I think my account has been hacked

Debbie Hilton 5 Reputation points
2026-01-24T18:07:18.27+00:00

I think my account has been hacked - an email went out from my email "asking if you received my last email"

Microsoft Edge | Profile, sync, and sign in | Windows 11

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-24T18:07:58.0666667+00:00

    If you suspect that your account has been hacked, there are several steps you can take to secure it:

    1. Change Your Password: Immediately change the password for your email account to something strong and unique.
    2. Check for Suspicious Activity: Look for any unauthorized sent emails or changes to your account settings.
    3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: If available, enable two-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
    4. Review Account Recovery Options: Ensure that your recovery email and phone number are up to date and secure.
    5. Scan for Malware: Run a full antivirus scan on your device to check for any malware that could compromise your account.
    6. Notify Contacts: Inform your contacts that your account may have been compromised to prevent them from falling for phishing attempts.
    7. Use Microsoft’s Recovery Tools: If you cannot regain access, consider using the official Microsoft account recovery tools for further assistance.

    If you notice any unusual behavior, such as emails being sent without your knowledge, it’s crucial to act quickly to secure your account.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. EmilyS726 245.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-24T18:57:28.0633333+00:00

    Hello

    You might want to go thruogh this thoroughly:

    Make sure you do this on a computer, not on smartphone or tablet. Go to https://www.outlook.com and log in, click on the gear icon on the top right to launch the settings.

    Then, on the Mail tab, go to Rules. Are there any rules set up here? If yes, delete them all.

    Then check the conditional format, again, if it's there, delete it.

    Then, check Forwarding and IMAP, If any items are present, delete them as well.

    ===========

    If you can't find anything, go to https://account.live.com > Your info > Sign in Preferences. Make sure to check all the aliases here. If you don't recognize any there, delete it.

    Then go to Security > Manage How I sign in, make sure all contact info is yours.

    Please make sure you change your password and enable two-step verficiation.

    Go to your account online, go to Devices, remove any devices you don't recognize.

    Then go to Security, click on Sign out everywhere. This is meant to kill any session that's still connected. Unfortunately, this one will take 24 hours to take effect.

    Then, take one step further - Go to your Microsoft account online https://account.live.com> Sign in > Your info > Sign in preference. Add an alias - You have two options here:

    Create new: this will allow you to use the native domain outlook.com to create a new alias.

    Add existing: this will allow you to add a 3rd party email address, such as yahoo, gmail, as long as they are not already associated with another Microsoft account.

    Once added, make this new alias your primary alias, do NOT delete the old alias. Then at the bottom, click on "Change sign in preference". On the next page, uncheck the box for the old alias. This means, from now one, the old alias cannot be used to sign into your Microsoft account, but it can be still used to receive emails, etc.

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  3. Debbie Hilton 5 Reputation points
    2026-01-24T18:20:02.2733333+00:00

    How do I change my password

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  4. Debbie Hilton 5 Reputation points
    2026-01-24T18:09:30.7+00:00

    Where do I do all this?

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