Signs Your Account Has Been Compromised

1. Login alerts from places you don't recognize

Many services send alerts when they detect a login from a new device, city, or country. If you see:

• "New login from a device we don't recognize"
• Sign-ins from countries you've never visited
• Multiple login attempts in a short time window

…and you're sure it wasn't you, treat that as a serious warning sign. Change your password and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) if it isn't already enabled.

2. Password reset emails you didn't request

If you receive "Here's your password reset link" or "Did you request to change your password?" emails that you didn't trigger, someone may be trying to take over your account.

A one-off email might just be a mistake. Repeated reset messages—especially across several services—suggest somebody is actively targeting your logins.

3. Changes to recovery options or security settings

Attackers who gain access often start by changing the very settings you would use to recover your account. Watch for:

• New recovery email addresses or phone numbers that aren't yours
• Security questions and answers being updated
• 2FA methods added that you don't recognize

If a service notifies you of these changes and you didn't make them, act quickly: sign in, reverse the changes if possible, and update your password.

4. Messages or posts you didn't send

Friends or coworkers saying, "Did you really send this?" is another red flag. Compromised accounts are often used to:

• Send spam or scam links via email or direct messages
• Post strange comments or promotional content on social media
• Forward phishing messages from your account to others

If this happens, assume someone has access and secure the account immediately.

5. Unexplained activity in account history

Many services have an "activity" or "security" page that shows:

• Recent logins and devices
• Apps or services connected to your account
• Recent changes to settings

Look through this periodically. Devices you don't recognize, or apps you don't remember authorizing, can be a sign that someone else has been inside your account.

6. Unexpected notifications from other services

Your email account is often the "master key" to many other services. If you receive alerts like:

• "Your phone number was changed"
• "Your login was used to sign in on a new device"
• "Your account security settings were updated"

…for services you haven't touched recently, it could mean someone accessed those accounts—possibly through a breached or reused password.

If you suspect an account compromise

If one or more of these signs shows up, treat it as a serious but manageable situation:

• Change your password immediately to something unique and strong.
• Log out all active sessions or devices if the service allows it.
• Turn on 2FA and verify your recovery email and phone number.
• Review any recent actions—messages sent, purchases, or changes in settings.

If money or purchases are involved, contact the provider or bank right away using a trusted phone number or website—not links inside suspicious emails.

Stay ahead of the next incident

You can't control whether a company gets breached, but you can control how easy it is for attackers to turn that data into account access. Using a password manager, enabling 2FA, and watching for early warning signs makes it much harder for a compromised account to turn into a full-blown incident.