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Last updated: October 8, 2026 A Google account is more than an inbox. It can hold your photos, documents, contacts, saved passwords, YouTube channel, phone backups and the "sign in with Google" links to dozens of other services. If someone takes it over, the damage can spread fast, so it is worth moving carefully and quickly. This guide covers how to tell whether your Google account was compromised, how to use Google's official recovery process, and how to clean up and secure the account afterward. Google changes the layout of its account pages from time to time, so menu paths are described generically. Signs Your Google Account May Be Compromised Your password stops working, or you are asked to verify your identity more than usual. Google sends security alerts about a new sign-in or device you do not recognize. Your recovery email or phone number was changed. Sent mail contains messages you did not write, or messages you sent are missing. Emails are being forw...

Last updated: October 8, 2026 Phishing is a scam where a criminal pretends to be a trusted company, colleague or friend to trick you into handing over passwords, payment details or personal information, or into installing malware. It usually arrives by email, but the same tricks are used in text messages, QR codes, social media messages and phone calls. Some phishing emails are sloppy. Others look almost perfect. This guide covers ten warning signs, newer tricks to watch for, how to check whether a security alert is real, what to do if you already clicked, and exactly where to report a suspicious message in the US. 10 Signs of a Phishing Email 1. Urgent or threatening language "Your account will be closed in 24 hours." "Suspicious activity detected, act now." Scammers create panic so you act before thinking. Real companies do sometimes send security notices, but they rarely demand you act within hours or threaten dire consequences by email. The Federal Trade ...

Last updated: October 8, 2026 Your email account is the master key to almost everything else you own online. Bank alerts, shopping receipts, social media logins and "forgot password" links all land in your inbox. If someone else gets into it, they can often reset the passwords of your other accounts too. That is why spotting a hacked email account quickly matters so much. This guide shows the common warning signs, how to check whether someone has really been in your account, and what to do, in order, if they have. It covers Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo and iCloud Mail, with links to each provider's official help page. Common Signs Your Email May Have Been Hacked No single sign proves a break-in, but several together are a strong hint. Watch for these: Friends say they received strange messages from you. Links, "urgent" requests for money or odd attachments sent to your contacts are a classic pattern. Sent folder items you did not write. Sometimes attackers d...