Being hacked can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Whether it's your email, social media, or banking account, the likelihood of damage is significant. The key to reducing the impact lies in quickly identifying the breach, understanding how it happened, and taking immediate steps to protect your account. This guide will walk you through each step to prevent damage and avoid future incidents.

Evaluate How It Happened

The first step is to understand how your account was compromised in the first place. This will help you prevent future breaches and protect your other accounts.

A Weak Password Case

A common reason for a hack is the use of weak or easily guessed passwords. How secure was your password? If your password was something simple, like your employer's name or "12345," it is likely that the hacker did not need much effort to break through. Passwords like these can often be cracked within 20-50 attempts using basic guessing or brute force attacks.

Pro Tip: Always avoid using predictable sequences or easily accessible information, such as dates of birth, common words, or repetitive patterns.

Medium-Strong Password Case

If you were using a medium to strong password, there are other possibilities to consider:

• Physical Access to Your Device: Did anyone have direct access to your computer or smartphone? If so, they may have installed stalkerware or other malicious software to track your activity.
• Insecure Storage of Passwords: Do you store your passwords in a notebook or a non-secure digital file? If someone obtained this information, they could easily log into your account.
• Shared Password: Did you share your password with a colleague or friend? Even if they are trustworthy, there is always the risk of unintentional exposure.
• Malware Infection: Your device may have been infected with malware that records your keystrokes (keyloggers), steals passwords, or even holds your data for ransom (ransomware).

Pro Tip: Regularly update and review the security of your devices, and be aware of whom you share your sensitive information with.

Recover Your Account

Once you have identified how a breach may have occurred, it is important to act quickly to recover your compromised accounts.

Use the "Forget Password" Feature

Start the recovery process immediately by using the "Forget Password" option on the affected websites. This will allow you to reset your password and regain control of your account. When resetting your password, make sure to create a strong, unique password for each account.

Pro Tip: Use a password manager to generate and store secure complex passwords. This will not only make your passwords harder to crack but also reduce the chances of reusing passwords on different sites.

Log Out Malicious Users and Applications

For accounts such as Google, Outlook, and Instagram, hackers or malicious apps may still be logged in. To kick them out, go to your Account Settings, navigate to the security section, and manually log out of all devices except your own. In addition, review the list of connected applications and remove any that you do not recognize or remember adding.

Pro Tip: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts that support it. This adds an extra layer of security, making it very difficult for hackers to regain access even if they have your password.

Scan for Malware

To ensure that your devices are protected, it is necessary to check for any malware that may have been installed during the breach.

Install and Run Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes is a reliable tool for detecting and removing malware from both PCs and smartphones. Download the software, perform a full system scan, and follow the recommended steps to clean your device. This will help remove any malicious software that may be monitoring your activity or stealing your information.

Pro Tip: Keep your antivirus software updated and run regular scans to catch any potential threats early.

Change All Your Passwords

Even if only one account was compromised, it's wise to change the password for all your online accounts, including finance apps, banking accounts, and any other sensitive platforms.

Password Updates Across the Board

Go through each of your accounts, especially those linked to the hacked account, and update your passwords to strong, unique combinations. This prevents hackers from using any information they may have obtained from the breach to access other accounts.

Pro Tip: As you update your passwords, be sure to record them safely in a password manager, ensuring you can access them but keep them safe from unauthorized users.