Don’t Panic – How to Tell If Your Email Got Hacked & What to Do Next
It can happen even to the most careful user, that stomach-dropping feeling when someone replies to an email you didn’t send, or texts you asking about the Google Doc on wealth management tips you sent and why it needs a password. First, don’t panic. If you still have access to your email account, IMMEDIATELY change the password to something unique and secure (read here: long and complicated – get a password keeper). Next, run a full virus scan on your computer.
Now, the truth is that name that shows as “from” on an email can be easily faked. If a distant relative with an AOL account forwarded you an email they received that said it was from you, but the email address is [email protected], then your email account has not been hacked. To be on the safe side, they should probably run a virus scan because someone found out they usually get emails from you.
If you can’t get into your email account (this is a sign that your account is definitely compromised), request a password reset from the login page or call your email provider if that is an option. Being able to reset your password assumes that you have either set up security questions or provided an alternate email address to be able to receive a reset link. If you haven’t done these things, put it on your to do list this week.
Once you have re-secured your account by changing the password, you may want to let people on your contact list know what happened to try to spare them a similar experience. Hackers are getting more suave with their phishing attempts, sending out emails claiming to be sharing Google Docs or other reasonably expected items. It is more important than ever to be suspicious of any out-of-the-ordinary email, even if it is from a trusted sender.
To help prevent this situation, always use a complex password and seriously consider turning on two-factor authentication if it is available. Also, it’s a good idea to run regular malware/virus scans on your computer.
Has this happened to you or someone you know? You might be surprised how frequently it occurs. Share your story in the comments.
