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The moment you get to know that your Office 365 account is hacked, it can be really exhausting. Microsoft Office 365 account stores all the important information in one place from contacts to passwords, emails to Xbox, everything. It makes it attractive to hackers, as they can gain access to your mailbox, SharePoint, OneDrive, etc.
We have created a detailed guide to get back your Office 365 compromised account. Read it carefully and follow the instructions in correct order for a hassle-free recovery.
Identifying Signs of a Hacked Office 365 Account
A compromised Office 365 account shows multiple unusual signs, such as:
- Suspicious or unfamiliar activities found like missing or deleted email messages.
- There is an unauthorized sign-in from random countries, cities, or IP addresses.
- Suddenly your username, telephone number, or other details are changed.
- Others receiving messages that are not present in your sent items.
- Receiving password reset or Multi-Factor Authentication requests that you didn’t make.
- Locked out of Microsoft Office 365 account due to multiple failed login attempts.
- You might see forwarding rules that you didn’t set up when Microsoft 365 email hacked.
How Hackers Gain Access to Office 365 Accounts
There are multiple ways in which a hacker can gain access to your Office 365 account easily. The primary ones include:
- They sent you a deceptive message or email, tricking you to reveal your login credentials.
- Hackers trying login using large stolen usernames and passwords list from previous data breach.
- Giving excessive permission to external users in Teams and SharePoint that don’t support MFA.
- Hackers develop malicious applications to trick users into granting permissions to their Office 365 account.
How to Fix a Compromised or Hacked Microsoft Office 365 Account?
Upon knowing Microsoft 365 account compromised news, you should take some immediate steps to stop hackers from gaining full access of your account. Here are the complete steps that you should follow to get back your compromised Office 365 account:
Step 1. Run Antivirus Program
Perform a deep scan of your system to make sure no viruses or malware are present on your system before changing your password. Moreover, Microsoft offers Windows Defender solutions to users who are using Windows 8.1/10/11. Follow the steps below to turn on Malware protection.
- In the Search box, type Windows Defender and hit Enter.
- Then, follow the on-screen instructions to turn it on.
Step 2. Reset Password
The first thing that you should do is reset your password when your Office 365 account is hacked, because the hacker has access to your account with the password. Make sure to create a strong password this time.
Step 3. Sign Out from all Devices
Make sure you sign out of all the devices with “Sign out everywhere” option. By signing out of all the systems and devices, hackers won’t have access to your account anymore.
Step 4. Remove all Administrator Roles
If the hackers got admin access, then they can do a lot with your Microsoft Office 365 account. Make sure to remove all the administrator roles and any admin groups you are in to safeguard your information.
Step 5. Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
When it comes to Microsoft account security, turning on Multi-Factor Authentication should be done. Make sure only identified users can sign in with a secure code sent to actual owner.
If all these steps don’t help you, then you should contact Microsoft Support for help.
How to Contact Microsoft Support for Hacked Office 365 Accounts
To contact Microsoft Support, go to their website and get help in signing into your Office 365 hacked account. Follow the instructions and use the sign-in helper tool. Microsoft’s team can help you regain your account. You can either have a live chat with Microsoft Specialist or can request a call if available.
Steps to Take After Regaining Access to a Compromised Office 365 Account
Right after regaining access to compromised Office 365 account, you should take some preventive measures to secure your account. Here is a list of some:
- Verify logs: Review saved devices and phone numbers to make sure attackers can’t gain access again.
- Notify contacts: Inform all your contacts about your Office 365 account compromised.
- Inspect delegations and permissions: Verify if hacker has added delegates to mailbox or granted access to your OneDrive or SharePoint.
- Run a malware scan: Deeply scan your computer to make sure no virus or malware is left.
- Recheck email rules: Check OWA for any forwarding email rules to external addresses.
Secure Office 365 Data with a Backup Solution
Situations like Microsoft 365 account compromised can put the entire business at risk. To make sure your data remains safe and secure, we recommend taking timely backup of all the data at your local storage with a secure Office 365 Backup Software.
Kernel Office 365 Backup and Restore is one of the finest tools that works as a savior in Office 365 account compromised scenarios. It can quickly take backup of all your essential data be it primary, shared, and archive mailboxes. It uses secure modern authentication login to maintain confidentiality of your account’s information.
Conclusion
We have listed the whole procedure to get back your Office 365 compromised account securely. Make sure you have turned on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to secure your account from these situations from happening in future. Moreover, we suggest you take timely backup of all your data to avoid losing your essential information in future.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Yes, you can recover your hacked Microsoft Office 365 account, but it totally depends on how quickly you take actions about this whole scenario.
A. No, deleting the account isn’t the solution, you should at least try to recover it first.
A. Yes, changing your passwords can lock hackers out of accessing your account again. Make sure to set a strong password.
A. To fix a hacked Office 365 account, first you need to reset your account’s password, then you should remove it from all the devices and set up MFA.
