Email Hacked? 8 Steps to Secure Your Account Right Now
If your email is compromised, every account linked to it is at risk. Here are the 8 steps to take immediately.
Signs Your Email Was Hacked
You notice emails you did not send in your Sent folder, friends tell you they received strange messages from you, you get password reset emails you did not request, you cannot log in with your password, or you see login activity from locations you have never been to.
Step 1: Change Your Password Immediately
If you can still log in, change your password right now to something strong and unique — at least 16 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not reuse a password from any other account. If you cannot log in, use the account recovery option (Forgot password) with your phone number or backup email.
Step 2: Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Go to your email security settings and enable 2FA immediately. Use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy rather than SMS, since SMS can be intercepted via SIM swapping. This is the single most important step to prevent future hacks.
Step 3: Check Account Recovery Settings
Verify that the recovery phone number and backup email address are yours. Hackers often change these to maintain access even after you change your password. Remove any unfamiliar recovery options.
Step 4: Review Connected Apps
Check which third-party apps have access to your email account. In Gmail: Settings then Security then Third-party apps. Revoke access for anything you do not recognize.
Step 5: Change Passwords for Linked Accounts
Any account that uses your email for login or recovery is now at risk. Prioritize: banking, social media, shopping sites with saved payment info, cloud storage. Change each password to something unique.
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