Discovering that your email account has been compromised can be a stressful experience. However, taking immediate action can help you regain control and secure your account. Here are the steps you should follow if your email is compromised:
1. Change Your Password: The first thing you should do is change your password. Make sure to create a strong password that includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
2. Check for Suspicious Activity: Look for any unusual activity in your account, such as missing or deleted emails, suspicious inbox rules, or changes to your profile information.
3. Update Security Questions: If a hacker has accessed your account, they may have found the answers to your existing security questions. Change them to something more secure and avoid questions that can be easily guessed.
4. Scan Your Devices for Malware: Use antivirus software to scan your personal devices for malware, spyware, or keyloggers that may have given criminals access to your email.
5. Notify Your Contacts: Inform your contacts that your email has been compromised. This will prevent them from falling victim to any phishing attempts or malicious emails sent from your account.
6. Check Related Accounts: Verify the security of other accounts linked to your email, such as social media or banking accounts. Change their passwords if necessary.
7. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by enabling two-factor authentication on your email account. This will require a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, to access your account.
8. Review Email Settings: Check your email settings for any unauthorized changes, such as email forwarding rules or changes to your signature.
How to ensure your account is never compromised again
To prevent future compromises, follow these best practices:
· Use Strong Passwords: Always use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using easily guessable information.
· Enable Two-Factor Authentication: This adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.
· Be Cautious with Email Attachments and Links: Avoid opening attachments or clicking on links from unknown senders.
· Regularly Update Your Software: Keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date to protect against vulnerabilities.
· Have monitoring in place for an ammonolysis logins: Do you know if your account has been accessed? Having proper monitoring in place to alert if your account is logged in from a suspicious location or an impossible travel incident has occurred.
· Work with an MSP: An MSP can ensure your account has protections in place, so any sign of a possible compromise is mitigated almost instantly.
By following these steps, you can ensure your email account remains secure and protected from potential threats.
