Scammers and hackers are constantly trying to break into email accounts in order to steal personal information or spread malicious software. If your email account has been hacked, it’s essential to take immediate action to secure your account and prevent further damage.
In this article, we’ll show you what to do if your email account is hacked and how to protect your account in the future.
How to Know Your Email Has Been Hacked?
There are several signs that your email account may have been hacked. Let’s take a look at some of the most common signs:
You Can’t Log Into Your Email Account
If you can’t log into your email account, it’s possible that your password has been changed by the hacker. If this is the case, you’ll need to reset your password to regain access to your account.
You See Strange Activity in Your Email Account
If you see a strange activity in your email account, such as new contacts that you didn’t add or messages that you didn’t send, it’s likely that your account has been hacked. Hackers will often use your account to send spam emails or phishing scams to your contacts.
You Get Error Messages When Trying to Send Emails
If you get error messages when trying to send emails from your account, it’s possible that your account has been blocked by the email service provider. This can happen if your account is sending out a lot of spam emails.
You See Unfamiliar Logins in Your Recent Activity
Most email providers have a feature that lets you see recent activity on your account. This includes a list of IP addresses that have accessed your account, as well as the time and date of each login. If you see any logins from unfamiliar IP addresses or devices, it’s possible that your account has been hacked.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to take action immediately to secure your account and prevent further damage.
5 Things to Do If Your Email Account Is Hacked
If you think that your email account may have been hacked, there are a few things you should do right away:
1. Change Your Password
The first step is to change your password and make sure it’s a strong password that’s difficult to guess. Avoid using dictionary words, names, or easily guessed phrases. Instead, use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
If you use the same password for multiple accounts and one of those accounts is compromised, the hacker will also have access to your other accounts.
Be sure to use a strong, unique password for each of your online accounts and avoid using easily guessed words like “password” or easily accessible personal information like your birthdate.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
If your email service offers two-factor authentication, enable it. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when logging in. Then, even if a hacker manages to guess or obtain your password, they won’t be able to log in without having access to your phone.
Not all email services offer two-factor authentication, but it’s worth checking if yours does.
3. Be Wary of Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are emails that appear to be from a legitimate source (like your bank or an online store) but are actually from a scammer. These scammers try to trick you into giving them personal information like your password or credit card number.
If you get an email that looks like it’s from a company or website you use, don’t reply or click any links in it. Instead, go to the company’s website directly and log in. This way, you can be sure that the email is legitimate.
4. Warn Your Friends and Family About Scams
Let your family and friends know that your account may have been hacked and that they should be on the lookout for any suspicious emails or activity from you. Warn them not to click on any links in suspicious emails, even if they look like they’re from you.
5. Keep Your Software Up-to-Date
One of the best ways to stay safe online is to make sure your software is up-to-date. This includes your operating system, web browsers, plugins, and applications. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect your computer from new threats.
Final Thoughts
Hacking is a serious problem, but there are things you can do to protect yourself. By following the tips in this article, you can make it harder for hackers to get into your email account and steal your information.
Remember, the best defense against hacking is a strong offense. The more steps you take to secure your accounts, the less likely you’ll be hacked.
