Email Hacked? Some Steps You Can Take To Limit The Damage

Guarding yourself from information theft is a bit like swatting at annoying mosquitos. They’re all over, and they want a juicy bite of your private data. The world is aware that data breaches are more and more common, and email hacks are no different. The recent Yahoo! breach let loose over one billion user accounts of unsuspecting patrons. Whether it’s a corporate or personal device hack, your email information is out there in cyberspace at the mercy of a hacker.

Pilfered personal data can end up anywhere, like being sold on the Dark Web. A complete individual data rundown including name, address, credit card, and social security numbers sell for about $200. If you suspect your email information has been compromised, experts agree a plan for the unthinkable is needed. A good post-hack strategy can squelch collateral damage and restore your identity faster. Acting quickly can spare a lot of headaches and knowing what to do first is a key part of an email post-hack plan.

Change Your Passwords and Security Questions

After learning of a data breach, change your passwords and check the website haveibeenpwned.com to see if your email address and credentials show up on underground sites. This helpful site continuously monitors these sites and offers to send you alerts should your personal information appear there. Also, an email hacker may already know the answers to your security questions. Immediately change them and use different questions and answers for each site.

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Check if there have been any forwarding addresses added to your contacts and immediately delete them. Verify that your signature block (the verbiage inserted at the end of each email) is truly yours – hackers love inserting malicious links where you least expect them.

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Don’t keep the theft a secret and be sure to tell your email provider. Since they’re in the business, chances are they have tools and suggestions for bouncing back from a hack. Also contact your bank, employer, and credit services for cyber ID protection options. Warn those on your contact list that for now, be suspect of emails claiming to be from you. It also gives them time to beef up their own security measures.