In this digital era, emails are an essential part of our daily life. It plays an important role in communication and also contains our personal information like credit card numbers, phone numbers, bank details, and other sensitive data. So, it’s no surprise that hackers may attempt to gain unauthorized access to your email account. Gmail is the most widely used email service all over the world for individual and professional purposes. That’s why it is the prime target for hackers. Google provides the best security features to protect your Gmail account but it is not far away from hackers reach. So, users are always concerned about their email account safety. Now, the question arises, how to check whether my Gmail is hacked or not?
However, if you see any abnormal things in your Gmail then there is a chance that your account has been hacked. In this post, we will discuss some major sign that helps you to check whether your Gmail account is hacked or not. So, keep reading this post till end to check account is compromised or not, and here, we will also discuss how to secure a hacked Gmail account.
Pro Tips: Gmail Backup Tool
Gmail account may contain your important emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and other data items. So, it is recommended that take a backup of your Gmail account from time to time to avoid any data loss. With Xtraxtor Gmail Backup Tool, you can save a complete Gmail mailbox at once in a few seconds without compromising data integrity. The software is able to download Gmail emails in their original format without any single change. Using this tool, you can save Gmail emails in various formats such that you can export Gmail emails to PDF, PST, EMl, MBOX, and 10+ formats.
How to Check Whether My Gmail is Hacked or Not?
If you get any abnormal activity in your Gmail account then act quickly. There are some possible signs that help you to check whether your Gmail account is hacked or not that are given here-
- Unusual Account Activity: If you notice unfamiliar activity in your Gmail account, such as logins from unfamiliar devices or locations. It indicates that your Gmail account may have been hacked.
- Unexpected Password Change: If you get a notification or emails confirming a password change that you did not initiate. It is a clear sign that someone else may have gained access to your account and changed the password.
- Suspicious Sent Emails: Hackers may use your account to send spam phishing emails, or malicious content to your contacts. So, check your Sent folder to check the emails that you did not send.
- Received Suspicious Emails: If you receive emails from friends or contacts mentioning unusual or suspicious messages from your email address, your account may have been compromised.
- Changes to Account Settings: Hackers often change account settings to maintain access or divert emails. Check your account settings, including forwarding addresses and filters, to ensure they haven’t been altered without your knowledge.
- Inability to Log In: If you find yourself locked out of your Gmail account, and your password no longer works. It is an indication that someone has taken control of your account and changed the password.
- Notification of Account Access: Gmail provides notifications to access from new devices. If you receive such notifications for activities you haven’t initiated, your account may be compromised.
Hence, there are several indication that aware about your Gmail account security.
How to Secure a Hacked Gmail Account?
If you see any fault in your Gmail account then you shoud action as soon as possible otherwise it can create problem for you. Here, we will discuss some security measures thats you need to implement immediately to secure a compromised Gmail account.
1. Change Password
First of all, change your Gmail password immediately. Create a strong and unique password that includes a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or common words.
2. Examine Recent Activity
You can check your recent acitivity by following given steps-
- Log in to your Gmail account.
- Scroll down to the bottom-right corner of your Gmail inbox, where you’ll find information about your account’s activity under Last account activity.
- Click on the Details link to see recent account activity. Now, you will get a pop-up window showing a list of recent activities on your Gmail account.
- Then, Look for any unusual or suspicious activities, such as unfamiliar IP addresses or locations, under the Activity Information section.
3. Monitor Email Forwarding and Filters
- Click on the Gear icon in the upper right corner and select See all settings.
- Now, Navigate to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
- Check if any email forwarding addresses have been added without your knowledge. Also, review your email filters to ensure there are no suspicious filters set up.
4. Check for Unauthorized Emails
Check your Inbox, Sent, Draft, Spam folder within Gmail for any suspecious emails. Also pay attention on the list of sent emails for any messages you did not send. If you get any changes in your emails then do action immedietialey.
5. Review Recovery Information
Check and update your account recovery options, such as your recovery email address and phone number. Ensure that they are accurate and up-to-date.
6. Enable Two Factor Authentication
Activate 2FA for extra layer of security in your Gmail account. This will require you to enter a verification code sent to your mobile device when logging in, even if someone has your password.
Final Words
In this post, we have discussed how to check whether my Gmail is hacked or not. Checking Gmail account is compromised or not is very beneficial to secure your Gmail account. Once the account is hacked then it is very diffcult to manage it. So, always save a mirror copy of your Gmail mailbox that is helpful in this type of situation.