As a cybersecurity professional with over 10 years of experience, I often get asked how to determine if an email account has been hacked. Email accounts contain sensitive personal and financial information, so it is critical to keep them secure. In this comprehensive guide, I will walk through the signs your email was hacked, how to recover a hacked account, prevent future attacks, and determine who hacked you.
Table of Contents
Signs Your Email Account Has Been Hacked
Here are the most common signs that your email account security has been compromised:
- You can’t login to your account or get password errors
- Unusual activity like emails you didn’t send or suspicious logins from other countries
- Getting “password changed” or account recovery notices when you didn’t initiate them
- Friends tell you they received spam or strange emails from your account
If you notice any of these issues, take action right away to secure your account.
Recovering a Hacked Email Account
If you believe your account has been hacked, follow these steps to regain access:
- Visit your email provider’s account recovery page and verify your identity to reset your password
- Review your account settings and ensure forwarding, filters, or other settings weren’t tampered with
- Login and check recent emails in your Sent folder for ones you didn’t personally send
- Scan for suspicious new contacts or calendar events the hacker may have added
Additionally, make sure to change the password to something completely new that you’ve never used on any other sites.
Preventing Future Email Hacking Attempts
Once you have regained access to your account, extra precautions are needed to avoid another attack:
Use Strong Passwords
- Your password should have upper/lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
- Consider using a password manager to generate and store unique 15+ character passwords
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
With 2FA, you need your password plus a temporary code from an authenticator app or SMS text. This adds an extra layer of security.
Be Wary of Phishing Attempts
Look out for suspicious emails asking you to login or provide sensitive information. Hover over links to see the real destination before clicking.
Keep Software Up-to-Date
Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in outdated programs. Maintain your devices, browser, apps, and security tools fully updated.
Determining Who Hacked You
Discovering who actually gained access to your account can be challenging, but here are a few options:
Check Email Headers
Email headers show the full journey of a message. Inspect headers of suspicious emails which may reveal IP addresses or locations of the sender.
Review Account Activity Logs
Email providers log details like login timestamps and IP addresses. Look for geographic locations that don’t match your normal activity.
Run a Reverse Email Search
Sites like Spytox let you input an email address and find associated names and profiles, which may reveal the hacker’s identity.
Hire an Email Forensics Expert
If you were the victim of a targeted cyber attack, an expert can analyze email metadata and logs to trace the attack back to the perpetrator.
Recovering from an email hack and preventing another one takes diligence. But by enabling security protections and monitoring account activity, you can stay safe online. Don’t hesitate to contact an IT professional if you need help determining the source of any suspicious email account access.
