Account takeovers have become a significant concern in today’s digital landscape. When an unauthorized individual gains control of one of your online accounts (email, bank, or social media), they can cause substantial financial and personal harm. It’s essential to understand the risks and take proactive steps to protect your accounts.
Common methods of account takeovers
Hackers employ various techniques to gain access to accounts, including phishing, brute force attacks and data breaches. The most common method, Phishing, is when scammers send fraudulent emails or messages designed to trick individuals into revealing their login credentials. However, sometimes they can just guess their way in using brute force attacks. This is when automated software is used to guess passwords by trying countless combinations until the correct one is found.
Once they have control of your account, they can cause irreversible harm like changing your passwords, locking you out, or even impersonate you. For example, they can use your compromised email to contact your bank and request wire transfers or try to change authorized users on your account.
Best practices to protect your accounts
The best way to secure your account is to be wary of suspicious emails or messages that ask for personal information. Never click on links or attachments from unknown senders. You should also use strong passwords, changing them regularly, and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for email and financial accounts. MFA is when you receive a one-time pass code every time you log in. It’s also a best practice to enable notifications on these accounts so you are alerted anytime someone tries to make changes to your account.
If you suspect that your account has been compromised, you need to act fast. Change your password and contact your financial services. If you feel your personal information, like your social security number, has been compromised, you may want to freeze your credit as well.
By implementing these proactive measures and being vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to account takeovers and protect your personal information.
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