In 2021, 70% of data breaches were caused by external parties , according to a Verizon study. The email is not only a source of communication but acts as a unique identifier for many logins such as accounts, social networks, bank accounts or online shops. Email, as well as social login, is used to log into numerous accounts, and as a result, this makes both of them key targets for cybercriminals.
By accessing your email address, hackers will be able to steal personal data and information and request that your account passwords be reset.
How to tell if someone has tried to access your accounts?
With current technological means it is not difficult to understand if your email address or your social profiles may have been hacked. Among the various red flags, you can definitely consider the following:
- The password has been changed without your consent and you are no longer able to log in with your usual credentials.
- In the mail sent you will find strange messages or messages not attributable to you
- You received an email with password reset instructions, even though you didn’t ask for it
- Receive complaints from your contacts who report spam or unwanted messages to you
- You know unusual IP addresses, devices or browsers
What to do if the accounts have been compromised?
We recommend that you take action as soon as you realize that one of your accounts has been compromised by following these simple steps:
- Change your password immediately
Changing your password is one of the first steps to take to protect your information from unauthorized access. Most people use the same password for multiple different accounts, and by changing the passwords you can prevent the account from being hacked.
- Keep your device clean
Hackers can gain access to email and social accounts by exploiting malware on your device. That’s why it’s vital that you regularly run virus scans, update browsers and apps, and remove unknown third-party extensions or apps.
- Check that other accounts are not infected
If one of your accounts is infected, check that the others are still safe and set a password that offers a higher level of protection. Also consider changing your security settings and entering two-factor authentication.
- Notify your contacts
Immediately notify your main contacts about the data breach – this way you can let them know of any suspicious emails or calls. Share your new email address with primary contacts who will still be able to reach you.
- Use multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication is considered to be one of the most effective ways to prevent attacks, and enabling it can help you better protect your accounts.
Here are our suggestions with the main actions to take if you suspect that your data or devices have been compromised to guarantee you the right security on the network.
