Concerns Arise Around Possible LinkedIn Password Exposure

If you have a LinkedIn account, you should be keeping an eye out due to a possible LinkedIn password exposure. There are a wide variety of security tools that can help you be more proactive about your privacy and identity. Some web browsers have now incorporated a feature that tells you if your username and password combination has been breached anywhere, while other tools inform you if a website you are trying to visit is a known source of security threats. Antivirus and anti-malware software gets more sophisticated every day, and even alerts from websites, financial institutions and credit reporting agencies can help you know if your account is compromised. What do you do when one of these tools alerts you to a potential problem? For example, in an abundance of caution, some third-party vendors have disabled the LinkedIn connection to deal with a possible LinkedIn password exposure. Sprout Social, a platform that helps streamline users’ social media use, was one site that recently alerted users to a possible problem with their LinkedIn passwords and therefore disabled the connection that users had established.
While there is no need to panic from the possible LinkedIn password exposure, it is a good idea to change your password on any site that experiences a possible security issue. First, it is simply a smart security practice to begin with; changing your passwords regularly can prevent old information from coming back to haunt you if someone manages to access a stored database of credentials. Beyond that, changing your password can keep outsiders away from your account if there is any cause to believe they have already broken in. Compromised passwords can actually land you in hot water when you reuse passwords on multiple sites. If one site is compromised and users’ credentials are stolen, the criminals’ next step is often to test out those credentials on other websites. This is all done with automated software and takes very little time or effort. If you have reused your username and password, then a security issue at one company can lead hackers to account access for your other accounts. Remember, passwords are only as good as you make them and only as useful as where they end up. Create strong passwords that are unique to every different site and account, and change those passwords regularly to keep outsiders from getting in.

Contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at 888.400.5530. For on-the-go assistance, check out the free ID Theft Help App from ITRC.

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