How to Check if Your Data Was Leaked Online

Data breaches are no longer rare—they’re routine. In India, platforms like Justdial, BigBasket, and even Aadhaar-linked services have suffered major leaks. With millions of emails, passwords, and mobile numbers exposed online, knowing whether your data is at risk is no longer optional—it’s essential.

This guide walks Indian users through how to check for data leaks and take the right actions to protect their online identity.

1. Understand Data Breaches: What, How, and Why

A data breach occurs when sensitive information (emails, phone numbers, passwords, Aadhaar data) is exposed to unauthorized partiesg. India has had several incidents: Justdial (10 crore users), BigBasket (2 crore), and even Aadhaar leaks affecting 1.1 billion users.

Globally, a recent breach exposed 16 billion passwords, including credentials from Gmail, Facebook, Apple, and more. This scale highlights why checking your personal data is more vital than ever.

A data breach happens when sensitive personal information is accessed or disclosed without permission. This could involve usernames, passwords, email addresses, mobile numbers, or even Aadhaar and PAN details. With millions of Indians registering accounts online every day, the risk of data exposure is real and growing.

Recent global and Indian breaches have exposed billions of records. Notably, a 2025 mega breach compromised over 16 billion passwords across major platforms like Gmail, Facebook, and Apple. Indian-specific incidents have also made headlines—making it essential for users to check their data regularly.

Step-by-Step: How to Check If Your Data Was Leaked

1. Use “Have I Been Pwned”

“Have I Been Pwned” is one of the most trusted platforms for checking email and password leaks.

Visit: https://haveibeenpwned.com
Enter your email address.
If compromised, it will list the platforms involved and date of breach.
Optionally, sign up for notifications for future breaches.

2. Try Google’s Free Dark Web Report

Google now offers dark web monitoring as part of its account features.

Go to your Google Account > Security tab.

Click on “Dark Web Report.”
You’ll see results showing if your email, phone, or personal info appears in dark web listings.
Available to all users in India, no subscription needed.

3. Use Other Free Tools

There are other reliable platforms that Indian users can try:

F-Secure Identity Theft Checker – Basic email leak scan.
Avast Hack Check – Shows breaches linked to your email.

Norton Breach Checker – Alerts for known data leaks.
CyberNews Leak Checker – Checks both email and phone number exposure.

Using multiple tools ensures you don’t miss India-specific databases or minor leaks.

What to Do If Your Data Was Leaked

If you find your email or phone number in a breach, take these actions immediately:

Change your passwords on the affected platforms.
Use a unique password for each account.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra security.
Use a password manager to keep track of strong passwords.
Review recent activity on affected accounts.

If financial info was leaked, monitor your bank account and consider a credit freeze.

Major Indian Data Breaches to Know

Here are a few notable cases that affected Indian users:

Justdial – Exposed data of over 100 million users.

Air India & Unacademy – Other large leaks that made user info vulnerable.

These incidents highlight how vulnerable Indian data is—even on trusted platforms.

5. Steps to Protect Yourself After a Breach

Change passwords immediately—use strong, unique passwords per site.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) everywhere possible.
Use a reliable password manager to generate/store credentials.
Check your bank statements and credit profiles regularly.

Consider credit freeze via CIBIL/Equifax if financial info is leaked.
Watch for phishing—attackers often use leaked data for social engineering

Free Strong Password Generator Online – No Ads, No Tracking

6. India-Specific Bumps and Considerations

Aadhaar Breach (2018): over 1.1 billion records exposed
Corporate leaks: Justdial, BigBasket, Unacademy, Air India, and Domino’s have had major breaches

Telegram chatbot leaks: e.g. Star Health insurer data exposed through Telegram

That means Indian users need to be extra vigilant, covering services like Aadhaar, government apps, and local platforms.

7. Monitoring & Prevention – Stay Ahead of Next Leak

Enroll in alerts from HIBP, Google, or LastPass dark web monitoring
Install antivirus and VPN protection.

Regularly review account activity and emails for suspicious messages.
Periodically audit and delete old accounts you don’t use.
Adopt passkeys or hardware-based 2FA, the latest security best practice

8. Real-Life Cases & Lessons

16 billion password leak: highlights the importance of checking your email on HIBP and Google.

Star Health Telegram leak and nominations from Justdial and BigBasket show Indian sectors are equally vulnerable.
Reddit discussions warn individuals to use debugging tools to detect leaks, and to report companies that hide breaches.

9. Legal and Regulatory Framework in India

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act requires companies to notify about breaches.
If your data was exposed in a breach, you have legal rights to file complaints with CERT‑IN or Consumer Forums.

Collect evidence (news, screenshots) and escalate if companies refuse to disclose or resolve the breach.

10. Quick Checklist

✔️ Check email on Have I Been Pwned
✔️ Enable Google Dark Web Report
✔️ Use additional free tools (F-Secure, Avast, Norton)

✔️ Change passwords, enable 2FA, use password manager
✔️ Monitor banking and financial accounts
✔️ Watch local breaches (Aadhaar, Justdial, BigBasket)

✔️ Set up dark web monitoring alerts
✔️ Know your data breach rights under Indian law

Why Data Breaches Matter in India (2025)

India is experiencing a digital transformation at an unprecedented pace—with millions of users signing up for e-commerce platforms, fintech apps, UPI wallets, and government digital services like DigiLocker, Aadhaar, and CoWIN. While this brings convenience, it also exposes users to serious cybersecurity risks, especially in the form of data breaches.

🔍 Rising Cyber Threats

According to CERT-IN, India reported over 13 lakh cybersecurity incidents in 2024 alone, including large-scale data leaks involving financial services, healthcare, education, and e-commerce. Many of these breaches remain undisclosed until they surface on forums or the dark web.

⚠️ What Gets Leaked?

Typical breaches in India include:

Aadhaar and PAN numbers
Mobile numbers and OTP records
Email addresses and passwords

Bank account and UPI details
Health and insurance records
Order details from food delivery and e-commerce apps

This data is often sold or traded on the dark web, and misused for:

Phishing attacks
SIM swapping

Fake KYC scams
Loan fraud or unauthorized EMI purchases
Social engineering for blackmail or extortion

🧑‍💻 India-Specific Risks in 2025

Weak data protection enforcement: While the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is in place, many companies still delay breach disclosures.
Lack of user awareness: Many users reuse the same passwords or don’t enable 2FA, increasing their vulnerability.
Growth in digital onboarding: Rapid digitization in Tier 2/3 cities has outpaced cybersecurity literacy, leaving many users unprotected.

Bottom line: Indian users need to be extra cautious in 2025. Even seemingly harmless data like your mobile number can be exploited for scams.

Final Takeaway

In the age of massive data breaches—global and India‑specific—regularly checking whether your data was leaked is not just wise, it’s essential. Use trusted tools like HIBP, Google, and Avast, enable alerts, and take active steps to secure your digital identity. Stay vigilant, update passwords, and embrace strong authentication to stay ahead of evolving threats in 2025 and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I know if my Aadhaar number has been leaked?

You can’t directly check if your Aadhaar number is leaked unless it’s part of a publicized breach. However, if you’re receiving strange OTPs or unsolicited calls asking for Aadhaar info, it could be a sign. Use platforms like CyberNews Leak Checker to scan email/phone exposures.

2. Is “Have I Been Pwned” safe to use in India?

Yes, Have I Been Pwned is globally trusted and secure. It does not store your data—it simply checks if your email or password has appeared in known breaches. You can safely use it in India.

3. What should I do if my email was found in a data breach?

Immediately:

Change the password on that email and linked accounts.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
Review recent login activity.

Use a password manager to generate strong, unique passwords.

4. Can leaked data be misused even if it doesn’t include financial details?

Yes. Scammers often use leaked emails, phone numbers, or address details to impersonate banks, government agencies, or service providers. This leads to phishing, SIM swap, or loan fraud.