Question 1

What is ExposedMap?

Accepted Answer

ExposedMap is a real-time data breach monitoring platform that visualizes global security incidents on an interactive map. It aggregates breach data from sources like Have I Been Pwned and public disclosures, providing email exposure checking, timeline analysis, and filtering by industry, severity, and root cause.

Question 2

How do I check if my email was breached?

Accepted Answer

Enter your email address in the exposure checker on the homepage. ExposedMap will search its database and display any breaches containing your email, including the breach date, affected organization, and types of data exposed (passwords, personal information, etc.).

Question 3

Is it safe to enter my email?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All data is transmitted over encrypted connections and never shared with third parties. ExposedMap cannot see your actual passwords or the contents of breached data—we only know which breaches your email appeared in.

Question 4

Do you store my email address?

Accepted Answer

For breach exposure checks: No. Your email is processed momentarily to search our database, then discarded—we never store it. For the waiting list or breach alerts: Yes, stored securely with encryption solely for notifications.

Question 5

What should I do if my email was breached?

Accepted Answer

Change your password immediately on the affected service and any other accounts using the same password. Enable two-factor authentication where available. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. If sensitive data like SSN or financial information was exposed, consider a credit freeze and monitor your credit reports.

Question 6

Where does ExposedMap get its data?

Accepted Answer

ExposedMap aggregates data from multiple verified sources: Have I Been Pwned (HIBP) for breach records and exposed accounts, the HHS breach portal for healthcare incidents, official company disclosures and SEC filings, and security research reports. Organization details (headquarters, logos, industry classifications) are enriched using Wikidata/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), OpenStreetMap/Nominatim for geocoding (ODbL), and Clearbit for company logos. All sources are publicly available and properly attributed.

Question 7

How often is the database updated?

Accepted Answer

New breaches are added within 24-48 hours of public disclosure from verified sources. Historical breach data is continuously updated as new information emerges. Organization details (locations, industries) are reviewed quarterly for accuracy.

Question 8

How is breach severity calculated?

Accepted Answer

ExposedMap classifies breaches by severity based on records affected: Low (under 10,000 records), Medium (10,000 to 1 million), High (1 million to 100 million), and Critical (over 100 million). This classification helps prioritize attention toward the most impactful incidents.

Question 9

Can I set up breach alerts?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can subscribe to email alerts to be notified when new breaches are added to ExposedMap or when your monitored email addresses appear in newly discovered breaches. Alerts are sent within 24-48 hours of breach confirmation.

Question 10

Is ExposedMap free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, ExposedMap is free to use. All core features including the interactive map, email exposure checking, timeline analysis, and filtering are available at no cost.

Frequently Asked Questions