My Microsoft, Outlook and Hotmail account was hacked. What now?

Steps for Microsoft, Outlook and Hotmail

1. 01

   If you cannot sign in, use Microsoft's account recovery form and give as many details as you can: old passwords, email subjects, contacts.

2. 02

   Once in, review your recent sign-in activity in your Microsoft account's security page and sign out of anything unfamiliar.

3. 03

   In Outlook, check for rules that forward or delete mail and for added forwarding addresses, and remove them.

4. 04

   Check the security info (recovery email and phone) and remove anything you did not add.

5. 05

   Turn on two-step verification and, if you have one, a security key.

Menus change often. If a screen looks different, follow the official page above.

Then, for every hacked account

1. Use a device you trust

   Do the recovery on your own phone or computer, on a network you trust. If you suspect a virus, do it from a different, clean device first.

2. Secure your email first

   Reset links and codes go to your email, so whoever controls it controls everything else. Change its password and turn on two-step verification before anything else.

3. Change the password everywhere you reused it

   Attackers try a leaked password on other services. Use a different password for each account, from a password manager if you can.

4. Turn on two-step verification the strong way

   Prefer an authenticator app or a security key to text-message codes, which can be intercepted.

5. Check what the attacker changed

   Look at the recovery email and phone number, forwarding rules, connected apps and the list of signed-in devices. Remove anything you do not recognise.

6. Warn the people who know you

   Tell your contacts that messages from you may not be from you, especially any asking for money, codes or a click.

7. If money or cards are involved, call your bank now

   Ask them to block the card and watch the account. Do not pay anyone who offers to get your account back for a fee: those offers are scams.

8. Report it

   Report it to the service, and, if you lost money or identity documents, to the police cybercrime or fraud service in your country.

Questions