What To Do When Your Email Is Exposed in a Data Breach
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By Farrukh Mushtaq
Farrukh Mushtaq
See author profileFarrukh Mushtaq, a digital marketer at PureSquare, possesses a keen interest in cybersecurity and enjoys writing about it. With several years of experience in the digital marketing industry, he brings expertise and passion to his work.
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26 March 2025
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15 mins read
Have you been affected by a data breach? Your email address may now be in the hands of cyber criminals, who can use it for various malicious purposes.
What’s next? You can take some precautionary measures to ensure that you do not become the target of identity theft, account takeover, and phishing scams. The guide covers what you could do to keep your privacy safe and how to prevent your data from ending up on the dark web.
How Would I Know If My Email Address Is Part of a Data Breach?
There are some signs to know if your email address has been compromised in a data breach and you are the target of scammers:
- You will receive a notification from a company stating your data was exposed.
- You could experience account logins from unknown locations or devices.
- Receiving password reset emails that you did not generate.
- If your emails are marked as read or are missing from your inbox.
- Friends or contacts report receiving strange or spammy emails from your account.
- You have received a suspicious login attempt notification.
- Your password suddenly stops working.
- Unauthorized changes are made to linked accounts.
- A sudden rise in phishing attempts or spam emails.
Is My Email on the Dark Web?
There’s a good chance that your email has surfaced on the dark web marketplaces if you are experiencing unusual activities in your inbox or account. You can check if your email address is on the dark web with PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring feature.
Here is what you need to do:
- Go to the website.
- Enter your email address in the bar and click Scan Now.
- You will receive details about the privacy status of your email absolutely free.
Discover if Your Most Critical Identifiers Have Been Exposed on the Dark Web
Receive timely alerts and actionable insights with PurePrivacy's Dark Web Monitoring.
8 Immediate Steps to Take if Your Email Is Exposed in a Breach
Taking immediate action is important to minimize the damage if your email address has been compromised. You must immediately:
1. Change Your Email Password
Changing your password is the most important thing to do whenever you doubt that your data is compromised. Always create a complicated and unguessable password.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Adding a second layer of security ensures that even if someone has your password, they won’t be able to log in without your verification code.
3. Check for Unauthorized Account Access
Review your email account's login history to check for any suspicious logins from unknown locations or devices. If you find any, log out of all sessions and secure your account immediately.
4. Monitor Your Other Online Accounts
Cyber intruders may try to reset passwords and gain access to your banking, social media, or shopping accounts, so keep a close check.
5. Be Wary of Phishing Attempts
Compromised emails can be used to send phishing messages. Be cautious and avoid clicking on links, downloading attachments, or providing sensitive information.
6. Report the Scam to Your Email Provider
Report suspicious activities to your email provider to protect others from falling victim to similar scams.
7. Use a Password Manager
A password manager is great for generating and storing strong passwords. Try PureVPN password manager for better privacy and added protection.
8. Consider Using a Dedicated Email Address for Sensitive Information
Minimize risk by using different email addresses for work, financial transactions, and personal use.
What Happens if My Email Address Gets Leaked?
While having just your email address leaked may not give hackers direct access to your accounts, but it increases the risk of cyber threats such as:
Scammers can use your email address to launch phishing campaigns and distribute malware that can steal credentials and compromise devices. They exploit leaked password databases for credential stuffing, where hackers attempt to breach accounts linked to the email especially if password reuse is common.
Plus, they initiate password resets on connected services, such as banking or social media, to gain control. Social engineering and impersonation tactics are also used to impersonate you and deceive your contacts. Your email and other personal data may be sold to criminals, increasing the risk of dark web exposure. Expect an influx of fraudulent subscriptions and spam emails.
How to Minimize Damage During Data Breaches
Your data is at great risk of being sold on the dark web if you have been a part of a data breach, where it cannot be removed and can be misused by criminals in various ways.
PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring helps track your most critical privacy identifiers that might have ended up on the dark web so you can take the necessary steps before your sensitive data is exploited.
How to Enable Dark Web Monitoring on PureVPN
- Install PureVPN on your device or update your existing app.
- Visit the Members Area to get access.
- Go to Dark Web Monitoring from the main menu.
- Add your email address, phone number, credit card number, passport number, and Social Security or National Identity number.
- Add the one-time code sent to your registered number in the relevant field.
6. Review the beach details and take the recommended steps if your data is part of a breach.
8. Mark the breach as resolved once done.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Can I be hacked if somebody has my email address?
Simply having your email address isn't enough to hack your account. But you could become the next target for cyber attacks, phishing scams, and others, as hackers may use your email to collect sensitive data.
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Should you delete an email address when it is leaked in a data breach?
If your email address is not linked to other essential accounts or services, you can discard it. Otherwise, take these steps to prevent privacy exploitation, such as:
Change your password immediately.
Enable two-factor authentication.
Monitor your accounts.
Be wary of phishing attempts.
Consider a password manager. -
Should I be concerned if my email address is on the dark web?
Yes, you should be concerned if your email address or any other private data is on the dark web. This is because you could become the victim of identity theft, spam, scams, phishing attempts, and more if you do not take immediate action.
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How much does Dark Web Monitoring cost?
PureVPN dark web monitoring is included with your PureVPN subscription, giving you timely alerts on how to prevent your data from dark web leaks. Get 65% off on our Max Plan.
Wrap Up
Data breaches are rising! It is now more important than ever to keep our data protected with advanced security measures. Besides staying vigilant, ensure that your data is never shared without your knowledge and enable Dark Web Monitoring.
