It seems like every week brings news of another data breach, with leaked passwords, email addresses, and even more personal details being dumped online. Where does this stolen data end up? 

Much of this information lands on  the "Dark Web", the hidden side of the internet where cybercriminals trade and expose stolen information. The dark web is where cybercriminals share or sell breached data, including sensitive church staff credentials, to the highest bidder.  In some cases, the thieves will forego the sale of the stolen data and elect to post it publicly for everyone to access. 

Why Password Security Matters More Than Ever 

 What does this mean for your church or organization? Most staff members use a variety of devices, some even personal ones, for ministry work. Unfortunately, many reuse the same passwords across work, personal email, social media, banking, and shopping accounts. 

 Here’s the problem: if a reused password from one of those platforms (like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Canva) ends up in a breach, bad actors now have the keys to more than just that one account. They could potentially access your church's email system, donation records, volunteer databases, or even sensitive prayer requests. 

 This is why Enable strongly recommends creating unique, strong passwords for every account and using a reputable password manager to keep track of them all. 

Is Your Information Already on the Dark Web? 

Thanks to the work of cybersecurity experts, there are tools and services that can now alert you when your personal or organizational data is found in a breach. Some identity protection services notify you when your email, passwords, or other sensitive details show up on the Dark Web. Even better, there are business-focused tools that can monitor your church’s domain and alert you if any staff emails are compromised. 

The biggest red flag? When both your email address and password show up in the same leak. This combo gives the cyber criminals a direct path to test logins across multiple platforms. 

Take Action Today 

Want to see if your email has been exposed in a data breach? Check out the free tool HaveIBeenPwned.com. If you’ve been “pwned” or want to protect your organization from future breaches, reach out to us at info@enable.email. We’re here to help your church stay secure and focused on ministry, not cyber threats.