Most people underestimate just how many online accounts they’ve signed up for over the years. From grocery delivery and fitness apps to medical portals and smart home devices, every service requires an account—and almost all require personal information.

Research by NordPass last year revealed that the average person manages close to 170 passwords for different accounts. For anyone who has spent a significant part of their life online, that figure is likely much higher.

Abandoned or forgotten accounts still hold sensitive data—your name, email, address, birthdate, and payment information. All this information is exactly what shows up in massive data breaches and is precisely what cybercriminals look for.

In an era where data leaks often compile older breaches into vast collections of stolen personal details, inactive accounts lacking updated protections like strong passwords or two-factor authentication become major security liabilities.

Once hackers gain access to your information, they can leverage it in countless ways. For example, if they compromise your email or social media, they can impersonate you to launch phishing attacks or send scams to your contacts. They might also try to trick your friends and colleagues into downloading malware.

Dormant accounts can hold even more sensitive material, such as scans of IDs or insurance documents, which can be exploited for identity theft or fraud. Accounts with saved financial information are an even bigger risk since attackers can drain funds or resell the details on dark web marketplaces.

Deleting old accounts is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to strengthen your online security. It may seem tedious, but it’s something you can easily do while catching up on your favorite shows.

Start by searching your email inbox for common registration keywords like “welcome,” “thank you for signing up,” “verify account,” or “validate account.” A password manager can also help you see which logins you’ve saved over time.

Check the saved password lists in your browser:

Many services let you sign in with Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Apple ID. Review the list of connected apps and services—while disconnecting them doesn’t automatically delete accounts, it shows what you need to remove.

Visit Have I Been Pwned? to check if your email has been involved in breaches. This resource can remind you of forgotten accounts and alert you to which passwords should be changed immediately.

If you spot apps you no longer use on your phone or laptop, log in, close the accounts, and delete the apps from your device. Some antivirus tools, such as Bitdefender, offer features to find all accounts you’ve created using your email with a single click.

Certain platforms intentionally make deletion difficult. If you’re struggling, search the site’s name along with “delete account,” or use justdelete.me, a helpful directory with step-by-step removal guides. If that fails, reach out to the site’s support team.

If you cannot fully delete an account, take steps to minimize the risk:

Before creating new accounts in the future, consider whether you can use a guest checkout or a dedicated email address just for sign-ups.

For accounts you decide to keep, always update your passwords, store them securely in a password manager, and enable multi-factor authentication or passkeys to strengthen security.