How to check if your Gmail password is one of 183 million stolen in cyber security leak

A cyber security leak has allegedly exposed more than 183 million email passwords, including tens of millions linked to Gmail accounts and passwords.

The stolen trove containing 3.5 terabytes of data surfaced online in October, according to Troy Hunt, the Australian security researcher who runs the breach-notification site Have I Been Pwned.

Hunt stated that the information originated from a yearlong sweep of "infostealer" platforms, malware networks that secretly siphon usernames, passwords and website addresses from infected devices, reports say.

How did this happen? Primedia's Digital Content Editor, Barbara Friedman explains.

"It's not like one cyberhacker did the whole thing, it's a kind of conglomeration over a period of time... that would be a more accurate description of it."

• visit HaveIBeenPwned.com

The site gives a detailed timeline of a flagged email breach.

• change your Gmail account's password and change your password regularly,
• enable two-factor authentication.