How to Recover and Secure a Hacked Hotmail Account

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Restore your email access and prevent future breaches
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If you've been locked out of your Hotmail (now Outlook) account, there are ways to recover it. Make sure to scan your device for viruses in case it's been breached by hackers. Once you get back into your account, you can enable security features such as two-step verification and backup emails. Here's what to do to fix your hacked Hotmail account with helpful security tips from Computer & Tech Specialist Luigi Oppido.

  • Scan your computer or mobile device for viruses and get rid of threats if found.
  • If you can successfully log into your Hotmail account, go to your Security settings and select Change password .
  • Add two-step verification and an alternate email address to receive login codes for more account security.
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Resetting Your Password

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  1. 1
    Scan your device for viruses first. Before you try to regain access to your account, scan your device for viruses and malware. If your computer has a malware infection, changing your password won't do much. You can scan for viruses on your Windows or Mac computer , iPhone , and Android .
  2. 2
    Go to the Outlook website . If the hacker has changed your password and locked you out of your account, you'll need to reset your password to regain access. To reset your password, you must have a recovery email account, and be able to access that email address.
    • If you can still log in to your Outlook/Hotmail/Live account, you can change the password instead of going through the reset process. Just log in to your account, click your profile photo, and go to My Microsoft account > Security > Change password to do so.
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  3. 3
    Enter your email address and click Next . This is the blue button.
  4. 4
    Click Forgot password? . This is underneath the password field.
    • If you have a hard time remembering all your passwords, Oppido recommends using a password manager like LastPass or 1Pass. Once you save all your passwords in your password manager, the only password you'll need to remember is the master password for your password manager. [1]
    EXPERT TIP

    Luigi Oppido

    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist

    A sudden flood of spam is a sign you've been hacked. If your email is inundated with the same email, or emails with the same content and different subjects (or vice-versa), that's a sign that someone has your password and is using your email to send out botnet stuff phishing scams. The fix is changing your password.

  5. 5
    Click the bubble for your recovery email. It will be censored aside from two letters and the domain.
  6. 6
    Type in your recovery email. To send the recovery code, you'll need to enter the recovery email address correctly.
  7. 7
    Click Get code . This is the blue button. The recovery code will be sent to the email; be sure to check for any new emails.
  8. 8
    Enter the recovery code. If you don't see the email, check your spam or junk folders.
  9. 9
    Enter a new password. strong password with a mix of capital and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Once you're logged into your account, you'll be prompted to enter a new password. Make sure to use a password you haven't used before.
    EXPERT TIP

    Luigi Oppido

    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist

    Find out if your account was involved in a data breach. You can go to a website called Have I Been Pwned (HaveIBeenPwned.com) to see if your email address was involved in a data breach. Check the "compromised data" line under each breach to see if your password was found in the stolen data.

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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Adding Two-Step Verification

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  1. 1
    Log into the Outlook Security page . Two-step verification adds a second layer of security to your account, which makes it harder for hackers to access your account, even if they have your password. Enter your email address and password. You should automatically be directed to the Security options.
  2. 2
    Click Turn on next to "Two-step verification". This is under the Additional security header.
  3. 3
    Click Next . This will open the setup page.
  4. 4
    Select an authentication method. You can use another email address, a phone number, or an authenticator app .
  5. 5
    Verify the method. Depending on the previous choice, you'll need to input a code or scan a QR code on your screen. Once you confirm the device, your account will send you a code each time you want to log in, which you'll need to enter to complete the process.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Updating Recovery Emails

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  1. 1
    Log into the Outlook Security page . Enter your email address and password. You should automatically be directed to the Security options.
  2. 2
    Click Add a new way to sign in or verify . This is below the Ways to prove who you are header.
    • If you want to remove an existing recovery email, click it underneath the header. Then, click Remove .
  3. 3
    Click Email a code . This is the third option.
  4. 4
    Enter the email and click Next . Make sure this is an email you can get into.
  5. 5
    Enter the verification code. A code will be sent to the recovery email. Once you verify the code, it will be linked to your account.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Resetting Your Account’s Language

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  1. 1
    Log into the Outlook website . Use this method if your language settings were changed while your account was compromised.
  2. 2
    Click the cog icon. This is in the top-right corner.
  3. 3
    Click General . You can find this tab in the left panel.
    • If it's not in English, look for the cog icon between the person icon and the mail icon.
  4. 4
    Click Language and time . This is the first option in the middle panel.
  5. 5
    Select the "Language" drop-down menu and choose a new language. This is the first box.
  6. 6
    Click Save . This will apply your changes.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Recovering Deleted Messages

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  1. 1
    Log into the Outlook website . If you think some of your mail has been deleted when your account was compromised, it may be recoverable.
  2. 2
    Click Deleted Items . This is in the left panel, underneath Sent Items .
    • Deleted items may be recovered if it's within 30 days.
  3. 3
    Click Recover items deleted from this folder . You'll see the number of recoverable items in parentheses.
  4. 4
    Click the emails you want to recover. If you want to recover all emails, check the box near Recoverable Items .
  5. 5
    Click Restore . This is in the top toolbar, next to Empty folder .
    • The deleted emails will be restored to your main inbox.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I tell if I've been hacked?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    A big thing you'll see is your email suddenly being flooded with random spam email. You'll be inundated with either the same email or an email that has the same content with different subject lines. That would be a big indication that someone has gotten your username and password combination and is using your email address.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
  • Question
    After I have been hacked, how can I stop the hacker from sending email to my contacts demanding money?
    Community Answer
    Notify those in your contacts list that your account has been compromised. You cannot stop the emails from being sent, but you can make sure others know to ignore the emails send from your account while you do not have control of it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 14
  • Question
    Every day I get a message my account has been blocked. I reset my password and when I use the new password I get the same message. I then have to get a code to get into my account. How do I keep my account unblocked?
    Community Answer
    Account blocking is an automated process by Microsoft when it detects suspicious activity on an account. Contact Microsoft support if you are having continuous issues with the account blockage.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Let your friends and family know that your account has been compromised so that they can avoid communications from the account.
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      • Remember that even though you recover your account, the hacker may have saved your contacts or data. Focus on securing your account for the future and be mindful of the data that passes through it.
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      • Make sure you keep your Windows up to date to ensure you have the latest security enhancements for your OS. On Windows, automatic updates are always on, but you can manually check for them by going to “Settings > Update and Security > Check for Updates”.
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      References

      1. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.
      2. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.
      3. ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.

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