Don't get hacked!

This has happened to the best of us; You notice something strange in your email, and the words "hacked" start rolling around in your brain.

You may have received a notification about unauthorized login activity. Or perhaps a friend/colleague says they received a strange email explaining how you have a gambling problem in Zimbabwe and need a $2,000 transfer immediately.

Either way, email hacking is part of life in today's digital age; 58% of organizations reported experiencing account takeover attacks.

Our email accounts are a treasure trove of data, from personal conversations to sensitive financial information. Naturally, hackers also want to get in.

You can look at the recovery plan to help you prevent or minimize damage from email hacking attempts.

Prevention (proactive steps to prevent email hacking attempts) Awareness (red flags that indicate a hacking attempt) and… Damage Control (how to minimize the impact of an email attack).

Prevention: 6 Ways to Protect Your Email Security The best offense is a good defense, right? Here's how to minimize the risk of email attacks in the future:

1. Use strong and unique passwords. Choosing a password is easy, but choosing a secure password is a different story. You want long (think: 14 characters) with some undecipherable words. If you want to dig deeper, we have a guide on creating a strong password.

2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) If you haven't already, consider turning on two-factor authentication for an added layer of security. 2FA requires a verification code (in addition to your password) to access your account. Usually this code is texted to your mobile device or emailed to your backup email account.

3. Check if you are part of a data breach. Data breaches are unfortunately quite common these days. Free sites like haveibeenpwned.com and monitor.mozilla.org can tell you if your account information has been compromised due to a breach.


4. Be wary of phishing attempts. Phishing emails are designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information. These could be a hacker's way of gaining access to your email account. Don't click on suspicious links and always double-check that your emails are coming from a verified address. Check out our tips for protecting yourself from phishing.

5. Keep your software updated. Frequently update your email client, web browser, and operating system to address potential security risks. Each update will likely include additional security benefits.

6. Use a secure connection. Make sure your email connections use encryption, especially if you access your emails over public Wi-Fi networks (like a coffee shop or library). The combination of dynamic DNS and anonymous VPN can help you enjoy private, secure and anonymous online browsing. We encourage you to discover more about this dynamic duo.

Maybe you think you've already been hacked. Or maybe your best efforts still haven't been able to fend off these pesky attacks. Here's how to tell if your email has been hacked


1. Unusual account activity.
This is what we mean by “something funky”. Be careful:
Foreign emails in your sent folder
There is a large amount of spam in your inbox
Unauthorized changes to your account settings, such as forwarding
rules, automatic replies, or linked accounts

2. Password change notifications. Receiving notifications of password changes that you did not initiate is often a clear indication of unauthorized access. Also, if your regular password isn't working, there may be a problem.

3. Your colleagues, friends, and family are confused. “Oh… I just got an email trying to sell me cheap Raybans.”

These are words no one wants to hear. If your contacts start notifying you of suspicious emails coming from your account, this could be a sign that a hacker is involved.

4. Unauthorized access to other accounts. We often use our email addresses to log into other third-party applications or services (social media, workplace tools, etc.). Unusual activity on these accounts may be a sign of a hacking problem with your email.


Damage Control: 5 Things to Do If You Suspect Your Email Has Been Hacked

1. Change your password immediately.
If the person who hacked your email didn't change your password, you're lucky! Sign in to reset your password and make it extra strong.
2. Notify your colleagues, family and friends. Try not to let the impact of your hack spread! Notify your contacts about the incident so they can be alert for suspicious emails or activity from your account.

3. Revert unauthorized changes made to your account.
Remember any third-party apps and services that might be connected to your email account? Review and revoke their access to prevent further unauthorized access. Be sure to reverse any forwarding rules or auto-replies you haven't set.

4. Scan your devices for malware and/or viruses. Look for software that will help you run antivirus and anti-malware scans on your device. This will help ensure that any malware does not make its way through the breach to your computer.

5. Contact your email service provider. It may be helpful to report the email attack to your email service provider. The Provider may a.) help you return your settings to normal, or b.) use the information to prevent similar incidents in the future