TechRadar’s Cheapest VPN has created a free tool to help defend against data leaks

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It’s Cyber ​​Security Awareness Month, and one of the best VPN services on the market has just introduced an easy way to keep your personal information safe. Even better, you won’t have to spend a dime to use it.

Surfshark launched its free Data Leak Checker as a standalone website. All you have to do is go to the page and enter your email address. The system will then scan various sources on the web for potential database leaks and malware.

The new tool works with Surfshark Alert, a data leak detection system included with the Surfshark One security suite.

The growing need to defend against data leaks

You may have noticed an increase in data leaks recently, with headlines about new cases hitting the international media almost daily.

Let’s look at some data. 2024 kicked off with the “Mother of All Data Breaches” which saw 26 billion records compromised, the largest ever recorded at the time. New incidents occurred regularly throughout the year and around the world. In August, the medical data of nearly 400,000 US patients was stolen in a massive cyberattack on the supply chain.

According to the findings of Surfshark’s global data breach statistics, approximately 18 billion user accounts have been compromised worldwide over the past 20 years.

“As we launch the Data Leak Checker, we emphasize the importance of knowing exactly where and how your data may have been compromised,” said Kornelija Vanage, Alert Product Owner at Surfshark. “Understanding the details of the breach can enable people to take informed actions to protect their personal information and prevent further damage.”

Vanage explains that Surfshark Data Leak Checker is a simple and accessible tool that will ensure that everyone, regardless of their technical expertise, can protect their personal information against data breaches.

Once you enter your email address, the tool will scan every corner of the web for compromised data.

After the scan, you will receive a report that includes database and malware attacks. The first will show large breached domains and compromised databases that may have included your account. The latter will indicate any potential vulnerability with your email address due to malware on your device.

The provider explains that, for security reasons, some data may be hidden. To see full and detailed information, you’ll need to subscribe to their premium Surfshark Alert service.

As mentioned above, Surfshark Alert is included in the Surfshark One security package along with its virtual private network, private search engine, and antivirus software.

Surfshark’s paid data leak detection system goes a step further by providing you with real-time alerts, notifying you of any breach of your personal information. Not only does it promise to protect your email accounts, it also checks your password vulnerability, prevents identity theft, and protects your credit cards.

What to do if your email has been leaked

If your Surfshark report indicates that your email has been compromised in some way, it’s crucial to act quickly to mitigate any potential damage.

Surfshark experts recommend immediately change the passwords of all affected accounts. Remember to use complex passwords made up of special characters and non-dictionary terms, and don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. A good password management tool can be useful here to generate strong passwords and remember them on your behalf.

If your account allows it, you should too enable two factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring you to verify your identity with an additional method (such as a one-time code) before gaining access to that account. Two-factor authentication also mitigates credential stuffing attacks.

Reviewing your account activities is another important step, allowing you to check for unauthorized transactions or suspicious login attempts and report anomalies to your service provider.

Surfshark also suggests it watchful phishing attempts as attackers can use your leaked email address to carry out even more scams in the future.