SpartanTec, Inc. Columbia: What Do I Do If My Email Has Been Hacked?

Spammers can use many methods to send spam but the popularity of hacking legitimate users’ email accounts is growing.

As encouraging as the crackdowns on the other channels have been, spammers, have managed to shift the focus from some of the larger malware outbreaks. Recent phishing attacks are now about getting compromised email accounts for their spamming to be profitable, including email accounts such as yours.

What was the purpose of hacking my email?

Most likely, your computer was compromised in one of these four ways:

You don’t have the most current security software installed.
Your passwords can be easily cracked.
A malicious link was clicked in an email, IM chat, social networking site or webpage.
You have downloaded a video, song, or attachment that contains malicious scripts or files.

How to deal with an email hacker?

Here are some steps to follow if your email account has been hacked.

Make sure to check and update your computer’s security.

Hackers can steal passwords by installing malware on your computer or mobile phone. No matter what operating system you are using, make sure that your anti-virus software and anti-malware program are current. Select the setting that will automatically notify your computer of new email security updates. Run an end-to–end scan of your computer if you are using an antivirus program.

Check to make sure all updates have been installed.

These can be found by entering the name for your operating system and the word updates into your search engines browser (for example: windows 10 updates). To ensure that your computer is protected from any new attacks, set it to automatically update.

Make your password stronger and change it.

This should be done after your antivirus and antimalware programs have been updated. Otherwise hackers could also steal your password.

Strong passwords don’t have to be difficult to remember. They just need to be difficult to guess. Your password should be at least 10 characters in length. Use capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers, symbols.
Don’t give out any information about yourself, your pet or anyone else you know (including your dog and cat). Name, age, and city are all examples of information you should not use.
Avoid using words that are not found in a dictionary. Hackers can easily break these words, even if they are spelled backwards.
You can make password creation more simple with text messaging shortcuts. You can use L8rL8rNot2Day as an example. It means later, but not today.
Research shows that an average email account has 130 password protected accounts linked to it. This is why passwords are often not as secure as they should be. You can keep your passwords organized and encrypted with a password manager.

You should send an email to all your contacts claiming that you have been hacked.

You are more likely than not to click on the links in emails that come from people you know. Stop the spread of malware by advising people on your contact list to be skeptical of emails that don’t look right and not to click on any links.

Learn how to avoid scams, phishing and spam.

Spam can come at us from many angles: in our mailbox (junk mail), in our email inbox, via IM and social networking sites, chats forums, websites, or even on our phones. It is crucial to stay alert for phishing scams.

There is no rich uncle in a foreign country who wants to send money to you.

You have never won the lottery. You will not be offered money by strangers. No hot babe will wait for you to respond. Unsolicited pharmacy offers will only lead to a ripoff or infection of your computer or smartphone. It would make headline news on every TV station if there was a miraculous cure for weight loss.

You will never be asked to authenticate information online by a reputable bank, Amazon or other company.

If you receive an email with a link, do not use it. Instead, use your search engine and log in to the site. The message will be available in your account if it was genuine.

Before downloading any program, video, app, or game, verify its legitimacy.

Out of the millions upon millions of mobile apps that were updated or new, 32% were found to be malicious. You should assume that the content has been pirated, downloaded for free, or sent anonymously to you. You should only download content you have read positive reviews on from trusted sites.

Modify your security questions.

It’s possible that the cybercriminal had to answer security questions if your email account was hacked using a device or location other than your usual usage patterns. Your question and answer may be similar (Question: What’s your dog’s name?) Spot, that might not have been such a hard challenge.

Two-factor authentication is worth considering.

Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) is an added security measure offered by many email providers. To access an account, you will need a password as well as another form of identification such a biometric number or mobile phone number.

It’s quite common for malware to be used as an avenue to hack into email accounts.

A current internet security solution is essential for online safety and to ensure your email doesn’t get hacked. SpartanTec, Inc. provides a complete line of internet security solutions to protect your email password from hackers.