Programming often involves managing sensitive information like passwords, OAuth tokens, and private keys, which must be kept secure to prevent unauthorized access. Once such information is accidentally shared, especially in a public repository, it should be considered compromised as it may become easily searchable via platforms like Google and GitHub's new Search feature. If a breach occurs, immediate action, such as changing the compromised data and purging it from repositories, is advised. Despite current issues with GitHub's code search availability, which are unrelated to the exposure of sensitive data, the operations team is working on improvements, with a detailed report on these issues expected soon.