It’s hard to say how many people have had their accounts hacked because it’s not always clear when it happens.

Often times, people only realize their account has been hacked when they try to log in and find that they can’t.

Other times, they may receive strange messages from friends or see charges on their credit card that they didn’t make.

Regardless of how you find out, it can be a very unsettling experience.

In the event that your online account has been hacked, it is important to take immediate action in order to minimize the damage.

Here are some tips on how to recover a hacked online account:

Table of Contents

Log Out Of All Devices And Apps

If you think your account may have been compromised, the first thing you should do is log out of all devices and apps. This can usually be done from the Settings menu of the app.

Contact Your Account Provider

The next step is to contact your account provider. They can help you change your password and get into your account again.

They may also be able to tell you if there’s been any suspicious activity on your account.

Change Your Passwords

Change the password for any account that has been hacked and also for any other accounts that use the same password.

Cybercriminals know that people use the same password for different accounts, and so they will try the same ‘hacked’ password across multiple accounts.

It’s important to change your passwords regularly, especially if you think your account has been hacked.

To change your password, log into your account and go to the settings page. From there, you’ll be able to choose a new password.

Make sure to choose a strong password that is different from any of your other passwords.

A strong password should be at least eight characters long and include a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.

Turn On 2-Step Verification (2SV) Or 2-Factor Authentication (2FA)

One way to help protect your account is to set up two-step verification, also known as two-factor authentication.

This adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for someone to hack into your account.

To set up 2SV, you’ll need a phone or other device that can receive text messages or phone calls.

When you try to log into your account, you’ll enter your username and password as usual. Then, you’ll receive a code via text message or phone call. You’ll enter this code to finish logging in.

If someone tries to hack into your account, they won’t be able to log in even if they have your username and password.

That’s because they won’t have the code that’s been sent to your phone.

Keep Devices Updated

Keep your devices up to date. Developers of apps and software often put out updates that fix security holes, so it’s important to install them as soon as they become available.

To do this on most devices, you can go to the Settings app and look for an option called “Software Updates” or “System Updates.”

On iPhones, you can also install updates by going to the App Store and tapping the Updates tab.

Check Your Email Account

Check that there are no unwanted forwarding rules in your email account.

Cybercriminals may be able to set up rules that mean they’ll automatically receive copies of all emails sent to your account (which would allow them to reset your passwords).

Cyber criminals will often add these rules in order to send your personal information to their own email accounts.

To check for forwarding rules in your account, simply log in and go to the settings page. If you see any suspicious rules, delete them immediately.

Notify Your Contacts

Notify your contacts. This includes your account contacts, friends, and followers. Let them know that you were hacked and that they should be aware of any suspicious activity on their accounts.

This will help prevent the spread of the hack and protect your contacts’ information.

Check For Unauthorised Purchases

Check your bank statements and online shopping accounts for any unauthorized purchases. If you see anything suspicious, report it to your bank or credit card company immediately. They may be able to reimburse you for any unauthorized charges.

Contact Law Enforcement

If you believe that your online account has been hacked, contact law enforcement. This will help them investigate the matter and potentially catch the person who hacked your account.

When you contact law enforcement, be sure to have all of the relevant information about your case handy. This includes the date of the incident, any information that could be used to find out who hacked your account, and any other important information.

Cooperating with law enforcement is important in these cases, as they have the resources and expertise to track down the culprit and bring them to justice. So if you believe that you’ve been a victim of online account hacking, don’t hesitate to contact law enforcement right away.

How To Prevent Your Online Accounts From Being Hacked Again

No one likes having their online account hacked. It’s a violation of your personal space and can be a huge inconvenience. If you’ve been the victim of an online account hack, here are some tips to help you prevent it from happening again:

1. Use Strong Passwords

A strong password is at least 8 characters long and includes a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessed words like your name or birth date.

2. Don’t Use The Same Password For All Your Accounts

If a hacker manages to guess your password for one account, they’ll have access to all your other accounts if you’re using the same password for everything. Having different passwords makes it much harder for hackers to get into your accounts.

3. Use A Password Manager

A password manager is a piece of software that makes passwords for you and stores them. 

All you have to do is remember one “master password” to access your entire collection of passwords, which means you only have to remember one super-strong and unique password.

4. Use Two-Factor Authentication

If a website offers two-factor authentication, turn it on. It’s an extra layer of security that requires you to enter a one-time code that’s sent to your phone every time you log in.

5. Use A VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts all the data you send and receive, making it impossible for hackers to get their hands on sensitive information like bank account numbers or passwords.

6. Protect Your Phone With A PIN Or Password

If you’re using an Android device, the default setting requires you to unlock your screen with a pattern, but you can use a PIN instead.

This makes it more difficult for someone else to access your phone if they find it or it gets stolen.

Another way to safeguard your device is to set a password for the lock screen. This will keep anyone else from accessing your phone or tablet when it’s not in use.

7. Enable Automatic Updates

When you update your device, you fix any security problems that may have been found in older versions.

If you don’t want to be bothered with manually updating your device, you can set it up to receive automatic updates.

8. Be Careful Clicking Or Downloading

In recent years, there has been an uptick in the number of people who have their online accounts hacked.

This is usually done by tricking the user into clicking on a link or downloading a file that will allow the hacker to gain access to the account.

One of the most common ways this is done is by sending an email that looks like it’s from a trusted source, but actually contains a link that will take the user to a malicious website.

When a user goes to this website, they may be asked to enter their login information, which is then used to get into their account.

To avoid having your online account hacked, it’s important to be careful when clicking on links or downloading files from emails. .

Conclusion

It’s never fun to find out that your online account has been hacked, but don’t despair.

If you think that you have been a victim of fraud, it’s important to act quickly. The sooner you act, the more likely it is that somebody will be able to recover your money and take action against the fraudster.

Taking the right steps to get back into an online account that has been hacked can be very hard and take a lot of time. However, it is possible to recover a hacked online account by taking the proper measures.