Most people reading this article right now not only have an email address but are very reliant on it, which is why it’s incredibly important to keep that information safe.
Ironically, our email accounts and inboxes are supposed to be a place of security, using them as sources of authorization to get into other websites, handle sensitive documents, and more. However, they’re also quite vulnerable to hackers and scammers with malicious intent, who have various methods of hacking into your email account and getting a hold of important personal information. To be wary of this, we’re listing two signs or ‘red flags’ that your email account has been hacked. Read more about them below.
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1. You Can't Log In To Your Account
Now and then, people have a little difficulty getting into their email accounts. Perhaps they type their password incorrectly, forget it, etc. However, if you've been logging into your email just fine for years or months, then suddenly can't get in, that's more of a dangerous sign than you may realize.
"One of the clearest signs of a hacked email is being unable to log in to your account with your password," write cybersecurity pros at Experian. "If you've tried unsuccessfully to log in, a hacker may have changed your password. Recovering your account quickly is crucial. The hacker may try to steal sensitive information, send spam to your contacts, or attempt to hack into other accounts."
2. Your Account Is Sending Out Emails Without Your Consent
One of the clearest signs you've been hacked is your email address sending out messages to your contacts without your permission or your knowing. Many scammers and hackers will use your email address to push spam emails in hopes of gaining even more people's information.
"One of the first things you can do is look at your Sent Mail folder and see if there are messages there you know you didn't send," adds software engineer Leo Notenboom. If you find some — particularly messages looking like spam — then you know someone else probably has access to your account."
It's important to note that many hackers will already clear out your Sent Mail folder, so if you're suspicious that someone else might be using your email, it might not be a bad idea to check in with friends to see if they've gotten spam emails from your address.
