My email was hacked and is sending emails to all of my contacts. How can I stop this?

If your email account has been compromised and is sending unsolicited emails to your contacts, here are the steps you should take to regain control and inform your contacts:

1. Reset Your Password: Immediately change your email account password to something strong and unique. This will help prevent further unauthorized access.
2. Check for Suspicious Activity: Look for any unusual activity in your Sent Items folder. If you see emails that you did not send, it confirms that your account was compromised.
3. Scan for Malware: Run a full antivirus scan on your devices to ensure that there are no malware or keyloggers that could compromise your security further.
4. Review Account Settings: Check your email account settings for any unauthorized changes, such as rules that forward emails to unknown addresses or changes to your recovery options.
5. Notify Your Contacts: Send an email to your contacts informing them not to open any suspicious emails that may have been sent from your account. You can also use other communication methods (like phone calls or text messages) to notify them more urgently.
6. Contact Your Email Provider: If you are unable to regain access or if your account is blocked from sending emails, contact your email provider’s support for assistance. They may need to unblock your account or help you secure it.
7. Monitor for Future Issues: Keep an eye on your account for any further suspicious activity and consider enabling two-factor authentication for added security.

If you suspect that your account was used to send spam, it may also be blocked from sending emails. You can check for this and take necessary actions to restore your account.

References:

• Respond to a compromised cloud email account
• Common symptoms of a compromised Microsoft 365 email account