Help Guides
What should I do if my account has been hacked?
First: take a breath. Most hacked accounts can be recovered, and the people who really love you will understand. Here is what to do, in order, as calmly as possible.
Change the password first. Then check the recovery email and phone number on the account to make sure the hacker has not changed them. Turn on two-factor authentication. Look through recent activity for anything unfamiliar. If the account is email, warn your contacts. None of this is your fault and none of it is permanent.
Feeling panicked? That is completely understandable. Please do not feel silly. We help people through this every week in Durham Region homes and the first thing we say is always the same: you are going to be okay. Give us a call.
Work through these steps in order
Do not skip ahead. Each step closes a door that the hacker may still have open.
Change the password immediately
Do this from a device you trust, ideally one the hacker has never touched. Open the service's website directly by typing the address (do not click a link in any email). Sign in and change the password to something long and brand new. Do not reuse an old one. Our strong password guide covers how to pick one fast.
Check the recovery email and phone number
This is the step most people skip and it is the most important. Hackers often quietly change the recovery email or phone on a hacked account so they can lock you out again later. In the account settings, look for "Recovery", "Security" or "Sign-in & security". Check the backup email and phone number still belong to you. Remove anything unfamiliar.
Turn on two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication adds a second step at sign-in, usually a code sent to your phone. Even if the hacker somehow learns your new password, they still cannot get in without your phone. Turning this on once closes the door permanently for most hackers. Our two-factor guide explains how.
Check recent activity and sign other devices out
Most accounts have a "Recent activity" or "Where you are signed in" section in the settings. Look through it for devices, cities or countries you do not recognise. Click "Sign out of all other devices" if the option is there. This kicks the hacker off straight away.
Warn your contacts if it was email or social media
If the hacker was using your email or Facebook to message your contacts (usually with "urgent" pleas for money), send a quick note to family and friends letting them know you were hacked. A short message like "If I sent you anything odd in the last day, please ignore it and do not send money, I have been hacked and am sorting it out" is enough. People are usually understanding. It is not embarrassing. It happens to everyone, eventually.
Want us to sit with you while we sort this out?
We help Durham Region homes recover hacked accounts in one calm visit, with no panic and no lectures.
Book a VisitCheck any accounts that share a password
If you used the same password anywhere else, change it there too. The hacker will almost certainly try your email and password on dozens of other sites. This is the moment to start using different passwords for each important account. A password manager makes this painless.
Watch your bank for the next few weeks
If the hacked account was linked to any payment details, keep a closer eye on your bank and credit card statements for a couple of weeks. If anything odd appears, phone your bank using the number on the back of your card, not any number from an email. Our scam recovery guide covers this more fully.
Do not beat yourself up
Getting hacked is not a sign that you did something silly. It happens to tech experts, company CEOs, and your neighbour's grandchildren. You did nothing wrong. The important thing is how quickly you close the door behind the hacker, and you have just done that.
When to call us instead
Call us straight away if you cannot get back into the account at all, if the hacker has already changed the recovery details, if you are not sure whether something was a real hack or a false alarm, or if you just want someone calm to sit with you while this gets sorted. This is what our scam recovery service is for. We will not make you feel silly and we handle the whole thing at a flat fee.
Once things are calm, we also recommend a follow-up online safety tuneup to lock things down for the future.
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We recover hacked accounts in Durham Region homes, warn your contacts, and protect you from it happening again. Patient, no pressure.
Get Help TodayFAQ
Common questions about hacked accounts
- How do I know if my account has really been hacked?
Common signs are emails or messages you did not send appearing in your outbox, friends saying they got a strange message from you, a password that suddenly stops working, or login alerts from places you have never been. Any of these are worth acting on straight away.
- What if I cannot get back into the account at all?
Every major service has an account recovery page. Use a different device if you can, go to the website directly (not a link in an email), and follow the recovery steps. If you get stuck, we can help you through it during a visit.
- Should I delete the account and start over?
Almost never. Recovery is usually faster than starting fresh, and you lose all your contacts and history if you delete. Try the steps in this guide first, and call us if you are feeling stuck.