Top Signs Your Email Has Been Hacked and How to Protect Yourself

With the increasing use of electronic media, email security is more crucial than ever. If your email gets hacked, it can result in identity theft, financial loss, and loss of valuable information. In this blog, we will explain the most common indications your email is hacked and how to safeguard yourself.

Indications Your Email is Hacked

1. Unusual Login Activity

• If you're getting notifications of logins from unfamiliar places or devices, it's a huge red flag.

  
  

2. Emails Sent Out Without Your Knowledge

• You learn about suspicious emails being sent from your account from friends or colleagues.

  
  

3. Password Change Notifications You Didn't Request

• When you receive a password reset notification that you didn't request, hackers can attempt to take over.

  
  

4. Missing Emails from Your Inbox

• Hackers tend to delete sent mail to cover their trail or avoid forwarding mail to a different address.

  
  

5. More Spam in Your Inbox

• A sudden influx of spam messages can be a sign that your account has been hijacked.

  
  

6. Your Email is Blocked or Disabled

• If you're not able to log in, your email has been hacked, and the intruder might have altered your login credentials.

  
  

7. Unfamiliar Account Activity

• Unauthorized adjustments to preferences, such as auto-forwarding or recovery email address updates, indicate an attempted break-in.

  
  

8. Unusual Subscription Emails

• Hackers often subscribe your email to random services to test access or spam your inbox.

  
  

9. Complaints from Contacts

• If people report receiving phishing emails from you, it’s likely your email has been compromised.

  
  

10. Access to Other Accounts is Blocked

• Many services, including email marketing tools, rely on your email for authentication. If you’re locked out, hackers may have taken over.

  
  

How to Protect Yourself

1. Change Your Password Immediately

• Use a very strong, original password with letters, numbers, and symbols.

  
  

2. Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• Having another layer of security can stop hackers from getting in.

  
  

3. Check and Delete Unknown Devices

• Look over your login history and delete unfamiliar devices from your email account.

  
  

4. Update Recovery Options

• Make sure your phone number and recovery email are up to date to regain access if necessary.

  
  

5. Scan Your Device for Malware

• Viruses and keyloggers might steal your login information, so do a complete security scan.

  
  

6. Lock Down Your Other Accounts

• In case you use your email for bank accounts, social networking, or email marketing campaigns, change the passwords at once.

  
  

7. Verify Email Forwarding Rules

• Cybercriminals might create automatic forwarding to scan your emails.

  
  

8. Alert Your Contacts

• Inform your colleagues and friends of the breach so they don't respond to phishing messages.

  
  

9. Report the Hack to Your Email Provider

• Most of the providers have the means to recover hijacked accounts and lock them down.

  
  

10. Be Wary of Phishing Emails

• Do not click on dodgy links, and always confirm email senders before giving out sensitive information.

  
  

Final Thoughts

If your email has been hijacked, speedy action is required to limit the damage. By identifying the signs and taking precautions, you can lock down your email and online accounts successfully.