If you notice any of the following signs, your Google Account may have been hacked:
- You cannot sign in to your Google account.
- You started receiving strange emails, messages or calls.
- Your password has been changed without your having done so.
- You are seeing unusual activity on your Google Account.
In this article, we will study them in detail, one by one. Then, we will show you how to regain access to your Google account after being hacked.
Do you think your Google account has been hacked? Here's what to look for
Can't sign in to your Google Account? Think your account is hacked? We have listed the main signs that should alert you. If you recognize yourself in one of them, immediately apply the corrective measures that we recommend.
Your password has been changed without your knowledge
If your password has been changed and you were not responsible for it, it obviously means that your account has been hacked.
But even if your password has not been changed, it does not mean that your Google account has not been hacked. Cybercriminals often leave the password intact because it allows them to use the account without the owner being aware of it.
In any case, if your password has been changed without you having done so, go to the login page and click on "Need help ?" Enter the email address you use to log in and click "Continue".
Your outbox contains emails that you have not sent
Email accounts are often hacked for the purpose of sending emails. A hacked email account can be used to send spam to thousands of recipients.
If this happens, Google may ban your account because they suspect you of the activity.
You started receiving strange emails
If you receive strange e-mails, messages or calls from people you do not know, attempts may be made to hack your account with the phishing technique.
In other words, we try to make you believe that you have to enter a password to actually recover your login credentials discreetly.
You receive security alerts from Google
If your account has been hacked or if someone tries to hack it, Google will often send you a security alert. Hacking attempts are easy for Google to detect, as the hacker will usually try to access your account from a different device and IP address.
To prevent this from happening again, we recommend that you change your password. We also recommend using thetwo-factor authentication.
You see unusual activity on your Google Account
If you see unusual activity on your Google Account, it could be a sign that your account has been hacked. Here are some examples of unusual activity:
- You receive an email from Google stating that we have detected unusual activity on your account.
- You are unable to log in to your account or you see an error message indicating that the login was prevented
- A device or browser you don't recognize is connecting to your Gmail account.
- You're seeing strange activity on a Gmail redirect you set up.
How to regain access to your Google account after a hack?
If you believe your account has been hacked, follow these steps to regain your access:
- First, access the google account recovery page. This page is quite easy to find. On the login page, go to "Forgotten password".
- Then on the Google account recovery page, enter your email address or phone number. Normally, multiple recovery methods are displayed.
- Follow the instructions given (you may need to answer questions about your account or receive a code on your phone).
- If you still can't regain access to your account, please contact Google for assistance.
- In this case, Google will certainly ask you what is the last password you remember, or what are the email addresses with which you converse regularly. They will also ask you for personal information to verify your identity. This is all done to help you regain access to your account and keep it safe in the future.
Here is the list of our tips. We hope this article has been helpful to you. Do not hesitate to read the other articles concerning the security of your computer, and the good tips that we put at your disposal.