My hotmail gets hacked is it a virus?

My hotmail account has been hacked 3 times now, I keep changing the password, so is it malware or a virus?  How do I find out?

This is not likely to be any kind of malware. See my Mac Malware Guide.
As to how your account is getting hacked, it could be that you're not using good passwords, as sig has suggested. It's also possible that Hotmail has some way of allowing the hackers to leave themselves a back door. I'm not familiar with Hotmail, but on GMail, there's a setting tucked away out of sight that allows you to give complete access to your account to someone else, and hackers have been known to use that to give themselves continuing access, even after the account password has been changed. It's also possible that there's some Hotmail vulnerability that allows hackers to get access without needing a password.
If your password is being reset, it could be that whatever password reset system Hotmail is using is being abused by a hacker. And, of course, we can't eliminate the human element... it's often possible for hackers to get access to an account by calling customer support and convincing a tech to reset the password to give them access.

Similar Messages

  • Keep getting hacked. Anti-virus/Keylogger?

    I am an active Twitter user and my account is constantly getting hacked despite "very strong" passwords.
    I am concerned that I may have a virus or a keylogger. I have tried iAntiVirus but is there something better? I found iAntiVirus through CNET where it came the best reviewed anti-virus for a Mac.
    I'm not really sure what to do as it has been about 3x in a week of getting hacked on Twitter. All my software is up-to-date (just checked) and am running Mac OS X 10.6.8 (there is a conflict between my Adobe programs and Lion which is why I haven't upgraded to that).
    Any suggestions?

    SubconsciousMe wrote:
    Above poster, that is noted.
    I am new to this -- being a Mac user. No need to scare me off!
    I love my Mac and just want it to run smoothly. I'm doing the best I can with what I know, which may not be much... but is increasing daily. Hopefully, someday I can help others. But, until than, I depend on the help of others.
    There are no viruses for os x. 
    User Tip:  Mac Viruses
    Macintosh Viruses
    It doesn’t get PC viruses.

  • I have an iMac protected by Intego. If I buy an iPhone 6 and it gets hacked, will by iMac be vulnerable?

    I have an iMac protected by Intego. If I buy an iPhone 6 and it gets hacked, will by iMac be vulnerable?

    Mac users often ask whether they should install "anti-virus" (AV) software. The usual answer is "no." That answer is right, but it may give the wrong impression that there is no threat from what are loosely called "viruses." There is a threat, and you need to educate yourself about it.
    1. This is a comment on what you should—and should not—do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the user's actions.
    It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the computer, or who has been able to take control of it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. AV software is not intended to, and does not, defend against such attacks.
    The comment is long because the issue is complex. The key points are in sections 5, 6, and 10.
    OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
    2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
    The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
    The following caveats apply to XProtect:
    ☞ It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
    ☞ It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
    As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
    3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't been checked for security by Apple unless it comes from the App Store, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
    Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
    ☞ It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
    ☞ A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
    ☞ An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
    Apple has taken far too long to revoke the codesigning certificates of some known abusers, thereby diluting the value of Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. Those lapses don't involve App Store products, however.
    For the reasons given, App Store products, and—to a lesser extent—other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. Sandbox security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
    4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
    5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they are not, and never will be, complete protection. Malware is a problem of human behavior, not machine behavior, and no technological fix alone is going to solve it. Trusting software to protect you will only make you more vulnerable.
    The best defense is always going to be your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "Trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and Internet criminals. If you're better informed than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some warning signs of danger.
    Software from an untrustworthy source
    ☞ Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website. Do not trust an alert from any website to update Flash, or your browser, or any other software. A genuine alert that Flash is outdated and blocked is shown on this support page. Follow the instructions on the support page in that case. Otherwise, assume that the alert is fake and someone is trying to scam you into installing malware. If you see such alerts on more than one website, ask for instructions.
    ☞ Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent, or Usenet, or on a website that also distributes pirated music or movies.
    ☞ Rogue websites such as Softonic, Soft32, and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
    ☞ The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web ads. Any ad, on any site, that includes a direct link to a download should be ignored.
    Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
    ☞ High-priced commercial software such as Photoshop is "cracked" or "free."
    ☞ An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission. All "YouTube downloaders" are in this category, though not all are necessarily malicious.
    Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
    ☞ A telephone caller or a web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
    ☞ A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
    ☞ You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
    ☞ Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you download an application of his choosing.
    ☞ A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
    ☞ Anything online that you would expect to pay for is "free."
    Unexpected events
    ☞ A file is downloaded automatically when you visit a web page, with no other action on your part. Delete any such file without opening it.
    ☞ You open what you think is a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file. Even if you don't get the alert, you should still delete any file that isn't what you expected it to be.
    ☞ An application does something you don't expect, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
    ☞ Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
    I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
    6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
    Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
    Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it—not JavaScript—in your browsers.
    Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a padlock icon in the address bar when visiting a secure site.
    Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
    7. Never install any commercial AV or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they are all worse than useless. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store—nothing else.
    Why shouldn't you use commercial AV products?
    ☞ To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. This technique is a proven failure, as a major AV software vendor has admitted. Most attacks are "zero-day"—that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based AV does not defend against such attacks, and the enterprise IT industry is coming to the realization that traditional AV software is worthless.
    ☞ Its design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere. In order to meet that nonexistent threat, commercial AV software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
    ☞ By modifying the operating system, the software may also create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
    ☞ Most importantly, a false sense of security is dangerous.
    8. An AV product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject low-level code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
    An AV app is not needed, and cannot be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful, if at all, only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not really effective, because new Windows malware is emerging much faster than OS X malware.
    Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else. A malicious attachment in email is usually easy to recognize by the name alone. An actual example:
    London Terror Moovie.avi [124 spaces] Checked By Norton Antivirus.exe
    You don't need software to tell you that's a Windows trojan. Software may be able to tell you which trojan it is, but who cares? In practice, there's no reason to use recognition software unless an organizational policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in every email attachment until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, ClamXav or a similar product from the App Store may serve a purpose if it satisfies an ill-informed network administrator who says you must run some kind of AV application. It's free and it won't handicap the system.
    The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
    9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
    10. As a Mac user, you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither can you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. Navigating the Internet is like walking the streets of a big city. It can be as safe or as dangerous as you choose to make it. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

  • Did you know that Verizonwireless is saving your checking account information when you pay your bill by check and then making it part of your "MyVerizon"? This means of course if they get hacked that information could be compromised. What do you think of

    Did you know that Verizonwireless is saving your checking account information when you pay your bill by check and then making it part of your "MyVerizon"  without you adding it? This means of course if they get hacked that information could be compromised. What do you think of this?

    Credit card and debit card and checking and savings information is encrypted so it is possible to be hacked, but the odds are greater to get hit by the Love Boat then to have a wide scale hack.
    Oh yes they do happen, Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Target and quite a few others. But in all the years I have paid my invoice with saved card information I never been hacked.
    You use good passwords and the risk is minimal.
    Good Luck

  • My password keeps getting hacked, how can i disable my account and start a new one and not lose all the stuff I already have?

    Hi All,
    I need help, my password keeps getting hacked, and I keep changing the password, and changing all my security questions. I have changed everything I can. How can I disable my account, but not lose everything that I already have in there? Is this possible or do I have to start all over again?

    You might have some better luck if you call your country number from http://support.apple.com/kb/HE57 and ask to speak with the Account Security Team.

  • I have had 3 days worth of unauthorised purchases. How can I get my money back?  I have changed my password again and I have disabled my credit card.  My account is constantly getting hacked

    I am sick of getting hacked..... This is the 3rd time my account has been hacked.  This time it has only been for $30-40 but it is very alarming that it is getting hacked at all.  I have changed my password agian to a random thing.   Lets see how long I can stay hacked free this time.  If this continues I may have to put a formal complaint in to Apple.  And maybe only buy non-apple products....
    Ellen

    It's most likely not you, no matter what they say. I have noticed a LOT of fraud with itunes, even with my own account. One time I caught them doing a database restore. I know this because my password automagically reverted back to an old one! I'm an IT guy who helped design DOD classified networks in the mid-pacific. I know security. The best protection for this is to NOT have a credit card listed in iTunes. Use iTunes cards ONLY. It's a pain, but until they step up, it's all you got.

  • Why did my Events get hacked up?

    After "upgrading" to iPhoto '11, I see that Events that span several days all got hacked into daily events. Now I have to go back and reconstruct all those Events.
    This is the worst upgrade I've ever experienced from Apple.
    Please send feedback to: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphoto.html

    I upgraded. Events that cover multiple dates got separated into separate dates, based on dates. So a week's vacation in Santa Barbara no longer is one event, but seven.
    Some Events did not get hacked up, but many did. It appears that older photo Events got hacked up, newer ones did not.

  • I continue to get the /.HTML/Rce.Gen3 virus through my mailbox almost daily.  It is picked up by my anti-virus software.  How do I get rid of this permanently so I stop getting it daily?  Is it from a internet cache??

    I continue to get the /.HTML/Rce.Gen3 virus through my mailbox almost daily.  It is picked up by my anti-virus software.  How do I get rid of this permanently so I stop getting it daily?  Is it from a internet cache??

    I use MacKeeper on my MacBook Pro
    Ack! Get rid of that immediately! MacKeeper's bad news. Plus, it does a really awful job of actually detecting malware. See:
    Beware MacKeeper
    Mac anti-virus detection rates
    http://applehelpwriter.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malware/
    My active accounts are clean, but the On My Mac gmail keeps and continues to repopulate all email, even after I trash them.
    If you're seeing messages remaining in GMail's All Mail folder after deleting them, that's normal. GMail keeps all messages in there, even after deletion, unless you manually delete stuff using GMail's web interface. See Hiding GMail’s “All Mail” from Apple Mail.
    If you're actually having trouble deleting e-mail from an On My Mac mailbox, there's probably something wrong with your mailboxes.

  • Can your iPhone get hacked from playing games with online users?

    Can your iPhone get hacked from playing games with online users?
    Like the " play online with a random" type of game

    Unless you jailbreak it, no.

  • Cannot install software, getting installer.exe containes a virus and has been deleted

    Windows Vista, IE 9.  I'm conintually getting the and AVG message when I try to open IE.  I've tried to reinstall the Free AVG and I receive the message "Cannot install software, getting installer.exe containes a virus and has been deleted"
    Please help?

    I would suggest reposting your inquiry to the experts in the dedicated
    Virus and Malware Forum.
    Carey Frisch

  • Do I have to worry about my macpro getting hacked?

    Do I have to worry about my macpro getting hacked?

    The SSL problem has been handled by Apple through security updates to the Mavericks and Mountain Lion and Lion operating systems.  If your operating systems are up-to-date you have little to worry about.
    The Mac OS X Mavericks update, 10.9.2, is quick and easy to install.
    The concerns with the SSL flaw are with using an unsecure public wireless network.  If you are using your MBP on a wired network or your own network there is very little likelihood of a problem.  The flaw did not allow access to the computer, just third-party eavesdropping on the communication.
    But, one should always be aware of the risks involved in transmitting sensitive information such as credit card numbers, bank account information, over any public wireless network.  Always use proper secure and encrypted communications when doing that.

  • 9330 - Yahoo! Email getting hacked via phone

    So, I've had my new phone for the past month, no issues with it until about 2 days ago. People are hacking into my yahoo email through my Blackberry. When I logged into my mail on my laptop browser, there were logins from Thailand, Mexico, Argentina and last night after I went to bed, Canada.The ones from the other night sent spam email to all my contacts. After sending apology emails, I changed my pw one more time.
    Here's the latest login from last night:
    3:14 AM
    Yahoo! Mail for RIM/BlackBerry
    Logged In
    Canada
    So, is there a way to avoid this? My pw are complex with the special characters and everything. I am NOT on a corporate email system and I'm extremely careful as to what websites I go to.
    Any suggestions so my account will stop getting compromised?
    I've never had this issue with any of my previous Blackberries. As of right now, I changed my pw on my laptop broswer this morning and I have NOT re-sync'd it with my Blackberry yet.

    Your BlackBerry device is not getting "hacked", it sounds like your Yahoo email account is, though.
    You need to call Yahoo.
    1. If any post helps you please click the below the post(s) that helped you.
    2. Please resolve your thread by marking the post "Solution?" which solved it for you!
    3. Install free BlackBerry Protect today for backups of contacts and data.
    4. Guide to Unlocking your BlackBerry & Unlock Codes
    Join our BBM Channels (Beta)
    BlackBerry Support Forums Channel
    PIN: C0001B7B4   Display/Scan Bar Code
    Knowledge Base Updates
    PIN: C0005A9AA   Display/Scan Bar Code

  • How safe is my iTunes account and how can I prevent it getting hacked?

    I just finished reading an article and was wondering how to prevent my account from being hacked ect.
    http://www.3news.co.nz/iTunes-accounts-hacked-money-stolen---reports/tabid/412/a rticleID/214432/Default.aspx#top

    Your account is very safe and it is very unlikly that it will get hacked because every time you change your password it requires you to re enter your security code on your credit card. Also, every time you close out itunes and then buy something, it asks for a password. I have been on itunes for about 7 years with 7 different accounts within my family and not one of them has ever been hacked. If you are still worried then I would agree with the comment above.

  • My bookmarks and backgrounds are changing and its not me could i be getting hacked ?

    i have a macbook pro but lately i have been going onto google and all of the sudden my book marks and backgrounds have been changing not by me could i be getting hacked and if so how do i fix it?

    What do you mean by changing?
    Bookmarks being added/deleted?
    What do you mean by backgrounds?
    Check for adware/malware by:
    First try
    Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac
    Next:
    Adwaremedic: Removes all known adware from your Mac
    If you can't download it since the malware is preventing it then see:
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-7792

  • I am getting hacked emails. what do i do?

    I am getting hacked emails. What should I do?

    Change your password.
    Contact your Internet Service Provider. They need to know exactlly what has happened 1) so that they can check things out on there end and 2) so that they can help you close any gaps on your end.
    As mentioned, it makes a big difference if you are receiving the mail or if others are receiving the mail in your name.

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