Almost everything we do online these days requires a password and hackers are finding new ways to break through and pilfer that personal information.

eBay became the latest target for cyber thieves after its database containing encrypted passwords was compromised between late February and early March.

Officials with the company say the database, which included customers' names, encrypted passwords, email addresses, home or work addresses, phone numbers and birthdays, was breached in the cyberattack.

Hackers were able to get ahold of some ebay employee credentials and that allowed them into its customer database.

ebay says that no credit card or payment information was taken but it is still urging all users to change their passwords. 

Some consumers say they are sick of hearing that from companies especially after they demanded then lost their information.

"I feel like every time I turn on the news a new website has been hacked or there's another virus out there so it's becoming more and more of a problem,” said Jillian Festival, consumer.

CTV Calgary’s Consumer Specialist Lea Williams-Doherty looked into the issue to find out what consumers can do to protect themselves.

She says many people find it hard to keep track of all the passwords they have.

"You have to come up with so many letters and so many characters and they tell you not to write them down, you have to memorize them," said Bob Wyonzek.

"I cycle between three passwords,” said Matt Letellier.

Lea says one solution may be a password manager.

Consumer Reports Magazine tested several free apps that help people manage their passwords.

LastPass is one example and is free to download on your computer and for an extra $12 you can load it on your phone and tablet too.

“LastPass saves your login ID and password for websites you've told it to and the next time you go to that website, it fills it in for you,” said Dean Gallea from Consumer Reports Magazine.

Consumer Reports recommends LastPass and says it isn't vulnerable to hackers.

“Lastpass stores your personal information in its secure online vault and any communications between that vault and your computer are encrypted so that it makes it effectively unreadable, even to a hacker,” said Gallea.

Lea says there is also the low tech solution; use one core password for everything and change the characters at the beginning and the end for different websites. 

For more information on LastPass, click HERE.

(With files from Lea Williams-Doherty)