This Chrome tool will check if your passwords are compromised – here’s how to access it

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Google is adding a “password checkup” feature to the inbuilt password manager in Google Chrome.

Basically, the feature compares your login details against the huge database of compromised accounts found in recent data breaches, and if a match is found, Chrome tells you to change your password for safety. It’ll also do the same if it notices you’re reusing passwords on multiple sites.

Google Chrome now tells you if your passwords have been compromised

Image: Google

This feature the same password checkup feature that was released as a Chrome Extension back in February. Google has now added it to the password manager found at passwords.google.com, which makes it even easier for people to keep themselves safer online.

Here’s how it works:

• When you put your login credentials into a site, Google sends an encrypted version to the server the database is hosted in
• That database checks the encrypted version against its own login credential lists
• If it finds a match, or if you’re reusing passwords, Chrome then gives a popup notification encouraging you to change your password

Now you can make sure that all of your online accounts have unique passwords, that aren’t already for sale in a data dump from a breach. Nifty.

What do you think? Plan on using this feature? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.