Are you able to? If not, then unfortunately you may already be too late: contact the site helpline. Be ready to provide authentication details and other identification information
Make the password unique and strong (use upper and
lower case letters, numbers, and characters like &, $ etc).
If you have used the same
password on other sites, change them as well! See HERE for tips.
This isn't always possible, but it's highly
recommended so that your account is kept secure and safe.
Do this for all accounts that
use this email address for logging in.
It's just possible they may be receiving strange messages from the hackers. Or perhaps they have the same problem. If it's helpful, tell them to check out their own emails using this app or check our website.
OPTION 1:
Password Formula
You can make create memorable passwords using simple strategies that include the website address in the password.
Example: suppose you want a password for your Yahoo account.
Choose a simple memorable phrase that stays the same for every site. Let's say it's your cat's name, eg "Tobycat" .
Now include the first three letters of the address (or URL): "Yah" - maybe reverse them at the end as well, like this:
YahTobycatHay
Now change the "a" letter to @, and we have:
Y@hTobyc@tH@y
Now add a number - maybe your house number: eg 356
356Y@hTobyc@tH@y
As long as you can remember the recipe, then you'll have strong passwords for every website you visit. Not bad eh?
OPTION 2:
Password Manager
If Option 1 is too difficult to remember, then there's always technology available to help - and the best bit, it's free!
Two free password managers worth looking at:
LastPass and StickyPassword
LastPass offers a feature-rich free service that allows you to sync your passwords and data across all your devices. LastPass free users also get unlimited passwords, a password generator, secure note storage, one-to-one sharing and a "challenge" to test their own security situations. The basic offer is free and will be good enough for many people.
StickyPassword also provides premium features for free including syncing across devices. It manages application passwords, trusted devices and biometric authentication via fingerprint is a feature.
If you buy the pro version, then a percentage goes to manatee conservation in Florida - nice.
It's not uncommon for hackers to target major websites or businesses with the sole intent of stealing login information. These lists can be sold on the Dark Web and eventually many of them can find their way onto "paste" sites (like Pastebin.com). A Paste site is just a website where people can post data. Pate sites are usually free to access but you have to know where to look. So it's not uncommon for samples of data to be posted on a Paste site as a way of enticing other hackllesr to buy the full list.
To be "pwned" (pronounced "poned") means to be hacked or, more generally, to be defeated by someone. It's an in-joke in the online gaming community, where, if you lost a battle, you were said to be "owned". But gamers sometimes mistyped "o" and wrote "p" instead, and the word was given life. (Like Covfefe I suppose...)
You may start noticing that you're receiving a lot of spam. You may find yourself locked out of your online account. But better to find out beforehand, which is where we come in. Use our checker up the page HERE to find out if your information is available online. Once you know you have a problem you can take action.
This website uses TWO hacked email
checker websites:
- hacked-emails.com, set up by José M. Chia,
and
- HaveIBeenPwned operated by Microsoft senior
executive, Troy Hunt.
If you have any concerns please check the terms
and conditions of these sites.
a) To help raise awareness of email
hacking, and to provide free checking tools.
b) If my app has been useful, I
hope that some of you reading this may feel positively disposed towards my
favourite good causes - see below for details. These are small charities I
support because I believe they do unique and valuable work. If you agree,
perhaps you might consider supporting them as well?
c) I can help with other
online tasks: security, website management, online fundraising. Please get
in touch if you'd like to know more.
If you have any website or email security issues
and need further help, please contact us with details. We may be able to advise you as to your
best ways forward. We can help with mass screening of emails (if you have a lot of employees),
Wordpress website security and maintenance, social media and SEO.
If you're a
UK-registered charity many of our services are provided free - just get in touch.
The Lisa Kent Trust delivers a quality
education to children & young people in deprived communities of The Gambia, who
otherwise would not have the opportunity of schooling.
This is achieved by providing quality school buildings, experienced teachers and
searching out the best in educational resources, whilst ensuring we attend to the
pupil’s medical needs..
East Anglia Children's Hospices supports families and care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. Our family-centred approach includes specialist nursing care, symptom management support, short breaks, wellbeing activities, therapies and counselling; all meeting the individual needs of the child, young person and whole family.
Fences and Frontiers is a London-based grassroots organisation that aims to increase awareness, challenge popular misconceptions and help to foster more positive narratives around issues of migration and displacement.