Microsoft Account Hacked: Phishing Attack | Use Free Antivirus as First Aid

Have you fallen for a phishing email? Have you entered your details on a fake website and now the passwords no longer work? This can also be the case after a data theft. We explain what to do if strangers have access to your Microsoft account. One of the best ideas to install antivirus on your computer.

It happens every day. There is talk of numerous Internet users falling for phishing attacks. This is also no wonder because the spam mails are getting better by the day and can often hardly be distinguished from the originals. Anyone who has entered their personal data on a fake website and notices it promptly should react quickly. In our overview, you will find all currently falsified emails in the name of Microsoft.

There are many ways in which you can detect a  hacker attack. Since you combine many functions and applications with your Microsoft account, the attack is often discovered late. Either you will receive dubious confirmations about purchases in your Microsoft account that you have not initiated. Or you notice the stranger in your Outlook mailbox. This can also only be the case after other online accounts such as the  Amazon account or the  PayPal account are suddenly hacked. Sometimes Microsoft will send you a security advisory about your account.

All of these signs could mean that third parties have access to your Microsoft account and may receive or read your e-mails and purchase hardware and software in the store. You should now act as soon as possible to protect your Microsoft account and your personal data. Because if you have access to your Microsoft account, you can also control all associated applications. E-mail, contacts, calendar, cloud storage, or your Windows PC are highly sensitive areas in your Microsoft account. Another danger arises if you also use the log-in data to access other accounts.

Falling victim to a  hacker attack is one thing. Noticing this attack is quite another. Often hours or days pass in which the criminals can cause a lot of damage. It is therefore important to carefully check all messages that you receive from Microsoft via email or on your smartphone. If you suddenly receive information that unusual access has taken place, a security feature has been changed or you have made a purchase, you should react quickly.

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Data theft of your Microsoft credentials - you must act now

If you have been deceived by a phishing email and   entered your personal data  on a  fake website or if unauthorized third parties can access your account, you should take the following measures as soon as possible  :

• Before making changes, you should secure evidence. Take screenshots. The changes made by the hackers could be important for a later display. This includes changed or added email addresses, phone numbers, security information, or new payment information.

First, check your computer for malware:

• If you cannot explain how the access data for your Microsoft account got into the hands of third parties, then you should first check your computer for viruses and malware before continuing to use it.
• Malware may be installed on your computer. A password change would be recognized by this software immediately, so this measure would not make sense. Therefore, do the following steps from a secure device first,  and do not use your computer or smartphone until these devices have been verified. You can use the free antivirus software, for example, to carry out an effective check of the computer.

You still have access to your Microsoft account:

• First, go to the Microsoft website. Never use a link from an email or SMS to do this. Enter the URL https://account.microsoft.com or https://www.microsoft.com by hand in the address bar of your browser.
• If you can log in without any problems, the first step should be to change the password of your Microsoft account. Make absolutely sure that you assign a  secure password. Avoid using the most popular German passwords. You should also use a separate password for each online account. Important:  If you use your stolen Microsoft credentials for other accounts or online services, you will need to change the passwords there too. We have provided instructions on how to change passwords for the most popular online services.
• If unauthorized third parties have had access to your Microsoft account, you should also review all personal and contact information. Also, have a look at the email settings. Filters and redirects could, for example, have opened a back door. You should also check whether any purchases have been made in your Microsoft account that you have not initiated. If you find unknown transactions, you must contact Microsoft immediately.
• Check whether the security settings are still active. Hackers usually turn them off first to be able to act unhindered. For example, two-step authentication, a cell phone number, and the security questions are important security settings. In our guide, we explain how to set up the two-step verification at Microsoft.