In the current digital age, online accounts are a place to store a lot of important and private information. Being hacked into accounts by bad guys not only affects privacy but can also cause financial and reputational losses. Therefore, early recognition of unusual signs is very necessary to take timely measures.
Unable to log into the account
One of the first signs is that you cannot log into your account using a familiar password. The Hacker may have changed your password or login information to gain control.
Login notification from a strange device or location
Many online services have a notification feature when an account is logged from a new device or an unusual geographical location. If you receive these warnings without logging in, it is likely that your account has been illegally accessed by others.
Strange activities in the history of access or transactions
Check your account's activity history, if you see actions such as sending messages, posting, changing personal information, or transactions that are not done by you, this is a clear sign that your account has been hacked.
Receive email or text messages confirming account changes that you have not made
Normally, when there are important changes such as changing passwords, registration emails or phone numbers, the system will send a confirmation notification. If you receive these notices without making any changes, beware.
Friend or relative reports receiving strange messages from you
Bad guys can take advantage of your account to send spam or scam messages to friends and relatives. When they respond that there is an unusual message from your account, it is also a sign of hacking.
Account locked or unexpectedly restricted
Some services will temporarily lock or limit accounts when detecting suspicious activities. If you received this notification for unknown reasons, your account may have been hacked.
Steps to do when suspecting an account of being hacked
change your password immediately: Choose a strong password with a combination of capital, regular, digital and special characters.
two-factor authentication (2FA): This is an additional security layer that helps prevent bad guys from logging in even though they know their passwords.
Check security settings: Make sure contact information, restored email, and third-party access are not changed.
Notice to service provider: Request support or lock your account if necessary.
Warn friends and relatives: Let them be careful with messages, invitations or requests from your account.
