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Check and update the passwords on your most important accounts
Check that your email, banking, and social media accounts all have strong, unique passwords. Replace any that are reused across multiple sites or that are short and easy to guess.
Why this matters
Reused passwords are the single most effective way for attackers to access multiple accounts after one breach. If a site you used years ago was hacked, any account where you used the same password is now at risk. A password audit finds and fixes these weaknesses before they are exploited.
How to do it
- List your most important accounts: primary email, banking, social media, HMRC/Government Gateway, and any accounts linked to your email for password resets.
- For each account, check whether the password is unique or shared with any other account.
- Use your browser's saved passwords or password manager to identify duplicates — most password managers have a built-in security audit feature.
- Replace any duplicate or weak passwords with a strong, unique password generated by your password manager.
- Check haveibeenpwned.com — enter your email address to see if it has appeared in any known data breaches, then change passwords for any affected services.
Need a more detailed walkthrough?
Our step-by-step guide explains each action in full detail, with confirmation steps and related tasks.
View full step-by-step guide →Cyber Essentials framework
This task falls under the User Accesscontrol, one of five areas assessed in the UK's Cyber Essentials scheme. Completing it counts toward your Cyber Essentials alignment. Create a free account to track your progress across all five areas.
Worth repeating. This is not a one-and-done task. Revisit it every 3–6 months to keep your protection current.
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