I've been getting a ton of alerts lately about unauthorized access attempts to my accounts, and today I noticed a charge made on my Amazon account that I didn't authorize. It seems like someone might have gotten hold of all my passwords. I'm really confused because I believed Amazon required email verification for new devices, and I'm the only one who has access to my devices.
I've begun changing passwords for my crucial accounts and run several antivirus and malware scans, although I've heard those programs might not catch everything. Would it make sense to do a complete system upgrade now? Also, if anyone knows of a forum or resource specifically for dealing with security breaches, I'd love to get some recommendations.
3 Answers
It's actually pretty rare for passwords to be stolen directly from your computer. More often, they're obtained from data breaches or phishing attacks. Make sure to enable 2FA for all accounts, especially your email, and consider using a password manager to keep your passwords unique. You should also check if your accounts are compromised using HaveIBeenPwned. If you really think your system is at risk, formatting your drive and doing a clean install might be the best way to ensure everything's secure.
That makes sense. They might have taken over via browser cookies or a malicious extension instead of directly getting the passwords.
First thing, disconnect your computer from the internet and perform a hard reset. After that, consider doing a fresh install with the latest Windows version. Don’t forget to change your passwords for all sensitive accounts and run a scan using a reputable antivirus tool. This should help clear out any threats.
I recommend reinstalling Windows using a USB stick. After that, change all your passwords immediately and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your accounts. Also, make sure to remove any unauthorized devices linked to your accounts. That should help secure things better.
I use LastPass, but I worry they could've accessed my passwords somehow. LastPass requires verification for new devices, so I thought I was safe.