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You do not need to be wealthy, famous, or a heavy internet user to be worth targeting. Criminals can exploit ordinary accounts and personal information for impersonation, fraud, spam, or access to other services. That does not mean someone is personally watching you: broad automated campaigns reach many potential victims without singling each one out.
Ask Leo! author Leo A. Notenboom frames a common concern this way: “Why should I bother with all this complicated security stuff? I have nothing hackers would want! I don’t have anything to hide, so why would anyone come looking for me? I don’t do banking on the computer, and I don’t have much money anyway.” His answer is blunt: “Wrong. Everybody’s a target.” The useful distinction is that being exposed to broad attacks is not the same as being individually selected or watched.
In an article posted August 20, 2026, Notenboom explains that criminals can find value in accounts, identity details, contacts, and stored files—not just money sitting in a bank account. Read the Ask Leo! article.
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Access can help impersonate you
A compromised email or social account can be used to send messages in your name. A criminal may contact your friends or colleagues, attempt fraud, or distribute spam or malware while appearing to be you. Account access can also lock you out of a service you rely on.
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One account can create risk elsewhere
Email and other accounts can connect to other services through password resets, stored information, or contact networks. A criminal with access to one account may try to reach additional accounts or use personal details to impersonate you or attempt to open accounts. The risk depends on what information and recovery options are available; it is not proof that every compromised account leads to further fraud.
Not using online banking does not remove all exposure
Banking is only one way personal information can be involved in online crime. Other services may hold account details, messages, contacts, or files. Notenboom points out that institutions and services operate online, so avoiding online banking does not by itself eliminate exposure through other accounts or information. The specific risks depend on the service and incident.
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Broad targeting is different from a personal attack
Criminals can use automated campaigns to reach large pools of potential victims—for example, sending deceptive messages or trying stolen credentials across services. You may be in the pool simply because you have an email address or an online account. That does not mean an attacker knows who you are, is monitoring you, or has chosen you for special attention.
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A specifically directed attack is different: the attacker focuses on a particular person or organization. The Ask Leo! article makes the broad-net argument; it does not establish that every reader is individually targeted. Treat suspicious messages and account activity seriously without assuming that ordinary exposure means personal surveillance.
Four habits that reduce your exposure
CISA’s Secure Our World guidance recommends recognizing and reporting phishing, using strong passwords and a password manager, turning on multifactor authentication (MFA), and updating software. These are risk-reduction steps, not guarantees against compromise. CISA’s Secure Our World guidance describes phishing as attempts to get people to open harmful attachments or share personal information.
Recognize and report phishing
- Be cautious when a message pressures you to act, open an attachment, or disclose personal information.
- Use the service’s official website or app to check a claim rather than relying on a message’s link.
- Report suspected phishing through the tools available in your email or service.
Use a strong, unique password for every account
CISA’s Secure Our World tip sheet recommends passwords that are “at least 16 characters long, random and unique for each account.” It also recommends using a password manager to generate and store them. Reusing a password creates a connection between accounts: if one service’s password is exposed, the same password may be tried elsewhere.
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Turn on MFA where it is available
MFA requires another verification step beyond a password, adding a layer of protection if a password is exposed. Enable it on accounts that offer it, especially accounts that can help reset access to others. CISA discusses phishing-resistant MFA, including hardware-based FIDO authentication; a security key works only with services and devices that support it. Keep an account’s recovery options available so you can regain access if a device or key is lost.
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Apply updates to your operating system, browser, apps, and internet-connected devices when they are available. CISA includes updating software among its four core Secure Our World habits; updates can address security issues, though keeping software current does not prevent every kind of attack.
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These habits make common routes into accounts harder to exploit and help limit the consequences of a stolen password or deceptive message. They cannot guarantee that an account or service will never be compromised. The practical goal is to avoid giving a criminal an easy path from one exposed detail to your other accounts, identity, or contacts.
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