Leaked Credentials
The Loyola University Information Security and Compliance Team (ISC) is committed to helping our community stay secure online. With data breaches becoming increasingly common, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect your personal information.
When an external website experiences a breach, usernames, passwords, and other sensitive data can be exposed—sometimes without your knowledge.
This guide will walk you through how to check if your information has been exposed in a breach and provide actionable steps to secure your accounts and prevent unauthorized access.
How to Check If You Were Affected
To see if your email address has been involved in known breaches, visit:
Simply enter your email address to check if it has appeared in any publicly known data breaches.
What You Should Do Now
Should you find out that your credentials have been leaked, change your passwords immediately. If you have used the same password on multiple sites, update it to a strong, unique password for each account.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Adding an extra layer of security helps protect your accounts even if your password is exposed.
Stay vigilant for phishing attempts – Attackers may use leaked credentials for scams. Be cautious of unexpected emails asking for personal information.
Monitor your accounts – Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report any unauthorized access.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a credential exposure?
Credential exposure happens when email addresses, usernames, and/or passwords are leaked due to a data breach at a third-party website or service.
How did Loyola University Chicago find out about this?
We proactively monitor security reports and external breach disclosures to help protect our university community.
Was Loyola University Chicago breached?
No, this exposure did not originate from our systems. However, we encourage good security practices to protect your accounts everywhere.
Should I be worried if I don’t reuse passwords?
Even if you don’t reuse passwords, it’s still best to check if your credentials were exposed and update any potentially affected accounts.
How can I create a strong password?
A strong password should be:
• At least 12-16 characters long
• A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
• Unique for each account
• Managed securely with a password manager (optional)
What should I do if I suspect unauthorized activity on my accounts?
Immediately change your passwords, enable MFA, and contact the support team of the affected service. If it involves your Loyola University Chicago account, reach out to our Information Security team at [security@luc.edu].
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Information Security team at datasecurity@luc.edu or visit our Cybersecurity Awareness page.
Stay secure and proactive in protecting your online presence!
Information Security & Compliance Team
The Loyola University Information Security and Compliance Team (ISC) is committed to helping our community stay secure online. With data breaches becoming increasingly common, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect your personal information.
When an external website experiences a breach, usernames, passwords, and other sensitive data can be exposed—sometimes without your knowledge.
This guide will walk you through how to check if your information has been exposed in a breach and provide actionable steps to secure your accounts and prevent unauthorized access.
How to Check If You Were Affected
To see if your email address has been involved in known breaches, visit:
Simply enter your email address to check if it has appeared in any publicly known data breaches.
What You Should Do Now
Should you find out that your credentials have been leaked, change your passwords immediately. If you have used the same password on multiple sites, update it to a strong, unique password for each account.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Adding an extra layer of security helps protect your accounts even if your password is exposed.
Stay vigilant for phishing attempts – Attackers may use leaked credentials for scams. Be cautious of unexpected emails asking for personal information.
Monitor your accounts – Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report any unauthorized access.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a credential exposure?
Credential exposure happens when email addresses, usernames, and/or passwords are leaked due to a data breach at a third-party website or service.
How did Loyola University Chicago find out about this?
We proactively monitor security reports and external breach disclosures to help protect our university community.
Was Loyola University Chicago breached?
No, this exposure did not originate from our systems. However, we encourage good security practices to protect your accounts everywhere.
Should I be worried if I don’t reuse passwords?
Even if you don’t reuse passwords, it’s still best to check if your credentials were exposed and update any potentially affected accounts.
How can I create a strong password?
A strong password should be:
• At least 12-16 characters long
• A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
• Unique for each account
• Managed securely with a password manager (optional)
What should I do if I suspect unauthorized activity on my accounts?
Immediately change your passwords, enable MFA, and contact the support team of the affected service. If it involves your Loyola University Chicago account, reach out to our Information Security team at [security@luc.edu].
Need Assistance?
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Information Security team at datasecurity@luc.edu or visit our Cybersecurity Awareness page.
Stay secure and proactive in protecting your online presence!
Information Security & Compliance Team