Password Breach Checker :
Have I Been Pwned?

Check if your password has been compromised in a data breach. Our free password breach checker, scans over 847 million leaked passwords to help you stay safe online. Instantly discover if your password has been exposed and get actionable security recommendations.

Powered by Have I Been Pwned API

Securely checking password against 847+ million pwned passwords...

How We Protect Your Privacy (k-Anonymity Model)
Your password security and privacy are our top priorities. We use the industry-standard k-Anonymity model to check passwords safely:
  • Your password never leaves your browser - It's hashed locally using SHA-1, and only the first 5 characters of the hash are sent to the API
  • Anonymous matching - The Have I Been Pwned API returns all possible hash matches, and your browser checks locally if yours is in the set
  • Zero-knowledge architecture - Neither Zecurit nor Have I Been Pwned ever see your actual password
  • Real-time data - Checks against 847+ million compromised passwords from verified data breaches
  • Trusted by millions - Same technology used by 1Password, Bitwarden, and other leading password managers

Why should you use a Password Breach Checker?

The Scope of the Problem

  • 847+ million passwords in the Pwned Passwords database

  • 12+ billion account credentials compromised across all breaches

  • 81% of hacking breaches involve stolen or weak passwords

  • 65% of people reuse passwords across multiple sites

  • New breaches discovered weekly adding millions more passwords

Real Threats from Pwned Passwords

Credential Stuffing Attacks Hackers use automated bots to test leaked passwords across thousands of websites. If your password is pwned, attackers are actively trying it on popular sites like Gmail, Facebook, Amazon, and banking portals.

Account Takeover One compromised password can cascade into multiple account breaches if you reuse passwords. Hackers gain access to one account and use it to break into others.

Identity Theft Breached credentials combined with other leaked data (email, phone, address) enable identity theft, financial fraud, and targeted phishing attacks.

Dark Web Sales Pwned passwords are sold in bulk on dark web marketplaces within hours of being breached. Your password could be in a list being sold for as little as $10.

Understanding your password breach results

If Your Password Has Been Pwned:

When your password appears in the database, you'll see how many times it was found in breaches. Here's what the numbers mean:

  • 1-1,000 occurrences: Moderately compromised—change immediately

  • 1,000-100,000 occurrences: Highly compromised—commonly used by hackers

  • 100,000+ occurrences: Extremely dangerous—in every attacker's toolkit

The Most Common Pwned Passwords:

  • "123456" - Seen 37+ million times

  • "password" - Seen 10+ million times

  • "123456789" - Seen 7+ million times

  • "qwerty" - Seen 3+ million times

Never use these or similar simple passwords on any account.

If Your Password Is Safe:

If your password doesn't appear in the database, that's excellent news! However, this doesn't guarantee 100% security. Always follow password best practices:

  • Use unique passwords for every account

  • Make passwords at least 16 characters long

  • Use a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols

  • Enable two-factor authentication everywhere

  • Check regularly as new breaches are discovered

What to do if your password has been pwned

Immediate Actions (Do This Now):

1. Change Your Password Everywhere

Don't just update the password on the site you were checking. Change it on every single site where you've used this password or any variation of it. Hackers test similar patterns.

2. Verify No Unauthorized Access

  • Check recent login history on all affected accounts

  • Look for unfamiliar devices or locations

  • Review account activity for suspicious transactions

  • Check for unauthorized changes to settings or recovery options

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Add 2FA to every account that supports it, especially:

  • Email accounts (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo)

  • Financial services (banks, PayPal, investment accounts)

  • Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)

  • Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)

  • Shopping sites (Amazon, eBay)

Use authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Authy, Microsoft Authenticator) instead of SMS when possible—they're more secure.

4. Monitor Your Accounts

  • Set up account alerts for unusual activity

  • Watch for unexpected password reset emails

  • Check credit card and bank statements weekly

  • Consider credit monitoring services if financial data was at risk

Long-Term Security Strategy:

Use a Password Manager Password managers are essential for modern security. They:

  • Generate cryptographically strong, random passwords

  • Store passwords in encrypted vaults

  • Auto-fill passwords to prevent phishing

  • Alert you when passwords appear in new breaches

  • Work across all your devices

Popular options: 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, LastPass, NordPass

Create Strong Passwords If you must create passwords manually:

  • Minimum 16 characters (longer is better)

  • Random combinations of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols

  • Avoid dictionary words, personal information, or patterns

  • Use our Password Generator to create unbreakable passwords instantly

Never Reuse Passwords Each account needs its own unique password. Password reuse is the #1 reason people get hacked. One breach shouldn't compromise your entire digital life.

Regular Security Checkups

  • Check passwords monthly with our breach checker

  • Update old passwords every 6-12 months

  • Remove unused accounts and services

  • Review app permissions and connected services

How to create passwords that won't get pwned

The Anatomy of a Strong Password

Strong passwords share these characteristics:

  • Length: 16+ characters minimum (20+ is ideal)

  • Randomness: Unpredictable combinations, not dictionary words

  • Uniqueness: Different for every single account

  • Complexity: Mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols

Examples of Weak Passwords (Never Use These):

  • ❌ password123

  • ❌ qwerty2024

  • ❌ YourName@1990

  • ❌ Welcome123!

  • ❌ admin12345

These patterns are instantly cracked by hackers.

Examples of Strong Passwords:

  • X9$mK#2pL&vN8qR@4wE (random characters)

  • correct-horse-battery-staple-7$Mn (diceware passphrase)

  • tR3@s-Ux#9K-pL2$v-Mw6& (generated by password manager)

The Easiest Way: Use Our Password Generator

Creating truly random, strong passwords manually is difficult. That's why we built our Free Password Generator.

Features of our Password Generator:

  • Cryptographically secure random passwords - Uses Web Crypto API for true randomness

  • Customizable options - Choose length (6-32 characters) and character types

  • Instant generation - Create unlimited passwords with one click

  • One-click copy - Easily copy passwords to use immediately

  • Real-time strength meter - See password strength as you customize

  • Completely private - Passwords generated locally in your browser

  • Works everywhere - Desktop, mobile, and tablet compatible

Generate Strong Passwords Now

Don't risk using weak or pwned passwords. Use our generator to create unbreakable passwords in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is it safe to type my password into this tool?

    Yes, absolutely. Your password is hashed locally in your browser using SHA-1 before any data is transmitted. We use the k-Anonymity model, sending only the first 5 characters of the hash to the Have I Been Pwned API. Your actual password never leaves your device, and neither we nor HIBP ever see it.

  • How does this tool work?

    We use the official Have I Been Pwned Pwned Passwords API. Your browser creates a SHA-1 hash of your password, sends the first 5 characters to the API, receives back all matching hash suffixes, then checks locally if your full hash is in the results. This k-Anonymity approach is the same technology used by major password managers.

  • What does "pwned" mean?

    "Pwned" is internet slang meaning "owned" or "compromised." In cybersecurity, if your password has been "pwned," it means it appeared in a data breach and is now publicly available to hackers.

  • If my password was pwned, does that mean I'm currently hacked?

    Not necessarily. It means that specific password appeared in a past data breach somewhere. If you've already changed your password since the breach occurred, your account may be secure. However, you should verify there's been no unauthorized access and ensure you're not using that password anywhere else.

  • How many times my password appeared matters?

    Yes, very much. The count shows how widespread the compromise is:

    • Low count (1-1,000): Still compromised, change immediately
    • Medium count (1,000-100,000): Highly compromised, commonly used by hackers
    • High count (100,000+): Extremely dangerous, in every attacker's toolkit

    The higher the count, the more actively it's being used in attacks.

  • What is Have I Been Pwned (HIBP)?

    HIBP is a free service created by security researcher Troy Hunt in 2013. It aggregates data from hundreds of breaches affecting billions of accounts. The Pwned Passwords component contains 847+ million unique passwords exposed in real breaches.