Email Hacked? How To Recover Your Account Before It’s Too Late
Emails are more than just messages, they often hold personal information, passwords and even financial details. When a hacker gets access, the consequences can be serious. Email hacks usually happen because
of data breaches, phishing emails, weak or reused passwords, malware or unsafe Wi-Fi networks.
What Should You Do If Your Email Gets Hacked?
If your email has been hacked, the first step is to change your password immediately. Use a secure device and create a strong, unique password with letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts. If you ave been locked out, use the 'Forgot Password' option to reset it through your recovery email or phone.Next, check other accounts linked to your email. Hackers often try stolen credentials on social media, online shopping or banking accounts. Change passwords on all these accounts to prevent further damage. It is also important to inform your contacts. Hackers may send spam or phishing emails from your account, so alert friends and colleagues to avoid spreading malware. Finally, check your email settings. Hackers may add auto-forwarding rules, change recovery information or even modify your email signature.
How To Recover Your Email: Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook
Each email service has its own recovery process and it’s important to only use official recovery pages. Avoid third-party sites that claim they can recover your account for a fee -- they are often scams.For Gmail, visit Google’s official Account Recovery page and enter your email. - Follow the on-screen prompts, which may ask for previous passwords or details from your recovery phone or email. - Once you regain access, create a new strong password and immediately run a Google Security Checkup to review recent activity, remove unknown devices, check third-party app access and enable 2-step verification.For Yahoo Mail, go to the Yahoo Sign-in Helper page and enter your email or recovery phone number. - You’ll receive a verification code or account key to confirm your identity. - After logging in, create a strong new password and review your Account Security page to check recent activity and recovery information. - Make sure to turn on 2-step verification for extra safety.For Outlook, start at Microsoft’s official account recovery page. - Enter your email, phone number, or Skype ID, and verify your identity using linked recovery information. - If you can’t access recovery methods, fill out the account recovery form with as much detail as possible to prove ownership. - Once you reset your password, check your Microsoft account security dashboard for recent sign-ins, connected devices. and enable two-step verification.With strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and trusted security software, you can protect your email from hackers.