Getting hacked can be a nightmare scenario. You log into your account one day and find it’s been taken over by someone else. They may have changed the password, added themselves to your friends list, and generally wreaked havoc on your online presence. For many of us, our online accounts contain sensitive personal and financial information. Having that compromised can open us up to fraud, identity theft, and other problems. So what exactly does it look like when an account gets hacked? Here’s an overview of some common signs.
You can’t log in
One of the most obvious indicators is suddenly not being able to access your account. You go to log in with your password like normal, but you get an error saying the password is incorrect. Or maybe you’re able to log in, but then get booted out of the account right away. This is a clear sign something is wrong – the hacker has likely changed the password to lock you out. They may have also enabled two-factor authentication to help cement their control.
The profile picture or display name has changed
Most accounts allow users to customize details like profile pictures and display names. Check yours – if this info has suddenly changed without your doing, that’s an indicator of a hack. The hacker may have swapped in their own picture and username to start taking over the account’s identity. Even small details like the profile background color changing could be a sign.
There are posts you didn’t make
Social media accounts are common hacking targets. If you see status updates, tweets, or other social posts appearing that you know you didn’t write, it means the account has been compromised. The hacker is using the access to actively post content from your account. And they may be doing this to send spam or malicious links to your contacts list.
New contacts you don’t know have been added
Another sign of hacking is new contacts, friends, or followers suddenly appearing in your account. Most social and email accounts allow you to connect with other users. A hacker may add their own secondary accounts, or contacts who can help them access more information. If your account starts linking up with strangers, that’s cause for concern.
The email address or password recovery options have changed
Many account providers allow you to update details like the email on file for password recovery. Hackers often change this first. That way when you try to reset the password, the recovery email comes to them instead of you. If you see the recovery email or phone number has changed without your doing, it likely means your account security has been compromised in some way.
Unusual activity shows up in your account history
Most online accounts have logs and tools that allow you to view their activity histories. Take a look at yours – if you see any access, posts, or changes from unfamiliar locations or devices, that’s a sign of hacking. Even if everything looks fine at first glance, dig into the account history for any abnormalities indicating someone else has gotten in.
You’re suddenly locked out of other linked accounts
Once a hacker has access to one account, they often try to leverage this to access your other accounts too. So if you get locked out of your email, social media, or even financial accounts all at the same time, it could mean one of them has been compromised, which gave access to the others. Think about any place you reuse passwords or security answers and check them.
Money is missing from financial accounts
For accounts tied to financial information, like banking or credit cards, direct theft is a possibility. If any money goes missing from your accounts without your making purchases, that’s a clear sign your account was likely hacked specifically for financial theft or fraud. Time is of the essence in this case – notify your bank and financial providers immediately.
Common Targets of Account Hacking
Though all online accounts are at some risk, hackers tend to target some more than others. Here are a few of the most common places hacking is likely to occur:
Email Accounts
Email accounts are prime targets, as they can provide access to password reset links for many other accounts. Once your email is hacked, other accounts can quickly follow. Webmail services like Gmail and Outlook are frequently targeted.
Social Media Accounts
Accounts on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram contain a wealth of personal information that hackers seek out. They may steal and spam all your contacts. Or use your hacked account to spread malicious links further.
Financial Accounts
Online banking, investment, and credit card accounts offer the most direct financial payoff for hackers. They can siphon money, make fraudulent purchases, or steal your identity to open new accounts. These targets are highly sought-after by financially motivated hackers.
Retail Accounts
Any ecommerce site where you store payment information is also a hacking risk. Retail accounts at stores like Amazon or eBay get targeted so hackers can make fraudulent purchases with your stored credit card or do account takeovers.
Cloud Storage Accounts
From iCloud to Google Drive to Dropbox, cloud storage often contains all kinds of sensitive documents and backups of other accounts. If hackers can access it, they can potentially access everything.
Gaming Accounts
Accounts for multiplayer games and systems like Xbox Live contain deeply personal information and login credentials. Gaming accounts are routinely compromised through phishing and credential stuffing hacks.
Business Accounts
Hackers love getting into business email and software accounts, as these contain commercially sensitive information, customer/client data, payment systems, and more. Small business accounts are often targeted.
How Do Account Hacks Happen?
There are a variety of tactics hackers employ to take over online accounts. Being aware of the most common methods can help you better secure yourself against them.
Password Guessing
The simplest and most frequent way accounts get compromised is through an attacker simply guessing or cracking the account’s password. Common passwords and passwords reused across sites make this easy for them. Always use a strong, unique password to thwart guessing.
Phishing
Phishing involves emails, sites, and messages that trick users into entering their login info, which goes right to the scammers. These can look very convincing – check details carefully before ever entering info.
SIM Swapping
A SIM swap attack ports your phone number over to a hacker’s SIM card. This lets them intercept 2FA texts and calls to break into accounts. Use app-based 2FA when possible to prevent this.
Malware
Malicious software installed on your device can record you entering your account credentials and passwords. Then this information is sent back to the hackers remotely. Use antivirus to avoid malware problems.
Credential Stuffing
Bots attempt logins on many sites using username and password combos leaked in data breaches. If you reuse passwords, this is very risky. Unique passwords stop this kind of automated hacking.
Social Engineering
Skilled social engineers pretend to be tech support or employees to trick users into granting them account access or sharing passwords. Verify anyone who asks for your credentials.
Data Breaches
When sites suffer data breaches, usernames, emails and password hashes get leaked, allowing hackers to access other accounts. Enabling 2FA and not reusing passwords helps minimize this threat.
Securing Your Accounts
Once you know what account hacking looks like and how it happens, you can take steps to better secure yourself:
Use strong, unique passwords
A long, complex password that you only use on one site is far harder for hackers to crack. Password managers help generate and store strong logins.
Enable two-factor authentication
Adding a second step like biometrics, security keys, or authentication apps protects against many attacks. SMS-based 2FA still has some risks though.
Check account settings and recovery options
Verify your security settings occasionally to make sure recovery emails, numbers and devices are ones you added. This ensures hackers can’t lock you out.
Be wary of phishing attempts
Scrutinize any email or message asking for your login info. Call the company directly if you’re uncertain. And avoid entering details into unfamiliar sites.
Monitor your account activity
Regularly check your account history and logs for any unusual access, changes or actions that could indicate a hack attempt.
Use password managers
Tools like LastPass and 1Password generate strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. This prevents reuse and makes credential stuffing attacks harder.
Enable added account security options
Many services now offer added layers of account security, like login approvals and tracking. Turn these on when available for better protection.
Be cautious on public Wi-Fi
Open or insecure networks make it easy for hackers to intercept your login credentials. Use a VPN when accessing accounts on public Wi-Fi.
Keep software updated
Upgrade devices and apps regularly to ensure you have the latest security patches. Out of date software is more vulnerable to hacking attacks.
What To Do If You’re Hacked
If you see signs your account has been accessed, take these steps right away:
1. Secure the compromised account
Log in and enable 2FA if not already on. Change your password to a new, strong one. Remove any unauthorized contacts or unusual activity. Lock or suspend the account if you can’t access it.
2. Contact the company/provider
Alert account providers like social networks, banks, or retailers about the issue right away so they can freeze the account if needed. Ask for help restoring access.
3. Check other accounts for unauthorized access
Look at banking, email, social, retail, and other accounts for any other unusual activity indicating wider account compromise. Secure these as needed.
4. Scan all devices for malware
Run complete antivirus scans on your computers, phones, tablets and any other devices used to access the hacked account. Quarantine or remove any infections found.
5. Change passwords on other accounts
If you reused the hacked password elsewhere, change it on all accounts immediately. Treat exposed email addresses similarly if they were used for account recovery.
6. Enable added account security
Turn on enhanced security like 2FA or login approval for additional protection against future attacks across your accounts.
7. Watch for signs of identity theft
Monitor your credit reports and financial statements closely for any unusual accounts or activities that suggest your identity is being misused. Report these immediately.
8. Review account recovery options
Double check password reset emails, recovery numbers, security question answers and backup codes to make sure they’re really yours. Update anything unauthorized or out of date.
How to Prevent Future Account Hacking
Once your accounts are secured, keep taking measures to prevent future hacking:
Use a password manager
Start generating and storing strong, unique passwords for every account. This is the #1 thing you can do to boost security.
Add 2FA everywhere
Any accounts that support two-factor authentication should have it enabled. App-based 2FA is generally more secure than SMS options.
Watch for phishing tactics
Be suspicious of any unsolicited emails or messages asking you to login or provide account information. Verify legitimacy first.
Avoid password reuse
At minimum, use a unique password for important accounts like email, financial services and work logins. Reusing passwords remains risky.
Don’t use security questions
Password recovery using predefined security questions can often be bypassed. Use backup codes or other methods instead if available.
Freeze your credit
Freezing your credit reports makes it harder for thieves to open fraudulent accounts in your name, limiting potential damage.
Monitor your credit and statements
Ongoing monitoring of credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion along with financial statements can alert you to any fraud early on.
Think before sharing info
Be cautious when entering any login credentials or personal information on sites or in response to emails. Verify legitimacy conclusively first.
Secure your Wi-Fi network
Ensure your home Wi-Fi has a strong encrypted password so hackers nearby can’t easily intercept your account access details and passwords.
Manage logins on public computers
Use private browsing and don’t allow browsers to save passwords if accessing accounts on public devices. Log out completely afterwards.
Recovering From Account Hacking
If you do suffer a successful account hacking attack, here are some best practices for limiting the damage and recovering:
Document everything about the hack
Keep detailed records about what was accessed, changed, or stolen. These can help with recovering stolen funds or identity.
Report the incident to companies
Alert all companies and providers affected by the hack of your account compromise. Ask what they can do to help recover and restore security.
Notify contacts who may have been impacted
If the hacker messaged your contacts, let them know to be on alert for any suspicious links or messages sent during the timeframe.
Get help closing fraudulent accounts
If the hacker opened accounts in your name, work with providers to freeze those accounts and have any associated inquiries removed from your credit file.
Reset all account passwords
Treat exposed passwords as compromised. Completely reset passwords for the hacked account plus any accounts where you reused that password.
Review account recovery options
Scrutinize and update password reset methods like security questions and backup email addresses and devices. Account recovery holes are often the target.
Enable heightened security settings
Boost your account security going forward across the board by adding multilayer protections like 2FA, login approvals, activity notifications and geo-blocking.
Monitor your credit and financial accounts
Carefully check credit reports and all financial account statements and activity for any signs of misuse of your information or accounts created without authorization.
Consider an identity theft protection service
A credit monitoring service can provide you with tools and assistance for identifying and addressing identity theft following an account hacking incident.
Key Takeaways
– Watch for unusual changes, activity and new contacts on online accounts as signs they may have been hacked.
– Hackers frequently target email, social media, financial, ecommerce and other accounts with sensitive personal data.
– Strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication are key protections against many hacking methods.
– If accounts are compromised, act quickly to secure them, change passwords everywhere, and monitor closely for identity theft.
– Going forward, password managers, extra login protections and more vigilance can help you avoid being hacked again.
Conclusion
Account hacking can happen through various avenues, but there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim and to minimize the damage if you do get targeted. Paying attention to signs of account compromise and employing strong logins, two-factor authentication and good password hygiene will provide substantial protection. Monitoring your accounts and being cautious when entering any credentials also helps keep your information safe. With vigilance and some ongoing best practices, you can greatly reduce your risks of a serious account hacking issue.