Web service identifies extent of data breaches

PCWorld recently interviewed online security professional Alan Puzic regarding a new aggregation service available for people to determine if their information has been hacked.

According to the news source, the PwnedList helps the public determine if their files are safe and currently has a database of nearly 10 million entries.

"We're working hard to make more metadata available on our site … including the name of the site/company that hosts the account, the number of accounts contained in the leak, the date we found the leak, and (if possible) the name of the hacker/group that we believe published the data," he told PCWorld.

Although this information is certainly useful, the PCWorld report encouraged people to update their passwords, which can be achieved with password manager software. Users should also monitor their financial statements for possible fraud activity.

Cybersecurity threats continue to plague organizations and consumers worldwide. According to a study by research firm Gartner, global security services spending surpassed $35 billion in 2011, growing from the $31.1 billion in 2010. By 2015, this amount is expected to reach more than $49 billion.