EXPERTS have revealed how to spot if your email has been hacked, as they become a “top prize” for hackers.
While it is best to take a proactive approach to keep hackers away, if you do find that your email has been infiltrated, there are a number of steps you can take to secure it again.
5
5
Why do hackers target emails?
Email inboxes can be valuable for hackers who are after personal information.
Not only can they find out information about you through correspondence with friends and family, but they could access financial and other sensitive information.
Emails from banks, online retailers and doctors could reveal a treasure trove of personal information for hackers to sell.
Once they have successfully hacked into your account, they can then search for the specific information they are after.
This allows them to search for information like bank account details, or to commit identity theft.
If they manage to get into your emails, they could also access your online accounts using the “forgot password” feature which can in turn lock you out of your accounts.
Additionally, hackers could send phishing emails to your contacts to spread malware and other scams.
How do I know if my account is hacked?
There are a number of signs that might reveal that your email has been hacked, and it’s crucial to keep these in mind so you can act quickly.
One of the easiest ways to tell if you’ve been hacked is if you are unable to access your account.
When you try to log in, if your username and password are rejected it could be a sign that hackers have changed your password, locking you out of your own account while they wreak havoc.
Another way to tell if your account has been hacked is if your contacts reach out to ask about a suspicious email you’ve sent.
If hackers have gained access to your account in order to spread malware, your contacts might receive an email containing a suspicious attachment which might prompt them to reach out to ask you about it.
Once you become aware of the issue it is a good idea to let your contacts know that your account is compromised so they can avoid opening any malware-riddled attachments.
Email hacking methods
- Phishing scams – Deceptive emails, texts, or messages which trick you into revealing your login credentials on a legitimate-looking but fake website. These steal your password directly.
- Data breaches – Email and password are stolen from a less secure company you set up an account with. These stolen details are then used to access other services with the same details.
- Weak or reused passwords – Using simple, easy-to-guess passwords, or reusing passwords can make it easy for hackers to gain access to other accounts after infiltrating one.
- Credential stuffing – An automated attack where bots take massive lists of stolen usernames and passwords from data breaches and “stuff” them into login forms across the internet, looking for accounts that reuse passwords.
- Malware Infections – Malicious software, such as keyloggers or spyware, can infect your computer and secretly record your keystrokes, capturing your email password and other sensitive information.
Source: McAfee
What to do if you’ve been hacked?
Once you’ve realised that your account is compromised, it’s crucial to act quickly to secure your account and prevent any further data leaks.
Most email providers will have a recovery page if you have lost your password, or had your account stolen.
Using the security questions and contact information you provided when you set up your account, you should be able to regain access using this method.
Once you have regained access to your account it’s integral to change your password.
Using a strong, unique password can make it harder for hackers to access your account in future.
If you struggle to remember your different passwords, there are a number of password managers that can ensure you keep this sensitive information safe.
Enabling two-factor authentication can be another way to secure your account.
This creates an additional layer of protection through a PIN, and will often alert you if someone is trying to access your account.
If your email account has been hacked, it’s worth checking your other online accounts for any unusual activity, particularly with your finances.
To help your contacts avoid phishing scams, make sure to let them know that your account has been compromised.
You should also let your email provider know about the breach so that they can alert other customers and investigate the incident.
