What to Do If My Outlook Account Has Been Hacked

If your Outlook account has been hacked, your passwords and other personal information may have been compromised. To recover your email account and prevent it from being hacked again, follow the steps below:

OPTION 1: Install an Antivirus Software on Your Computer

Most hackers get your password through malwares that have been installed on your computer without your knowledge when you access untrusted websites. It is recommended to scan and clear your computer of viruses and malware before you change any of your passwords. To install an antivirus software, click here.

Once you have installed an antivirus software, set the software to receive updates and to scan your computer on a regular basis. You may also install Microsoft Security Essentials for free if you are using a Windows computer. To download Microsoft Security Essentials, click here.

OPTION 2: Change Your Password

After installing the antivirus software, try accessing your Outlook account. If you are able to sign in, change your password. If you are unable to change your Outlook password, try to reset it by clicking on this link.

OPTION 3: Prevent Your Account from Being Hacked Again

Follow the guidelines below to prevent your account from being hacked again:

STEP 1: Create a strong password for your Outlook account. You may refer to the following pointers in creating a strong password below:

• Make your password at least 8 characters long
• Refrain from using your real name, user name, or company name
• Do not use complete words
• Make it significantly different from your previous passwords. Also, do not use the same password for all your accounts.
• Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (such as @, #, *)

STEP 2: Make sure that your operating system has the latest updates to enhance the computer’s security and performance.

STEP 3: Never reply to an email asking for your Outlook password. Outlook will never ask for your password or your personal information.

STEP 4: Be mindful when signing in to your Outlook account from public computers or unsecured wireless networks.

STEP 5: Make your account easier to recover in the future. Adding security information to your Outlook account will help you recover your account easier. To add security information, follow the steps below:

5a: Go to Microsoft Account overview, by clicking here.

5b: Sign in to your Outlook account using your email and password.

5c: When your account page opens, look under Account security, then click the Manage link next to the Security info section.

5d: On the Manage security info page, click Add New next to Mobile phone, Alternate email address, Trusted PC, and then follow the prompts to add the security information to your account.

NOTE: Some regions will not allow you to use your mobile phone number in Security info.

OPTION 4: Reset Your Account Settings

To reset your account settings, follow the steps below:

STEP 1: Reset sending/receiving mail, forwarding, and auto replies. To do this, see steps below:

1a. In the upper-right of the Outlook window, click the Options icon, then click More mail settings.

1b. Under Managing your account, click Sending/receiving email from other accounts, Email forwarding, and Sending automated vacation replies.

STEP 2: Reset linked IDs. To do this, refer to the steps below:

2a. In the upper-right of the Outlook window, click the Options icon, then click More mail settings.

2b. Under Managing your account, click Account details (password, addresses, time zone).

NOTE: You may be prompted for your password at this point.

2c. Click Linked IDs, then click Add linked ID.

STEP 3: Reset reply-to address.

3a. In the upper-right of the Outlook window, click the Options icon, then click More mail settings.

3b. Under Writing email, click Reply-to address.

OPTION 5: Restore Deleted Email Contacts

Outlook will automatically start saving your deleted messages in a safe location once it detects that it might have been hacked. To restore the deleted messages, follow the steps below:

STEP 1: In the left pane of your Outlook window, click the Deleted folder.

STEP 2: At the bottom of the window, click recover deleted messages.

Outlook will recover as many messages as possible and put them in your Deleted folder. If you do not see the deleted messages that you wanted, it means that they are permanently lost. If some of your contacts have been lost, you may be able to retrieve them by following the steps here.

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