"This Password Appeared in a Data Leak" — Is It Legit?

Should You Be Worried About an iPhone Data Leak Alert?

If you use Apple’s iCloud Keychain to store your credentials and receive a security alert that a password is compromised, this means that Apple’s systems have found your password in a data breach — and that you need to act quickly to secure your accounts. 

Malicious actors can use compromised passwords to access online accounts and steal your sensitive data — such as credit card details, personal information, and photos. 

When you see a pop-up alert telling you that “this password appeared in a data leak” on your iPhone (or a similar alert on Android devices), it’s important to act quickly to secure your accounts and set up proper precautions. 

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How To Secure Your Accounts If Your Password Was Leaked

Millions of passwords are leaked every year in data breaches. You can check if you’re at risk by using Aura’s free data breach checker.

As soon as you’re notified that you’ve been the victim of a data breach, you should take steps to assess the damage, and then secure your accounts and monitor your finances for signs of fraud.

1. Use Apple’s security recommendations

Apple’s security recommendations tool allows you to check and change the passwords for account credentials stored on your device. If you’re looking at the security notification now, select “Change Password on Website.” Follow the prompts to change your password immediately. 

If you selected “Not now,” you’ll need to go back into your security recommendations settings. 

On iOS devices (iPhone or iPad):

• Go to Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations. A notification will appear telling you which accounts have compromised passwords.
• Tap on Change Password on Website.
• Select Change Password and create a new password for the compromised account.

On Mac desktops and laptops:

• Open Finder, select Applications, and look for Passwords (you can also use the search bar in the top-right corner to locate it).
• Sign in with your Mac’s password — this is often the same password that you use to log in to your computer.
• Select the account you wish to update in the left sidebar, and choose Change Password on Website.
• Select Change Password and create new passwords for each flagged account.

2. Scan the Dark Web for more leaked passwords

Apple Keychain only scans the Dark Web for the passwords that you’ve stored in the app itself, and may miss other accounts that are at risk. A Dark Web monitoring tool can check if your other passwords, sensitive information, or email accounts are vulnerable.

You can check for leaked passwords by using free tools like Aura’s data breach scanner or websites like HaveIBeenPwned.com. But for more sensitive information, you’ll want to use a dedicated Dark Web monitoring tool, such as the one included with every Aura plan. 

Aura goes one step further than simply checking for leaked passwords — and scans the Dark Web, data breaches, and even public records for sensitive information, including your Social Security number (SSN) and credit card information. Aura also provides tools to help prevent cybercriminals from using your data — with features including a military-grade virtual private network (VPN), one-click credit lock, 24/7 fraud resolution support, and SSN monitoring.

3. Check for compromised passwords stored in your browser

If you’ve also used your browser’s built-in password manager to store credentials, you can use tools and features to check for leaks via your browser as well. The process you follow depends on the device and browser you’re using, but here’s a high-level guide on how to get started.

How to check for compromised passwords on Chrome:

• Sign in to your Google Account, and click on the three dots in the top-right corner. Select Passwords and autofill, and choose Google Password Manager.
• In Google Password Manager, select Checkup — Google Password Checkup will list any leaked passwords under Compromised passwords.

How to check for compromised passwords on Safari:

• Open the Safari browser, click on Safari (in the left corner of the top navigation bar next to the Apple icon), and select Settings from the dropdown menu.
• Click on the Passwords tab in Settings, and select Open Passwords.
• Enter your user password or use Touch ID. In Passwords, you’ll see a list of your saved passwords, with compromised passwords showing a warning symbol.

How to check for compromised passwords on Edge:

• Open Microsoft Edge, click on the three dots in the top-right corner, and select Settings from the dropdown menu.
• Go to Profiles, and then select Passwords under Microsoft Wallet. The Passwords section of Microsoft Wallet will load in a new tab. 
• At the top of the page, underneath the search bar, you’ll see a section called Password security check. Select Check → to start the scanning process.
• If any of your passwords are detected, Microsoft Edge will list them under the Leaked tab. Select Change to update any passwords.

📚 Related: How To Find and Update Your Compromised Passwords →

4. Update all vulnerable accounts with strong passwords

At this point, you should have a good idea of which passwords have been found in data leaks. The next step is to change all passwords that are flagged, and check other accounts for reused or weak passwords.

When updating your passwords, make sure that you: 

• Use a unique password for every account. More than two in three people reuse passwords across multiple accounts. Following the “one account, one password” rule will limit the risk of hackers taking over multiple accounts simultaneously with brute-force attacks.
• Consider passphrases. These are long passwords that contain several words or a sentence — for example, an easy-to-remember phrase like “Ilostmywallet@themoviesin2011” or “MyfirstPaycheckwas$1000.”
• Make it long and complex. Aim for at least 13 characters, and use a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Update passwords on all devices. After you update your passwords, make sure to log out on all devices to ensure that your account hasn’t been accessed by an outsider. 
• Use a password manager. If you don’t want to have to remember complex passphrases, a password manager can help generate and store complex passwords. Every Aura account comes with a secure password manager, plus antivirus software, a VPN, and other cybersecurity features to keep you and your family safe online.

5. Set up two-factor authentication whenever possible

Two-factor authentication (2FA) — or multi-factor authentication (MFA) — is an added security measure you can use to verify login attempts with a secondary factor, such as a one-time-use code sent to a separate device, like a mobile phone or different laptop computer.

Remember to choose a secure form of 2FA, such as an authenticator app on your mobile phone, a hardware security key, or passkeys. SMS (cellular text) 2FA is better than nothing, but it is less secure.

📚 Related: Find Out If Your Information Is on the Dark Web (for Free) →

6. Decide between using either a password manager or Apple’s Keychain

Apple’s Keychain does a good job of monitoring passwords and providing storage. However, it won’t tell you if other personal data like your SSN or bank account number have been exposed, nor will it help you deal with fraud or identity theft.

You could use another password management tool to monitor your non-Apple devices, browsers, and emails; but keeping your passwords in multiple places can be confusing and increase your chances of being hacked. 

The better option is to use a single tool to monitor, protect, and secure your data across all devices.

Aura is an all-in-one digital security platform that provides a user-friendly mobile app. Members have access to a secure password generator and manager, SSN monitoring, three-bureau credit monitoring, 24/7 support, and $1 million in identity theft insurance.

7. Monitor your sensitive information for leaks or misuse

Even with digital security tools, you must stay alert for suspicious activity or signs of fraud. If hackers have your passwords, they could also have sensitive information that allows them to access your banking details, take out loans in your name, or target you with more sophisticated scam calls and phishing attacks.

Along with strong password hygiene, make sure to:

• Check your credit reports at least once a month. All Americans can access a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once a week by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Review your credit reports for unauthorized new accounts, charges, and inquiries. An even better option is to sign up for three-bureau credit monitoring to alert you about changes to your credit file in near real-time. 
• Check your financial accounts at least monthly. Download and review your bank statements for unusual charges or other signs of fraud. If you find suspicious transactions, immediately report them by contacting your bank or financial institution’s fraud department. You may need to cancel compromised financial accounts and replace your credit and debit cards.

📚 Related: Bank Account Hacked? Here's How To Get Your Money Back →

How Does Apple Know If Your Passwords Have Been Leaked?

The first thought in most people’s minds after receiving a security recommendations notification from Apple is, “How did it happen?”

Hackers and criminals use various methods to steal personal information — including phishing attacks, malware, and even hacking unsecured Wi-Fi networks. However, the most pervasive form of data theft occurs via data breaches, in which criminals conduct targeted cyberattacks on organizations with the goal of stealing consumer data and selling it on the Dark Web.

Data breaches affect companies of all sizes,  across all industries, with the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) reporting that there were over 1.3 billion victims of data breaches in 2024 alone.

Dark Web scanning services, like Aura’s Dark Web Scanner and Apple Keychain, search the Dark Web for leaked data from these breaches. They use cryptographic techniques to securely check if your password matches any leaked passwords — and then notify you with near real-time alerts if compromised passwords are detected.

How To Safeguard Your Accounts Against Data Leaks

There’s no foolproof way to stop hackers from stealing your data and leaking it on the Dark Web. However, a proactive approach can help protect you and your family before a data leak happens.

Here are some steps you can take:

• Follow best practices when creating strong passwords. It’s ideal to create unique, complex passwords for every account by combining uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers. This way, cybercriminals can’t easily guess your credentials or hack your accounts.
• Minimize the amount of data that you provide to companies. Many people never question why a company wants sensitive data — such as phone numbers or addresses — when they sign up for an account.  If you share these personal details only when absolutely necessary — like with official government organizations — you’ll reduce your exposure to fraud.
• Check out as a “guest” on online shopping sites. Every new e-commerce account that you open increases your digital footprint and puts any linked banking details at risk. Whenever possible, avoid signing up for online accounts and saving credit card details when you shop online.
• Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when browsing online, especially on public Wi-Fi. The internet services offered in hotels and airports are not always secure, which means hackers could intercept your data when you’re shopping, banking, or doing business online. A VPN encrypts and protects your browsing activity and data from prying eyes seeking to exploit public networks.
• Proactively freeze your credit with all three bureaus. If someone has your stolen personal information, they could open new accounts and rack up debts in your name. A credit freeze will prevent anyone from using your information to apply for loans or credit.
• Delete outdated or inactive accounts. We all have accounts with weak passwords that we have forgotten about from years ago. Many of these accounts may be associated with old, outdated websites that have poor security — making them easy targets for hackers and scammers. You can reduce the chances of being victimized by shutting down old accounts before fraudsters get to them.
• Remove your information from data broker sites. Data brokers aggregate vast amounts of personal information and sell it to marketers, government bodies, and regulatory agencies. It’s good to periodically wipe your data from these sites to improve your personal privacy and security.
• Invest in a Dark Web monitoring service. It’s nearly impossible to stay ahead of the ever-increasing data breaches that occur each month. A Dark Web monitoring provider serves as a 24/7 assistant to help you monitor data leaks that might impact you and your family.

Aura provides a powerful and affordable solution to safeguard yourself online against cybersecurity threats such as data breaches, identity theft, and malware. 

Aura’s award-winning identity theft protection platform keeps you safe with round-the-clock credit and Dark Web monitoring, along with digital security tools like a VPN, antivirus software, and a password manager. Plus, if you fall prey to hackers or identity thieves, Aura offers 24/7 U.S.-based support and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance coverage for every adult on your Aura plan.