Risk level: low. Can you change it: yes. Found in 11 breaches in this directory.
What this data is
The small profile image attached to your account, which may be a real photo, a cartoon, a generated icon or a picture taken from another service.
The risk on its own
For most people this is low risk, and pretending otherwise would be scaremongering. Avatars were usually visible to anyone who viewed your profile in the first place, so the breach rarely publishes anything new. A cartoon or default icon carries no personal information at all.
The risk combined with other data
Two situations change the picture. If the avatar is a clear photo of your face, it can be reverse image searched to link an anonymous account to your real identity. If you use the same avatar everywhere, it becomes a convenient way to connect accounts you meant to keep separate.
How criminals use it
A reverse image search ties a pseudonymous forum account to your professional profile because both use the same photo.
Your face photo is reused on a fake dating or social profile to make a scam account look real.
An attacker copies the avatar to impersonate you in a group chat or community where people recognise the picture.
What to do now
Use a different avatar on accounts you want kept separate from your real name.
Avoid a clear front facing photo on accounts that do not need one, since face images are the part worth protecting.
Search for your avatar image with a reverse image search to see which accounts it already links together.
Change the account password and check what else the same breach exposed, which is almost always the more important part.
Frequently asked questions
Is a leaked avatar dangerous?
Usually not. It matters mainly when it is a real photo of your face, or when the same image links a private account to your public one.
Can someone use my avatar to open an account as me?
No. A picture is not an identity document. It can be reused on fake profiles, which is unpleasant, but it opens nothing.
Should I change my avatar now?
Only if it is a face photo on an account you wanted anonymous. Otherwise spend the effort on the password from the same breach.
Breach data sourced from Have I Been Pwned, used under CC BY 4.0. Additional breach metadata provided by XposedOrNot. DataExposed is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either.