Email hacked..but its weird

Question

Hello..I currently have a hotmail.com account and recently believe i have been hack bc everything is in a different language..so i reset my password and 2 step verification and tried to change the language and it was not an option and the time will not change even after its saved..but the weird part is on the app itself everything is fine but the browsers the issue..any known fixes..please help?

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Do you currently have full access to your Outlook account (you can sign in normally and see your inbox and settings)?

You’ll need to update your language settings under the "Your Info" page:

• Visit: https://account.microsoft.com/profile/msa-language-settings and sign in with your Microsoft account.
• This will open the "Your language settings" page.
• From there, edit both your Display Language and Preferred Language.

Let me know how it goes.

Answer 2

For a Hotmail/Outlook.com account that suddenly appears in another language or has odd time‑zone behavior in the browser but not in the app, focus on two areas: security and account settings.

1. Secure the account Since unexpected changes (like language or regional settings) can indicate compromise, treat this as a security issue even though the app still looks normal.

1. Scan devices for malware

• Run a full antivirus/malware scan on every device used to sign in to this account.
• If using Windows 10/11, ensure Microsoft Defender is on and fully updated, then run a full scan as described in the guidance for hacked accounts.

2. Change the password again from a clean device

• From a device that has been scanned and is clean, go to the Microsoft account security page and change the password to a strong, unique one.
• Do not reuse old passwords.

3. Check recent activity and sign out everywhere

• Go to the Security basics page and open Recent activity.
• Review sign‑ins and security challenges. If anything looks unfamiliar, mark it as not you and follow the prompts to secure the account.
• Use the option to sign out everywhere (or equivalent) so any attacker sessions in browsers are terminated.

4. Verify security info and 2‑step verification

• Confirm that phone numbers, alternate email addresses, and sign‑in methods are all yours.
• If any security info is unknown, remove it and add correct info. If you no longer have access to old info, use the I don't have any of these option during sign‑in and follow the prompts to update backup security info.
• Keep two‑step verification/MFA enabled.

5. Check Outlook/Outlook.com rules and forwarding If the account was hacked, attackers sometimes add rules or forwarding:

• In Outlook on the web, check Rules and delete anything suspicious.
• Check Forwarding and remove any unknown forwarding addresses.

2. Fix language and time‑zone issues in the browser Once security is under control, address the language/time issue specifically in the browser:

1. Check account language/security messages

• Security verification messages and some prompts are sent in the language that was set when the security info (email/phone) was added.
• To change that language, remove the affected security info and re‑add it with the correct language settings. Do not remove all security info at once, or the account may be restricted for 30 days.

2. Verify browser profile and sign‑in

• Make sure the browser is signed into the correct Microsoft account (not a different one that uses another language/region).
• Try an InPrivate/Incognito window and sign in there. If the language/time looks correct in private mode, the issue may be cached cookies or a conflicting profile.

3. Clear browser cache/cookies for Outlook/Microsoft

• Clear cookies and site data for outlook.com and account.microsoft.com, then sign in again and re‑check language and time‑zone.

4. Re‑check time‑zone settings after securing account

• After confirming no one else has access, set the correct time‑zone again in Outlook on the web and save.
• If the time keeps reverting, that usually means either:
  • The browser is still picking up a different profile/region, or
  • An attacker or automated process is still changing settings, which is why the security steps above are critical.

3. If access is lost or changes continue If at any point sign‑in fails or settings keep changing back:

• Use the Microsoft account recovery flow (Forgot password → follow prompts). If needed, choose I think someone else is using my Microsoft account and follow the recovery steps.
• If the standard reset path fails, use the account recovery form and provide as much detail as possible from a familiar device and location.

If these steps are followed in order—clean devices, secure the account, sign out everywhere, remove any malicious rules/forwarding, then correct language/time‑zone in a clean browser—the browser view should align with the app and stay in the correct language and time.

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References:

• How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account
• Help protect your Outlook.com email account
• What happens if there's an unusual sign-in to your account
• Troubleshoot Microsoft verification code issues
• Common problems with two-step verification for a work or school account
• Hello , welcome to Account help & learning