What to Do if Your Account Gets Hacked

You wake up one day and find that you can’t get into your social media account. Your friends are getting weird messages from you, or in worst-case scenario, you see bank withdrawals from your account that you never made. It’s a worst-case scenario, but it’s all too typical in our high-tech world today. Getting hacked is frustrating, stressful, and in some cases even financially debilitating. But the good news is that there are definite steps you can take to regain control and avoid it in the future.

Throughout this book, we’re going to look at what to do if your account has been hacked, how you can recover, and how you can avoid it happening again. If it’s your email, social networking, or online banking, this book will lead you through the recovery process.

Why Accounts Get Hacked

Before diving into what to do, it’s helpful to understand why accounts get hacked in the first place. Hackers are usually after one of three things:

1. Personal Information: Hackers want your data—your name, birthday, phone number, and address—to commit identity theft or sell on the dark web.
2. Funds: Cash accounts or even financial service-associated email accounts are popular choices. Some hackers may even require ransom payments to reopen your access.
3. Access to Other Accounts: After they breach one account, hackers may use it to attempt to breach your others. For instance, they may utilize your email account to reset other websites’ passwords.

Common means by which hackers gain access are poor passwords, phishing scams, hacked credentials from another site, or malware on your computer.

Let us now move on to what to do in case you get hacked.

Step 1: Stay Calm and Do Not Panic

The first thing you want to do if you believe your account has been compromised is remain calm. Panic is easy, but panicking will not help the situation. Breathe deeply and concentrate on asserting yourself over the problem. Moving fast but carefully is your best protection.

Step 2: Confirm the Hack

Bizarre activity on your account is not always a hacker sign sometimes. Perhaps it is a glitch, or you might have remembered logging in somewhere else. Don’t panic first and instead look for signs of hacking:

• Unusual logins or devices on your account
• Password changes that you did not make
• Posts, emails, or transactions sent out without your knowledge
• Friends or contacts informing you that they got strange messages from you
• Login attempt notices from unknown devices or locations

If any of these warning signs display, it is okay to believe that your account is already compromised.

Step 3: Update Your Password Right Away

If you are still able to log in, the first thing you should do is reset your password. Put in a new, strong password that you have never used previously. Avoid using personal details such as birthdays or names since they can easily be guessed by hackers.

• An ideal password should consist of:
  Capital letters
  Lowercase letters
  Numbers
  Special characters (@, #, $, %, etc.)

If you can no longer access your account because the hacker has, in fact, already altered your password, attempt to modify it using the “Forgot Password” feature. Most websites will allow you to receive a password reset link in your email address or phone number.

If your email has been hacked, go to the next step.

Step 4: Lock Down Your Email Account

Most of your online credentials are connected to your email, and hackers target emails first as they can use them to reset passwords on your other accounts. If you think your email has been compromised:

1. Change the password on your email as soon as possible.
2. Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) if possible. This provides an additional layer of security by asking for a verification code on your phone.
3. Verify your recovery settings in your email—hackers may change the recovery email address or phone number so you cannot recover access. Ensure such settings are properly configured.
4. Check forwarding rules—some hackers set rules to automatically forward your emails to themselves. Delete any suspicious forwarding rules or filters.
5. Log out of all sessions and devices to push out the hacker.

Step 5: Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

If you haven’t enabled Two-Factor Authentication yet, now is the time to do it. 2FA requires you to enter two types of identification before you log in to your account—most likely your password and a code that has been sent to your phone or pulled from an app.

Even though the hacker has your password, they cannot access your account if they don’t have that second bit of information. All big web services provide 2FA now, including email, social networks, and online banking.

Step 6: Check for Unauthorized Activity

After you’ve got your account back, review your most recent activity:

• Look at recent login history: Were there logins from unfamiliar locations or devices?
• Review sent messages or posts: Delete any suspicious or spammy content that might have been sent while the hacker had control.
• Check connected apps or third-party services: Sometimes hackers connect third-party applications to your account to maintain access. Revoke access to anything you don’t recognize.
• For financial accounts, immediately look for unauthorized transactions. Contact your bank or financial institution right away if you see suspicious activity.

Step 7: Notify Friends or Contacts

If your hacked account was used to send messages, emails, or posts to your friends or contacts, let them know that your account was compromised. This is important because hackers often send phishing links or malware to your friends, pretending to be you.

A simple message like “My account was hacked—please don’t click on any strange links or respond to weird messages you may have received from me” will help prevent the spread of the hack.

Step 8: Scan Your Devices for Malware

Sometimes accounts get hacked because malware or spyware has been installed on your device. To ensure that your computer, phone, or tablet isn’t infected:

1. Run a full antivirus or anti-malware scan on all devices you use to access your accounts.
2. Update your operating systems and apps to patch any security vulnerabilities.
3. Get rid of files or dubious apps that you don’t recognize.

If malware is found, remove it before logging into your accounts again to prevent getting hacked repeatedly.

Step 9: Report the Hack

The majority of internet services offer specific routes for reporting hacked accounts. Reporting the hack helps the service monitor unusual activity and may also help you recover your account if you’re locked out.

Here are some common actions you can take:

• Report hacked accounts on social media platforms using their “Help” or “Report” sections.
• Speak with your financial institution’s or email provider’s customer service.
• File a report with law enforcement if your financial accounts were hacked, especially if you’ve lost money.

Taking these steps can help protect others as well by alerting companies to emerging hacking methods or widespread attacks.

Step 10: Strengthen All of Your Passwords

If one of your accounts got hacked, there’s a chance others might be at risk too—especially if you reuse passwords (which, by the way, you shouldn’t). Use this chance to update the passwords on all of your significant accounts, particularly:

• Email
• Social media
• Financial accounts
• Shopping platforms
• Cloud storage services

Use a password manager to keep track of your passwords. These tools can generate strong, unique passwords for every account, making it harder for hackers to break in.

Step 11: Monitor Your Accounts Regularly

Unfortunately, getting hacked once doesn’t mean you’re in the clear forever. Hackers might have gained enough personal information from one account to target others. That’s why you should start monitoring your accounts more closely:

• Regularly check your email for password reset attempts.
• Enable login alerts wherever possible so you’re notified when someone logs in from a new device or location.
• Periodically review your bank statements and online transactions for anything unusual.
• Detecting suspicious activity early on will make preventing additional harm easier.

Step 12: Stay Educated on Online Security

One of the most powerful tools in protecting yourself online is knowledge. Keep in mind that hackers are always coming up with new techniques to access accounts. Some key habits to adopt include:

• Exercising caution when clicking on dubious links and emails, even if they appear to be from people you know.
• Passwords should never be shared with anybody, not even close friends.
• Using different passwords for different accounts to prevent one hack from spreading to others.

Treat your online life with the same care as your physical belongings. Avoid leaving weak passwords or out-of-date security settings on your accounts, just as you wouldn’t leave your home door unlocked.

Final Thoughts

Hacking can be frightening, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of the world. The most important thing is to act quickly, secure your accounts, and take steps to prevent it from happening again. By staying calm, using strong passwords, enabling Two-Factor Authentication, and remaining vigilant about online threats, you can protect yourself and your digital life.

The internet is a fantastic tool, but like any tool, it comes with risks. Just as you lock your car or home to keep it safe, your online accounts deserve the same level of care. With the right approach, you can bounce back from a hacking incident stronger and more secure than ever before.

Stay safe, stay alert, and keep your accounts locked down tight.