Googlemail: Account hacked - what to do?

If you suspect that someone has hacked into your Gmail account, act quickly. This practical tip shows you exactly what you can do to make your account secure again.

You still have access to your Gmail account

If you suspect that someone has logged into your account without permission, you should change the password as soon as possible!

• To find out if someone else has accessed your Gmail account, you can view recent activity here. There you will find the IP addresses and locations from which someone logged into your account.

Change Password

To change your password, log in to Googlemail. Then click on the gear in the upper right corner.

1. Click "Settings" and then "Accounts". You can now change your password here.
2. This practical tip explains how to create a password that is as secure as possible.

You no longer have access to your account

If you can no longer log in to your Gmail account with your password, you could have been the target of a hack attack. You can still save your account.

1. On the login page, click "Need help?" Then click on "Forgot your password" and enter your Gmail address.
2. Then click on "Other login problems". There you can enter an email address that is linked to your Gmail account. A new password will then be sent to this address.
3. Log in with the password that was sent to you. You should immediately set up a new password (see above).
4. You should also have your computer checked for viruses and other malware. If you do not have an anti-virus program yet, we will show you how to install Avira here.

Account recovery options

You can’t just leave an alternate email address with Gmail. It is often safer to set up a phone number and a security question for your account.

1. To set up additional account recovery options, log in to Gmail. Then click on the gear in the upper right corner.
2. Click "Settings" and then "Accounts". There you will find the menu item "Change password recovery options".
3. You will be taken to the Account Recovery Options page. Here you can now link a telephone number, email addresses or a security question to your account.
4. Once you've filled out all the options here, it's easier to prove that the Gmail account is yours.

With these tips, you should be able to log back into your Gmail account. If you also want to check your mails with Outlook, we explain how to do it here.