All Gawker Media sites hacked, with usernames and passwords compromised. Are you at risk? Here's how to check

If you have ever created a commenter account with Gawker Media, including the sites Gawker, Deadspin, Kotaku, Jezebel, io9, Jalopnik, Gizmodo, or Lifehacker, then this weekend's news is cause for concern. All of Gawker's properties were hacked, with usernames and passwords compromised and put online for public consumption. Does this mean that you're in trouble? Well, yes - if you use the same username and password for all your online accounts, you'll want to log in to your Gawker commenter account immediately and change your password, as well as all your other usernames and passwords with the same information.

However, there is a quick way to check if your Gawker account information was infiltrated, and here it is:

• Navigate to JavaScript MD5. This is a secure hash algorithm generator site.
• Enter your email address, all lower case, in the "Demonstration" section about halfway down the page.
• Click "MD5". Your MD5 secure key (representing your email address) will be generated. Copy and paste this string of numbers and letters (CTRL+C).
• Navigate to this Google Document.
• Click on the "Show Options" link at the very top of the document.
• There are two dropdown boxes and a blank text field that appear at the top. In the first box, change the output to "MD5". Leave the second box as is (set to "="). In the third box, paste the MD5 secure algorithm of your email address.
• Click "Apply".
• If your email has been compromised, you'll be able to see it here.If it has not been compromised, no information will appear (hat tip to MetaFilter for this useful tip)

What do I do if my email has been compromised? Many of us have dozens (or more) of accounts scattered across the Web. Make this sleuthing process as streamlined as possible by using NameChk, a service that scans hundreds of sites for your unique username. Once that initial detective work is finished, use a secure password manager, such as KeePass, to both generate and manage secure usernames and passwords. Any questions? Leave them here in the comments and we'll get to them ASAP; Lifehacker has also set up an open thread for anyone with a question. You can also check to see if your Gawker Media username or email was compromised with GawkerCheck.

How to be safe on the Web

• Anonymous Web Surfing
• How to Conceal Your Search Habits
• Avoid Registrations with BugMeNot
• What is Spoofing?
• What is a Password, and how do I create a secure one?
• Choose (and remember) great passwords