Google Chrome to Warn Users If Passwords Are Compromised

Website security breaches can put personal and financial data at risk, but when password details are maliciously accessed, the danger increases even more. Fortunately, Google has announced that it’s adding a new security feature to Chrome that will let users know immediately whether or not their passwords have been compromised.

Given the dozens of high profile security breaches at reputable companies across the world, it’s harder than ever to guarantee the safety of your passwords. However, with far too many users making that classic mistake of repeating the same password on multiple sites, the risk increases if even a single site is affected by a breach.

We explain how Google is putting the power into Chrome users’ hands with this helpful new security feature.

How secure is my password? – why your first pet’s name isn’t good enough

How Will the New Feature Work?

According to an announcement from Google, the new feature will be pretty intuitive for Chrome users. As soon as you enter a password into Chrome, a pop-up will appear informing you if it’s ever been compromised. The pop-up will also allow you to check other accounts that use that password, and change them to avoid further vulnerabilities.

Google has been testing this technology for the better part of a year in the form of a browser extension. Now, the company is rolling out the feature globally to all users in hopes of keeping everyone safe from weak and compromised passwords.

The feature will be “gradually” rolled out to all users in the next few months.

Is Your Password Already Compromised?

There are a few different ways to check whether or not your passwords have been affected by a breach, but the simplest solution is to head to HaveIBeenPwned. This helpful website requires nothing more than your email address to search thousands of data breaches to see if your passwords associated with that account have been compromised.

There’s no risk to entering your email here, but the results can be pretty sobering.

We hate to break it to you, but there’s a pretty good chance at least one of your passwords has been compromised in the past few years. In 2018 alone, there were a recorded 1,244 data breaches in the US with more than 446.5 million records exposed to potential hackers. Statistics have shown that these numbers are getting worse on a yearly basis, so you’re definitely going to need to address your ailing online security. But how?

How Can I Protect Myself?

When Google adds a security feature to the interface of Chrome, you know protecting your passwords is important. Unfortunately, with all these security breaches, it can seem like quite a Herculean task to keep your personal information secure, particularly if you’re expected to remember all these unique passwords. Fortunately, that’s exactly what password managers are built for.

When you install a password manager, you’re not only protecting your personal data, but you’re also making your online experience a whole lot easier. In addition to storing and protecting your many PIN codes and passwords, a password manager makes signing into your accounts as easy as a click of a button. Just head to a given website, click the password manager icon, and voilà, you’re securely logged into any and every account you’ve got.

Which one should you go for? Our top choice is 1Password, which came through our independent password manager tests as best in class. It’s simple to use, secure, great value, and benefits from a 30-day free trial. Learn more about 1Password, below.

Read more about password managers on Tech.co

• Are Password Managers Safe?
• The Best Password Managers for 2020
• How Secure Is My Password?