Against all best practices, I used the same password for many websites.
I knew the risks. A few months ago, another major data breach was in the news. After ignoring my online security for years, I dedicated a Saturday afternoon to resetting passwords. I went through the most critical accounts—banking, email, and travel services—but grew tired and gave up after three hours.
There were too many accounts.
This week’s experience is a reminder: adopting a new service has a hidden cost. Signing up for a new account often seems fun and innocent—especially when the website offers a freebie—but my exposure increases every time I offer personal information. The risks accumulate.
Now I pay for my negligence over the years: daily spam calls, constant text alerts about my frozen bank accounts, and voicemails in Mandarin saying the FBI and the IRS are after me.