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QSafari’s start page warns us that passwords for online banking services have appeared in a data leak. What should we do?
ARecent versions of Safari tap into lists of compromised passwords, which Apple maintains. When it finds a stored password that matches those known to have been compromised, it warns you and helps you change it to something more secure. This doesn’t necessarily mean your password or account have been compromised, though.
If a password protects any site or service involving money or sensitive personal information, you should follow Safari’s advice and change that to a strong password as soon as you can. However, the passwords list may also include many old sites and passwords that have long expired, or never gave access to anything of importance. When you change passwords, ensure you replace old with fully robust new ones, which comply with the different requirements for each service. If you haven’t already done so, ensure that two-factor authentication is also activated where it’s available. Although this can be a pain, for online banking and similar services it’s now essential. Also consider more secure alternatives, such as the service’s own secure app.