What is a password reset email message?
MORE: THIS IS HOW YOUR EMAIL GETS INTO THE WRONG HANDS
Why do I receive fake password reset emails?
Beware the Bait: A hacker is attempting a phishing attack, hoping you’ll click on a fake link in the message.
Privacy Alert: You potentially shared your email address at an unsafe website, and hackers are trying to steal your account password by tricking you into revealing it.
Security Warning: Your account has some sort of security issue that is triggering these messages.
Update Required: You may need to update your software or app to the latest version.
MORE: HOW TO KEEP YOUR ONLINE PASSWORDS SAFE
What should I do if the password reset emails are legitimate?
Steps you can take to eliminate password reset emails
1) Double-check your user name and password.
2) Remove unauthorized devices.
Microsoft
Gmail:
- Sign in to your Google Account at myaccount.google.com.
- Click the Security tab on the left side of the page.
- Scroll down to the section labeled Your Devices and select Manage all devices.
- You’ll see a list of devices where your Google account is currently signed in.
- If you see a device you don’t recognize, click on it and select Sign out.
Yahoo:
- Go to the Yahoo Account security page at help.yahoo.com/kb/account.
- Click on Recent activity.
- Review the list of devices and locations that have accessed your account.
- If you notice any unfamiliar activity, click Remove or Sign out next to the suspicious device.
AOL:
- Sign in to your AOL account and go to the Recent Activity page.
- Review the sections for Recent activity, Apps connected to your account, and Recent account changes.
- If you find any activity or devices that you don’t recognize, click Sign out or Remove next to it.
Remember to regularly check your account settings and authorized devices to ensure the security of your accounts. If you suspect any unauthorized access, it’s also a good idea to change your passwords and review your account recovery options.
3) Sort such messages to spam.
4) Use a static IP address.
MORE: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CYBERCRIMINAL GETS ACCESS TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
Kurt’s key takeaways
Can you share a time when you strengthened your online security measures in response to a threat? What prompted it and how did you do it? Let us know in the comments below.
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