My hotmail was hacked and someone downloded thunderbird on my PC but can't fine it

Question

Someone hacked my account and keeps sending emails from my hotmail. I changed my password and keep getting a loop from no sender with a request for $700

Microsoft has been contacted twice and keeps closing my account WITH NO HELP!!!!

Answer 1

Dear Jim Roberts,

Thank you for posting your question to the Microsoft Q&A.

I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. It is incredibly stressful to deal with a compromised account, especially when you are being bombarded with these demands after you have already done the hard work of changing your password.

I see that the answer provided by Q&A Assist generally covers account recovery, but based on your description of the "loop," it sounds like the hacker has left behind a hidden automation to keep bothering you. Even though you changed your password, their previous login session might still be active, or they may have created a rule to forward emails.

Here are a few additional steps you can take to clear those rules out and end the hacker's session

Step 1: Ensure a Complete Sign-Out

Even though you changed your password, sometimes the intruder's connection stays active for a little while

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/security.
2. Click Advanced security options.
3. Scroll down to Sign me out
4. Click Sign me out.
   • Note: This forces every device (phone, PC, and the hacker’s computer) to ask for the new password immediately.

Step 2: Check for Hidden Rules

• Open Outlook.com on your PC (the web version is best for this).
• Click the Gear icon (Settings) > Mail > Rules.
• If you see any rules there that look unfamiliar or strange, please delete them.
• Also, check Mail > Forwarding just to make sure your email isn't being sent anywhere else.

Step 3: Check your Sent Folder

To understand if they are still in your account or just faking it, please check your Sent Items folder.

• Case A: If you see the ransom emails inside your Sent folder, the hacker did have access. Step 1 (Sign Me Out) will stop this immediately.
• Case B: If you do not see the emails in your Sent folder, but you received them in your Inbox, this is called Spoofing. The hacker is faking your email address to scare you. You are safe, and you can mark these emails as Phishing.

Step 4: Check Thunderbird Since you mentioned using Thunderbird, let's make sure everything is clean there too.

• Open Thunderbird and go to Tools > Message Filters. If you see anything named "." or "Update" that you didn't create, you can simply delete it.

I hope these steps help you regain control and stop those annoying emails. Please let me know if you have any other questions

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Answer 2

It sounds like your Hotmail account has been compromised, and you're experiencing issues with unauthorized access and email sending. Here are some steps you can take to regain control of your account and address the situation:

1. Account Recovery: Go to the Microsoft account recovery page and follow the prompts to recover your account. Make sure to use any recovery options available, such as alternate email addresses or phone numbers that you may have set up.
2. Contact Microsoft Support: Since you are facing issues with the recovery process, it's advisable to contact Microsoft Support directly for assistance. They can help you with account recovery and may have additional tools to verify your identity.
3. Check for Account Activity: If you regain access, check your account activity for any unauthorized changes or settings, such as forwarding rules or linked accounts that you did not set up.
4. Secure Your Account: Once you regain access, immediately change your password to a strong, unique one. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) again, and ensure that your recovery options are up to date.
5. Monitor for Further Issues: Keep an eye on your account for any suspicious activity and inform your contacts about the potential compromise to prevent them from falling victim to phishing attempts.

If you continue to face issues with the recovery process, it may take some time for Microsoft to resolve the service problems you mentioned. Be persistent in reaching out to their support team for help.

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References:

• My personal hotmail account hacked by hacker with authentication app enabled. - Microsoft Q&A
• I need to speak with a real person and it seems impossible. - Microsoft Q&A