Telstra pays a lot of attention to security, but it’s not entirely safe from attackers. So, what can you do if your Telstra email account gets hacked?
In this article, we’ll help you reclaim your email and protect it from future attacks. Best of all, it only takes a few minutes to secure your account.
Let’s get down to business.
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What to do if your Telstra email account gets hacked?
If you’re locked out of your email, you should contact Telstra’s support team right away.
The company’s representatives are available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday Australian Eastern Standard Time. The easiest way to reach them is via phone.
Keep in mind that the process can take a while as they have to ensure you’re the real account owner.
Telstra also may sometimes suspend accounts after detecting suspicious activity.
Therefore, if you get locked out, the operator could be trying to protect your profile. You’ll get it back after talking to the support team and resetting your password.
How to protect your Telstra email account from hackers?
Here are some of the most effective methods of securing your Telstra email:
Use a strong password
You should create a strong password for your Telstra email. Ideally, it should include a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
Here are a few examples:
- w1OpRUvOTr+po?uCrlnA
- S1Ljed0vi&of&swoWRL3
- 4i39trOw&6uMeweyi7Ad.
It should also be unique. Reusing your passwords increases the chances of malicious actors compromising your other accounts. Unfortunately, a whopping 52% of online users do it.
However, remembering all the different combinations can be a challenge. That’s why you should get a password manager.
It can generate and store all your credentials. Additionally, it’ll boost your security. You’re three times less likely to have your account hacked with a password vault.
Enable two-step verification
Telstra also offers two-step verification to help its customers protect their email accounts. Enabling this function will ask for another method of authentication every time you log in.
On top of your username and password, you’ll need to use your face and fingerprint ID or a one-time code.
It’s important to point out that Telstra will never ask for your code through other means of communication.
That way, even if someone gains access to your account, they won’t be able to log in.
Keep your software up-to-date
Your operating system needs to have the latest security patches to combat malware. Cybercriminals are coming up with new attack strategies all the time. Missing out on any updates could endanger your system.
The same goes for antivirus software. Security programs are a great way to stay safe online. Still, you’ll need the latest version for your antivirus to be effective.
In most cases, your program will notify you as soon as a new update is out. Some antiviruses will even install them automatically.
Monitor your Telstra email account for unusual activity
Even if you don’t use your Telstra account often, you should keep an eye on it.
A quick look at your inbox will let you know if someone has been using your account. Try to find any messages you don’t recall sending.
But remember the hacker could’ve easily deleted any interactions they’ve made through your profile. Not seeing any suspicious activity doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe.
Check Telstra’s active scams page
Telstra’s security team has built a page to keep customers informed about any ongoing scams. This includes email, voice, and SMS phishing.
The page also provides links to tips on how to avoid getting scammed while using your email address. There’s a button for reporting new scams as well.
Conclusion
Now you know what to do if your Telstra email account gets hacked. Even if this hasn’t happened yet, you now have an idea of how to avoid it in the first place.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do once your profile is breached. Still, you can rely on Telstra’s customer support to deal with the issue.
In this case, prevention is better than cure. You should focus your efforts on securing your email with a strong password and two-step verification.
Good luck and stay safe!