Internet users must pay attention to the security of their accounts. One of the dangers that threatens the internet is account hacking. In many cases, users first find out they’ve been hacked because they can’t log in to their account.
That’s because the first thing a hacker does is change the password, lock out the victim, and gain full control over the account that has been stolen.
Deal With a Hacked Account: 8 Tips
If this happens, there are still many things you can do. Here are some tips from Kaspersky for dealing with hacked accounts.
1. Reset password
If you act quickly, the hacker may not have much time to remove the email from your account. Therefore, immediately change your password.
2. Tell people
Communicate with all colleagues and people connected to you, such as telling them about a hacked account via messages on social networks.
If people know that an account was hacked, they are less likely to fall for it if the hacker starts sending requests in your name. Such as requests for cash for emergencies, because this scheme often occurs.
3. Contact your bank or financial services
This must be done if a hacker has hacked an account in the payment system, or an account that stores banking data such as your credit card.
4. Use Antivirus
You can scan your computer using antivirus software. This is to ensure that the computer is free of malware that could be used to steal account passwords.
5. Remember the list of services connected to the account
You should also make a list of the most important services related to the hacked account. Remember all the services you entered using that account.
6. Try logging into your account
Try logging into the service, and unlinking it from the hacked account.
7. Change the internet service password
Change passwords for related accounts, as well as all services that use the same password as the hacked account.
It’s also a good idea to change your security questions for other services if they were also used on the hacked account. Better yet, you should also set up two-factor authentication.
8. Contact the service used
Contact the service support of the relevant accounts, for example Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Twitter, and try to restore access to the affected accounts.