Our emails are perhaps the most important and sensitive accounts we have on the Internet. It is often linked to other social media accounts and holds information and messages that reveal private data. When hacked, it leads to many serious problems, and here are things you should do.
1. Change Your Password
The very first thing you should do is change your password. It's likely that it will keep the hacker out of your account, given that they haven't changed the password yet. If they did, use the "Forgot Password" link to recover it.
Once you're in the process of putting in a new password, make sure that it is long, unique, and complex so it would be hard to guess. You can even use password managers if you make one that's hard to remember.
For an extra layer of security, you can also set up multi-factor authentication. Usually, these methods will require something else from you to assure that it really is you who's trying to log in, like a one-time password sent via SMS.
2. Check Your Device for Malware
If you're wondering how a threat actor got a hold of your account, one possibility is that they did so through malware. Scan through your device and check if you caught one. If you do find one, change your password again and clean your system, as suggested by Trend Micro.
You might've gotten the malware because of outdated apps or antivirus software. Make sure that your systems are up to date so your device will have the latest security measures. Otherwise, new forms of malware might get to you again.
3. Read Your Emails
After re-securing your account, look for signs of what the hacker did with your email. You can check through the Sent, Trash, Spam, and Deleted Folder. This could give you an idea of what the hacker used your account for.
Scanning through your folders will also let you know what information the hacker had access to such as bank statements, account authentication, and whatnot. Immediately change the passwords of your other accounts that are compromised due to the information in your email.
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4. Look for Changes in Your Account Settings
It's important that you check your account settings to see if the threat actor made changes. You might change the password, but the hacker could have your emails forwarded to them. This would render your efforts to re-secure various accounts useless.
Check your signature block to determine if it has any unfamiliar links, as pointed out by the FTC. Delete any rules you find that you didn't set up. You should also check your other social media accounts to see if there are suspicious changes or activities.
5. Inform Your Friends and Family
You should tell your friends and family that your email has been hacked. It's possible that the hacker also sent them links that would lead to their accounts being hacked as well. The hacker may have also asked them for help like asking for financial assistance.
If you're informing a group of people, it's best to put their email addresses in the Bcc line to keep it confidential. You could also tell them via SMS to verify that it really is you this time. Warn them about suspicious links that might've come from you.
