Although Amazon offers decent security, there are always cybercriminals looking to snatch your sensitive information. So, what can you do if your Amazon account gets hacked in 2023?
Luckily, we can help you minimize the damage if your account gets compromised. We’ve also covered how to protect it and make sure nothing like that ever happens again.
Ready?
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What to do if your Amazon account gets hacked in 2023?
There are many telltale signs that someone has taken over your account.
Perhaps you’ve tried logging into it but realized that the password has been changed. Or maybe you came across orders you don’t recall making.
Regardless of how you figured it out, the strategy for minimizing the damage is often the same. Here are the key steps:
Change your password
The first thing you should do is immediately change your password.
It’s critical you do this while you still have access to the account. If the person behind the attack beats you to it, they’ll have more time to empty your credit card.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Hover over your username and click Account.
2. Then, choose Login & Security.
3. After entering your old password and confirming it’s you, look for a button to change it.
4. Come up with a strong new password and click on Save changes.
Note: It’s best not to reuse the same password you have on other sites.
Check your account information
When someone hacks into your account, they might benefit from changing your ordering and shopping preferences. You can find them in your Account Settings.
So, make sure to double-check your email address, phone number, shipping address, and similar info.
If the hacker has adjusted something, take a screenshot of it and change it back.
Examine your purchase history
Another thing you should go through is your purchase history. You can find your orders under your Account Settings.
Inspect the purchases and see if they all belong to you. If there’s something you don’t remember buying, take a screenshot of it.
Inspect your credit card info
If you’re worried someone has already used your account to make purchases, you should check out your linked credit cards.
Look for any unauthorized or suspicious transactions on them.
Unlink your credit cards
You can also limit your hacker’s options by unlinking your credit cards from your Amazon account. That way, they won’t be able to make any unauthorized purchases.
You can do this from the Your Payments section in your Account Settings.
How to protect your Amazon account from hackers?
Did you know that 53% of adults admit they don’t know how to protect themselves from cybercrime? By taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure that no one will breach your Amazon account.
Here’s how to do it:
Use a strong password
The stronger your password, the less likely it’ll be for a person or computer to guess it.
You’d be surprised by how many people use weak passwords, making it easier for cybercriminals to do their dirty work.
Here’s how to make your combinations impossible to crack:
- Never reuse your passwords from other accounts.
- Use more than sixteen characters.
- Mix upper and lower-case letters.
- Mix letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Don’t use your birthday, address, and other easily available personal information.
- Never pick the names of your family members, relatives, or friends.
Alternatively, a password manager can generate and remember combinations for you. It’s both convenient and much more secure. This way, you’re three times less likely to fall victim to a hacker attack.
Enable two-factor authentication
If your account information gets compromised, you can employ 2FA to prevent any further damage.
Once enabled, every time someone tries logging in, they’ll have to confirm their identity. You’ll receive a short code via SMS or email that won’t be available to unauthorized users.
You can set up this feature in the Login & security section.
Keep your software up-to-date
If you ignore software updates, you might miss out on important security patches and fixes. Cybercriminals are always trying to exploit any app and system vulnerabilities.
Keep in mind that some apps will update automatically and some you’ll have to do manually. So, try to watch out for notifications mentioning there’s a new version available.
Additionally, don’t forget to keep your antivirus updated. Otherwise, attackers might get past its defenses with new strategies.
Monitor your account for unusual activity
Earlier in this post, we explained how to check your order history and account information on Amazon. But you should also routinely monitor your purchases even if there are no indicators that someone hacked you.
All you have to do is double-check if the data on your account matches your actual orders. Be sure to also look at other sections under your Account Settings like gift cards and your profiles.
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Conclusion
So, now you know what to do if your Amazon account gets hacked in 2023. Equally important, you can now prevent it from happening in the first place.
Simple solutions such as relying on a password manager or regularly checking your account information can go a long way.
On top of that, you should immediately change your password as soon as you notice anything suspicious. Good luck and stay safe!
