwords can become an almost impossible task and it is vitally important to change them immediately.

The renowned cybersecurity company Kaspersky poses a challenge to all users: a questionnaire that highlights five critical situations in which changing your password becomes essential to safeguard your information:

One of your online services has suffered a data breach.

Sometimes developers overlook certain security aspects or make mistakes when configuring the system. The attackers, for their part, never give up, knowing that they only need to be lucky once. Unfortunately, such thefts, also known as data leaks, are common and often quite large. So far in 2023, data leaks have already been reported to LastPass, T-Mobile, Twitter and PayPal. Such database records often appear for sale on the underground market where sensitive data such as medical records or personal identification have been found, at prices even less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

You suspect that you have been a victim of phishing.

Scammers like to send emails on behalf of well-known sites with fake password change requests in an attempt to find out your current password. It is also common for cybercriminals to create fake sites using the names of famous companies, subtly changing the address of an official page. In both cases, what they are looking for is for a careless user to fall into the trap. If you suspect you have been a victim of this social engineering tactic, change your password immediately.

Another person knows your password

Just like underwear, password It is not shared with anyone: Many Internet users consider that sharing their passwords represents a symbol of trust and do not hesitate to give their password to family or friends. Falling into this practice is giving someone else complete control of our information, our privacy and even our finances. The example is valid: treat your passwords with the same delicacy with which you treat your underwear.

You receive an official notification

It is important to read emails carefully. Renowned and reputable companies, technology platforms or sites try to inform affected users about possible incidents or security breaches as soon as possible. Therefore, it is important not to dismiss requests to change your password. Don’t click on links in emails; Better type the website address manually in the navigation bar. That way, you are protecting yourself from a possible phishing attempt.

You use the same password for more than one account

This practice leaves all accounts or platforms in which you use the same password vulnerable, since if one of them is hacked, it is easier for all of them to be compromised. For this reason, Kaspersky experts recommend using a unique password for each platform; The ideal is not to “recycle” them, that is, not to use “paris1″, “paris2″, “paris3″” in three different places.