The website ‘Have I been powened’ allows you to find out whether your email address has been sold on the internet following hacker attacks on websites or lists containing user data.

How is it possible that unknown third parties can obtain my data?

• Time and again, websites (including large ones) are hacked, meaning that unknown individuals gain access to sensitive areas and steal data from registered users.
• One simple way is for websites to sell user data themselves.
• Another possibility is that you download a virus while surfing the Internet, which then sends your personal data to a foreign server belonging to criminals.
• Apps from the Microsoft, Apple, Android, etc. app stores, as well as browser extensions for various browsers, can also spy on users and pass on data to unknown parties.

Why do unknown parties want my data?

The more data you have about a person, the more valuable that data is. The data is valuable because:

• Emails, telephone numbers, advertising, spam and phishing messages can be sent.
• Market analyses can be carried out using the data.
• The data can be used to gain access to other websites.
• The data could include PayPal, credit card or similar payment service information.
• It could be used to gain access to company accounts and steal confidential data (company secrets).