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How to find out if your Google login was compromised in the Gmail hack

Updated Sep 10th, 2014 2:38PM EDT
Gmail Hack

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Gmail is a fantastic service that has changed the way much of the world uses email. It was also the target of a big security breach recently that has left 5 million Google customers exposed. Are you one of the unlucky users whose login credentials were compromised?

Here’s how to find out — and what to do if your Google username and password were exposed in the breach.

First and foremost, visit the following website:

https://isleaked.com

Enter your Gmail email address in the field near the top of the screen and you will be notified immediately if your account was exposed in this latest breach. And just to prove to affected users that this is a legitimate issue, the site will display the first two characters of your password if your credentials were leaked.

So, what should you do if your account is now exposed?

Immediately visit the following link:

https://www.google.com/settings/personalinfo

Clicking on the Security tab on this page will allow you to change your password, and you should do so immediately.

Now, whether or not your login was leaked in this most recent hack, you should take this opportunity to enable 2-step authentication on your Google account.

On the same page linked above, the Security tab shows a “2-Step Verification” listing. Click the settings link next to it and you’ll be walked through the setup process. For those who are unaware, 2-step authentication will text a unique temporary security code to a phone number you provide during the setup. Then, that code must be entered each time you log into your Google account from a new device or with a new service.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.