Hack is in fact a very broad, and can range in meaning from gaining access to your files to planting viruses or even gaining remote access to your PC. However sending someone an email is not enough to let them gain access to either your PC or your email account, all emailing someone will let them know is what your email address is, so your PC. This is a good way of determining whether someone is using your account. An IP address is essentially a digital address which reveals your physical location. Some email service providers have a tool that reveals your IP address and every time you log into your account the IP address is recorded.
If you’ve ever fallen victim to an email hack, you’ll be familiar with that sense of dread the breach brings about. You’ll also know the unfortunate inconvenience of getting your account and security back in order (regaining access, checking your settings, updating your password, etc.).
It’s no walk in the park and can leave you wondering just how the hack happened in the first place.
So how does your email account get hacked?
Can Someone Hack Into Your Email Account
We detail the most common causes below, and include advice for protecting yourself: How to create game hacks.
- You fell for a phishing scam that asked you to “confirm” your password. These types of scam emails can be convincing. But you should never respond to any unexpected message that asks you to verify your password, account numbers, addresses, or any other information of this kind.
- You didn’t log out of your account after using a public PC or device. Aside from getting into the habit of logging out each and every time you use a shared device, it’s wise to avoid using public PCs altogether (like the ones you find at internet cafes and libraries). There’s really no way to know whether these machines are infected with malware or have keylogging spyware installed on them, making them a big risk.
- You used a weak, easy-to-guess password or have been using the same password across multiple sites. Make sure your passwords are both long and unique for all the various sites and services that you use. A good rule of thumb: make them at least 16 characters. To make them easy to remember, base them on a complex sentence, with the first letter of each word serving as a character in your password.
- You didn’t use up-to-date security software on your PC. Without adequate protection, your PC can become infected with malware designed to steal your passwords – sneaking through in the form of dodgy downloads and suspicious email attachments. Download AVG Internet Security so you can rest easy, knowing that you’re protected from the latest online threats. (It’s a good idea to do the same for your Android™ mobile devices, too).
- You used an unsecure Wi-Fi network where hackers were able to eavesdrop on your data and intercept your passwords. To avoid this, you should only ever connect to reputable networks that you trust and which are password protected. Or, use a VPN service like AVG Secure VPN, or HMA!, to secure and encrypt your connection.
- Your email address was harvested by spammers. This happens when you list your email address publicly online — in places like forums, online ads, blogs, etc. Just don’t do it. For the great majority of us, there is no reason to publish an email address on the internet.
I Hacked Your Email Account
There you have it — six common ways your email account can be hacked. The good news is that the advice included above is super-easy to follow, and will go a long way in preventing an email hack from happening to you!