Forum Discussion
Outlook hacked
Hi, my Outlook was hacked and received blackmail emails demanding bitcoin.
I changed my password, enabled 2FA and use MS Authenticator app. Also did a factory reset.
How can I protect myself, as my activity shows hundreds of unsuccessful sign ins daily, as the hacker is trying to breach my password again. Don't receive any alerts warning me though.
Hacker claims a trojan virus is on my phone which is invisible to antivirus software. No idea whether this is complete nonsense. Need some advice and guidance. I went to the Police but they were not bothered saying they get dozens of incidents daily.
5 Replies
This is a on going problem
Exactly. It's an attempt to get money... actually had one guy say he was going to pay, even after I said the email was a lie... because he visited "naughty" web sites and didn't want his friends to know. {sigh}
Hacker claims a trojan virus is on my phone which is invisible to antivirus software. No idea whether this is complete nonsense.
That is nonsense - they want to scare the user into paying. This is my article when my account received a similar message: No, you're not being blackmailed
The attempts to get in are unrelated to that message - the address was exposed in a database breech and all the bad actors are seeing if they can get in.
One option if you have a lot of sign in attempts in the activity list at https://account.live.com/Activity :
1. Add a new alias, set it as primary then remove sign in permission from the current address2. Add an alias here - https://account.live.com/names/manage
DO NOT REMOVE THE CURRENT ADDRESS! If you do, it is gone forever. You only want to add a new alias and set it as primary.3. Change sign in preferences using the link at the bottom of that page - https://account.live.com/SignInPreferences
When you sign in, you need to use the new alias. Do not use the alias anywhere else - only for logging in so it won't get exposed in a data breech.
I have screenshots in this article: https://www.outlook-tips.net/tips/keeping-hackers-microsoft-accounts/
Hello bantams,
I'm sorry to hear about the issues with your Outlook account.
It sounds like you've already taken some crucial steps by changing your password, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and using the Microsoft Authenticator app.
Here are additional measures to enhance your account security:Regularly Monitor Account Activity: Keep an eye on your account's recent activity. Report any unfamiliar sign-ins immediately.
Update Security Information: Ensure your security information is current. Add an alternate email address and mobile phone number for recovery options.
Check Account Settings: Review your account settings to ensure the hacker hasn't altered anything, such as email forwarding settings.
Remember, maintaining strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and being cautious of suspicious communications are vital for online safety.
Hi Leon,
Many thanks for your response. I can see hundreds of attempts every day to hack into my email again using a VPN, as locations are from multiple countries. Don't understand why Outlook has not alerted me to these attempts.
I am genuinely concerned that my email is hacked again and my bank account is breached.
- Here are a few tips
1. Clear Cache and Cookies from your laptop/pc.
2. Reset your Password.
3. Change your Secondary/Recovery email account credentials too.
Try these. May be you had downloaded some files that contain malware or suspicious files.
