Was your Email Hacked? Here’s What You Need to Know and What to Do

Having your email hacked is like having your social and private life hacked all at once. From your social media to your banking accounts, everything is in your email. It is a window into your lifestyle. All of your vital information is in your emails and it would be a total nightmare if you ever fall victim to hackers. Imagine what would happen if you need an immediate solution from your bank, they need an email verification, but your email is hacked. Or if your social media needs a verification from your email to change your passwords. And the worst thing, hackers might use your email to purchase items since your bank and cards are already connected to it.

It is important to keep your email secure at all times because somehow, your way of living depends on this.

Here’s what you need to know and what you should do in case your email gets hacked.

How is one’s email hacked?

1. Through Email Phishing

Phishing emails are ones that appear to be from a reputable institution or someone you know. Hackers send spam emails pretending to be from your bank or a government body. These emails and messages employ spoofed “From” addresses with the identical wording and logos to appear more authentic.

These cybercriminals will trick you into disclosing your password and account information online. For instance, a hacker could claim to be from a shopping website and send you an email informing you that someone else is using your account. They’ll provide a link so you can verify your account information. Yet, the hacker will obtain your information when you do. Hackers may also trick you into installing malware on your device. This could be through a link or an attachment. Once the malware is installed into your device, these hackers will now be able to access your computer and steal your most sensitive information like your email password.

2. You Were Unable to Log Out from a Public or Shared Device

Your email doesn’t automatically sign out on its own, that’s why is very important for you to always remember to sign out after you use a friend’s device, a library computer, or from a tech shop. You might lose your email forever if you are not too careful.

3. A Hacker Gained Access to your Wi-Fi Network

You’d be surprised how easy it is for hackers to break into your Wi-Fi network. There are many ways that these hackers can infiltrate your router even with a password on. They can even use a cyber attack to intercept your public connection on public Wi-Fi networks. Once hacked, they can now steal your login information.

4. When there was a Data Breach, Your Account Information Got Leaked

With so much data breached during the past years, it’s likely that hackers already have access to the details of your email account. On the Dark Web, hackers can easily purchase exposed passwords.

5. Your Device was Infected with Malware by Hackers.

There’s a lot of ways you can unknowingly install a virus into your device. Beyond just clicking a link in a spam email, hackers have more advanced techniques for tricking you into downloading malware. When a hacker installs malware, they run the risk of gaining access to your email, bank account, and other information.

6. Your Email’s Password Was Simple to Decipher.

Some people use simple passwords so they are easy to remember, this could be birthdays, name of their pet, the word “password” and even just consecutive numbers. Hackers can use “brute force” software to quickly guess your password using information they already know about you if they want to gain access to your email account.

7. Your Multiple Accounts Have the Same Password.

Most of us use the same password to almost all of our accounts. This is for convenience and that we could not forget our passwords, however this is used by hackers as an advantage to hack into our accounts. If you reuse passwords across social media and online stores, hackers can try them on your active accounts and gain access to your email address and other information.

Here’s what you need to do if your email gets hacked:

1.You Should Regain Access into Your Account

Change your passwords right away to stop the hacker if you can still access your email account. If you are locked out, you must contact your email provider to restore access to your compromised account.

2.You Should Check for Viruses and Malware on Your Device

If hackers still have access to your account, there is no use in setting up security software or changing passwords. Use antivirus software to first get rid of any remaining malware or spyware.

3.Inform Everyone You Know That You Have Been Hacked

Inform everyone you know that you have been hacked and to be cautious of any emails that seem fishy. Although it may be uncomfortable, doing this can help safeguard those you know from further deception.

4.Set Up a Password Manager and Update All of Your Passwords

Afterwards, modify the passwords for any other accounts that are compromised as well as your email account. Create strong, one-of-a-kind passwords with capital and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers. Keep private details like birthdays and pet names to a minimum. Take into account a password manager to assist in managing your new passwords.

5. Modify the Security Questions for Your Email

Make up new security questions that are impossible to find online. Decide to be elusive. Based on your online footprint, hackers can find a wealth of information about you.

6. Two- or Multi-Factor Authentication Should be Enabled

To increase your email’s security, add two-factor authentication and a secure recovery email address to your email. You may use a far more secure authenticator program like Google or Okta.

7. Upgrade your Operating System and Hardware

Hackers can access your device using flaws in out-of-date software. Installing security updates on a regular basis will improve the performance of your device and provide critical software patches. If you maintain your operating system updated, you can fend off hackers.

8. Put Credit Monitoring in Place

This will notify you of any strange behavior on your bank account or credit report so you can determine whether hackers have accessed them. If you notice illegal or fraudulent charges on your card, get in touch with your credit card provider.

9. Report the Scam and Identity Theft

Identity theft and email hacking are both illegal. If you are a victim, file a police report and report the theft to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. Provide enough identifying information to establish your identity.

10. Make Use of a VPN with Malware Protection

Improve the security of your network and devices to block malware and alert you to dangerous phishing websites. Connect to our fictitious U.S. location if you’re utilizing Aura’s VPN to view content from any place.

11. Don’t Start Your Online Shopping Just Yet

It’s possible that scammers have access to your device as a result of an email hack. Before inputting your credit card information on any online buying site, wait until you are malware-free.

Your email is vital and you need to protect it at all cost. Don’t let anyone hack into your important data. But in the event a breach of your email occurs, stay calm and use these tips to regain your access and secure your email. If you want to know more on how to protect your email from hackers, talk to us today.