Recovering hacked accounts

1. Contact your account provider
   • To to the account provider’s website and search their help/support pages which will explain the account recovery process in detail. It’s likely to be different for each account.
2. Check your email account
   • Check there are no unwanted forwarding rules in your email account. Cyber criminals may can set up rules which means they’ll automatically receive copies of all emails sent to your account (which would allow them to reset our passwords).
3. Change your passwords
   • change the password for any account that has been hacked, an use the same password. Cyber criminals know that people use the same password for different accounts, and so will try to same hacked password across multiple accounts.
4. Force all devices and apps to log out
   • This can usually be done from the settings menu of the app or website (or it may be part of the ‘privacy’ or ‘account’ options). Once you’ve done this, anyone attempting to use your account will be prompted to supply the new password.
5. Set up 2-step verification (2SV)
   • 2SV, (which is also known as t-factor authentication or 2FA) usually works by sending you a pin or code, often via SMS or email, which you’ll then have to enter to prove that it’s really you. So even if a criminal knows your password, they won’t be able to access your accounts.
6. Up-date your devices
   • Apply up-dates to your apps and your devices software as soon as they are available. Updates include protection from viruses. Applying those updates promptly is one of the most important (and quickest) things you can do to prevent your account from being hacked.
7. Notify your contacts
   • contact your account contacts, friends or follower; let them know that you were hacked, and suggest they treat any recent messages sent from your account with suspicion. This will help them to avoid being hacked themselves.
8. Check your bank statements and online shopping accounts
   • Keep a look-out for unauthorised purchases. Check your bank accounts for any unusual transactions. You can contact your bank directly for further support. Always use official websites or social media channels, or type the address directly into your browser. Don’t use the links in any messages you have been sent.
9. Contact ActionFraud
   • If you lost money tell your bank and report it as a crime to ActionFraud, the UK’s reporting centre for Cyber Crime. In Scotland contact the police by dialling 101. You’ll be helping the NCSC and police to reduce criminal activity.

Whether it’s your Facebook, Amazon, or Netflix account, the explosion in popularity of online apps and services means more and more of us have to remember an increasingly long list of passwords. Unfortunately, some of us cope with this challenge by resorting to practices that leave our data, devices and money at risk – by using the same password across multiple accounts, or by creating simple passwords that could easily be guessed by hackers. Bad password practice is more prevalent than you might think – the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre carried out analysis of passwords leaked in data breaches and found that more than 23 million users worldwide used 123456 as a password. You can read more about it here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/most-hacked-passwords-revealed-as-uk-cyber-survey-exposes-gaps-in-online-security Here are some top tips that will make your life easier and your online accounts more secure: 1: Creating memorable passwords A good way to create strong, memorable passwords is by using 3 random words. But remember, don’t use words that can be guessed (like your pet’s name). You can include numbers and symbols if you need to. For example, “RedPantsTree4!” 2: Saving passwords in your browser Saving your password in your browser means letting your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari or Edge) remember your password for you. This can help: make sure you do not lose or forget your passwords protect you against some cyber crime, such as fake websites It is safer than using weak passwords, or using the same password in more than one place. Here are some useful links on how you can start saving passwords in your browser: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari. 3: Email account passwords If a hacker gets into your email account, they could: reset your other online account passwords access personal information you have saved about yourself or your business Your email password should be strong and different to all your other passwords. This will make it harder to crack or guess. Need help changing your email account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions: Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook, BT, AOL Mail. For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.