I've got a serious problem: a hacker stole my Apple account by somehow getting my password, signing in, and changing all of my recovery information. I've talked to Apple support twice, but they told me I'm basically out of luck and that the account is gone. I really can't believe that a company this big can't just delete or disable an account when it gets hacked. It's frustrating because this hacker could run up charges on my account. I've exhausted a lot of options trying to get the account back, but does anyone have any advice?
6 Answers
Look, a hacker can only get your account if you inadvertently give them access, like through a scam. Once they have your details, it’s pretty hard to regain control without tricking them back somehow.
It sounds like the hacker has full control since they changed your recovery info. If you didn't have proper security measures, like recovering contacts, it's tough to prove you're the legitimate owner now. Apple can't just hand back accounts without verification, especially if all details were altered.
But I can access the email linked to the account!
Did you even have two-factor authentication set up? That would significantly help protect your account. If you missed that, there's a chance you could attempt the recovery process as mentioned, but expect a tough battle ahead.
You should definitely check your financial accounts too. It’s possible your credit card info was compromised, which is a different issue entirely. If you have charges you didn’t authorize, contact your bank right away! Also, try signing in at www.icloud.com to see if you can regain access that way.
Apple has admitted to vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized access, so it's valid to be concerned, but they'll need proof of ownership to assist you. Have you checked your password security for other platforms too?
It’s possible you fell for a phishing scam, or someone got your details another way. If they changed your two-factor authentication phone number, you're likely out of options. It's super important to secure your accounts proactively in the future.
It's not like I gave it away. Apple doesn’t lock accounts after too many wrong passwords; I tried that!