Microsoft account help. Overview and sign in help. Password reset and recovery. Forgot username. Security and verification codes. Locked or compromised accounts. Account activity and closed accounts.
Linked accounts. What is a Microsoft account? Update your profile. Microsoft account More Need more help? Join the discussion. Was this information helpful?
Yes No. Thank you! Any more feedback? The more you tell us the more we can help. Can you help us improve? This technique, called phishing, is just one of the methods used by criminals to gain access to email accounts.
Although victims of Hotmail account theft undoubtedly find it to be a nerve-wracking experience, taking steps to reduce the likelihood of it happening again can actually enhance the security of other online accounts and turn the ordeal into something positive.
Determine the origin and manufacturer of all antivirus programs on the computers you use to access your Hotmail account. Immediately uninstall any programs that are not manufactured by reputable companies. Fake antivirus programs are widely available on the Web, and many of these malicious programs install viruses and other malware designed to record account passwords and transmit them to hackers.
Locate and install an antivirus program from a reputable vendor. Norton, Panda and McAfee are three examples of reputable antivirus software manufacturers. Windows users can download the Microsoft Security Essentials package for free from the Microsoft website. Payment-based accounts such as Amazon, Netflix, credit card companies and even the local library need a reset. Be sure to update each of your passwords to prevent hackers from compromising these accounts as well.
Keeping these other accounts secure is important. Secondary services are ultimately the much more valuable targets in these security breaches. For example, your bank account could easily be the next break-in if the scammer found the info needed to reset your password. Again, be sure to use a unique password for every site. The risk for follow-up breaches is increased if you use the same password for multiple sites.
Streamlined logins via your email or social media accounts should be avoided to further reduce this risk. However, even varied passwords may not be enough if you have emails in your account that lead directly to linked online vendors.
It is a good idea to tell your friends, family, and anyone else on your email contact list that you've been hacked. During the period when attackers had control of your account, they could have sent dozens or even hundreds of malware-laden emails to everyone you know. This type of phishing attack in turn gives them access to a new set of victims. You should notify your friend lists on other platforms as well.
Email may be just one route the attackers take to bait your contacts. If they breached your social media or messaging apps, fraudulent messages could be sent from each of these.
Warning your contacts lets them take steps to ensure their own devices are clean and unaffected. While your password was the most likely attack route, it's also possible that hackers broke into your account after answering your security questions. Make sure they are memorable to you, but not obvious to discover through your social media posts or other public info.
According to recent Google research, many users choose the same answer to common security questions. Be sure to employ the multi-factor authentication that many providers allow to protect your logins and password resets. In order to further protect your email, this authentication uses secondary email addresses or text messages. How do I go about this problem? Change your password to something very hard to guess.
Also turn on 2 step verification to make your account hard to hack. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2. Is changing my password enough if my email account was hacked and spam was sent to many accounts? In addition to changing your password, you should consider notifying your contacts that your account was compromised.
You should also use great caution in the future of downloading unfamiliar files or responding to emails requesting personal information. The emails from a safe sender contact family member constantly appear in my "deleted" file. There are many things I want to keep private from him. Is he hacking into my account? He isn't blocked. Someone could be hacking your account, you should immediately change your password , and then, to be absolutely sure that nobody but you can access you account, you should turn on 2 step verification.
Remember to keep your password secure and never share it with anyone. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. It is possible that your address was removed from mailing lists when it was compromised, but the core functionality of your email account should remain intact.
Not Helpful 4 Helpful 0. If your email account was used to spam other emails it is possible that your address was blocked or filtered by email service providers. Not Helpful 8 Helpful 2. I forgot my Hotmail password and all of the recovery information. How can I retrieve my password? Microsoft's account recovery service has a questionnaire you can answer to attempt to recover your account. Steps are detailed above. Not Helpful 22 Helpful 4. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Let your friends and family know that your account has been compromised so that they can avoid communications from the account. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Remember that even though you recovered you account, the hacker may have saved your contacts or data. Focus on securing your account for the future and be mindful of the data that passes through it. Make sure you keep your Windows up to date to ensure you have the latest security enhancements for your OS.
Download an antivirus program that includes automatic updates. It is possible that your email account was compromised by malicious software on your computer. An antivirus program can help to detect and eliminate malware and help prevent future infections. Be vigilant about your web use! Avoid downloading files from unverified sources and use extreme caution responding to emails that ask your for personal information.
0コメント