Hackers have every reason to want to penetrate your inbox. For one, email is far the most common form of web communication today. However more importantly, it’s the unique identifier for many online account logins, which is the reason it’s still extremely targeted cybercriminals.
Think about it: If your inbox is hijacked, the malicious third party will most probably be able to:
- Find out what kinds of services and accounts you’re enrolled in, and
- Ask for password resets for one or more of those accounts.
As most password reset requests go directly through email, there actually isn’t much you would be able to do to stop it. A prudent cyberattacker will even cover his or her tracks (e.g., delete all those password reset emails) in an effort to mask suspicious activity that would otherwise give you a clue you about the intrusion.
When hacked, your email can be used for just about anything on the web. Cyberattackers can attempt to pilfer personal data acquired through an online account — including your credit card information.
How Might I Tell If My Email Account Has Been Hacked?
If you’re really wondering if your email account has been compromised or hacked, here are some suggestions:
- You have been told that your account password is not correct.
- You notice that there are strange emails in your Sent folder.
- You receive password reset emails that you did not request.
- You notice that your account was accessed from unusual devices, browsers or – alternatively – IP addresses.
Tips To Protect Yourself From Being Hacked
Here are easy steps to protect yourself online, whether you’re using your computer or mobile device for work, or playing at Grand Rush casino. These tips can help to protect your family and friends too as well as help to prevent your email from being hacked.
Utilise A Password Manager And Two-Factor Authentication When Possible
Utilise a reputable password manager in order to change all of your online passwords to strong, unique ones for each login. We can’t stress this enough. Hackers today utilise a tactic called credential stuffing, where they just cram previously stolen usernames and passwords into as many online services as practicable. Why? As a lot of usernames and passwords are identical across accounts.
Sort Out Your Apps
When you’ve secured your email account, and dealt with any potential fallout from the violation, you have to make sure that you can access your email address in all your usual places.
If you use an email program – something such as Outlook, Windows Mail, Mac Mail or you receive your email on a phone or tablet computer – you will need to swap the leaked password on each device for your recently created secure password.
Regularly Monitor Usage Of Your Email Account Activity Using The Monitoring Features Of Your Provider
- Email/Social Networking/Media Sharing Accounts –make sure regularly that you are able to sign into any accounts you may have
- Sent Items Folder – may store some evidence of possibly malicious emails that may have already been sent to your friends/colleagues
- Activity Logs – Some providers an Activity Log feature that allows you to check recent activity on your account