Nothing can compare to the feeling of dread that slowly creeps up on you when you realize that one of your accounts has been hacked! Regardless of whether it's just your social media account or something more serious like your bank account or credit card, you can't escape those first moments of confusion, anger, and the overwhelming sense of fear.
You don't know how they got your information, what other accounts they had access to, how long they had access, and all of that is truly terrifying. So, we've put together a list to help you protect yourself from further damage and start the recovery process right away.
Don't panic
First of all, stay calm. It may sound silly, but you need to be calm to move forward. Panic and fear will only lead to confusion. You can easily forget critical steps you need to take or repeat some, wasting valuable time.
Change your passwords
Change your passwords, especially if you use the same password on multiple accounts. You should change your passwords once every 3-6 months. Consider using a password manager like LastPass or KeePass. In the future, enable two-factor, where available.
Monitor your credit card accounts
Monitor your credit card statements and double-check for any charges you don't recognize. Criminals are known to start with small charges, hoping they'll go unnoticed, before escalating into something really big. If you see a charge you didn't make, call your credit card company and notify them of the situation immediately.
Closing Accounts
If someone has already stolen your identity and opened an account, contact your credit card issuer immediately and close the account. Dispute any charges that have been made. Request an itemized statement of your credit card and ask about any unauthorized accounts or incorrect information that has been removed from your file. This will help you keep your credit score in order.
Call Records
File your report through theConsumer Protectionand keep copies of all reports and related documents from the organizations you contacted. Record everything, use a certified email , and get evidence from everywhere. Most of the organizations you need to contact by phone will have a notice saying: “This call is being recorded for security reasons,” but don’t rely on this to record your conversation. Record the call yourself, but be sure to inform the person on the other end of the line that you are recording the call. Read the relevant laws in your country regarding telephone recordings.
Check your Email's Sent folder
Check your email's Sent folder for any messages that may have been sent even though you didn't send them. Hackers may be requesting personal information from banks or sending viruses to your friends. If you see anything suspicious, contact the recipients and inform them of the current situation.
If the hacker gained access to your account and locked you out by changing your password, you should contact your email provider and prove that you are the legitimate owner of the account. And remember: If you have used your email address and the same password on other websites, they are at risk too. Change those as soon as you can to get a head start. Even if don’t use the same password for those accounts, the hacker can still click the “I forgot my password” option and have a new email back to them.
If you're worried that your computer may be infected with a virus, avoid making any online purchases until you've run anti-virus and malware software. Some viruses install keyloggers on your computer, allowing hackers to see every keystroke you make. So typing in your credit card information wouldn't be a smart move!
