acc hacked

Question

my account got hacked and the hacker is threatening to sell it if i dont pay what do i do

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Have you tried resetting your Microsoft account password using the link here?

https://account.live.com/ResetPassword.aspx

Before you look to reset your password, double-check that you are using the correct email address when logging in. Open the link in an incognito tab and paste the link above.

If you successfully reset your password, go to the Security Settings page for your Microsoft account and enable two-factor authentication for added security.

https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage

In addition, scroll down until you find Sign out everywhere, and select it.

Microsoft will then sign your account out from all trusted devices, typically within 24 hours.

If you received the threatening message in your email, delete the email and check your email rules. Delete all emails from the sender and the rules.

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Answer 2

Immediately stop all contact with the hacker and do not pay anything.

Then take these steps to secure and recover the account:

1. Secure the device
   • Run a full antivirus/malware scan on the PC using Windows Defender or another up-to-date antivirus before changing any passwords.
   • On Windows 10/11, search for Windows Defender from Start and follow the prompts to turn on and run a full scan.
2. Recover the hacked Microsoft/Outlook.com account
   • Use the official recovery flow for compromised accounts: How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account.
   • If you can still sign in, immediately change the password to a strong, unique one.
   • If you cannot sign in, use the password reset and account recovery options provided in that article.
3. Check and fix account settings after regaining access
   • Review and remove any changes the attacker made, such as:
     • Connected accounts
     • Forwarding rules
     • Automatic replies
   • These can be accessed from the links in the recovery article under Check your account settings.
4. Protect the account going forward
   • Follow the security guidance in the Outlook.com and Microsoft account security articles linked from the recovery page to:
     • Use strong passwords.
     • Turn on additional security options (like verification methods) once back in control of the account.
5. Handle threats and abuse
   • Treat the hacker’s messages as extortion and harassment. Do not negotiate or pay.
   • If there are direct threats to safety, contact local law enforcement and provide screenshots and message history.

If the automated recovery form ultimately fails and the attacker has fully replaced the security info, support articles indicate there may be no further method to recover that specific Microsoft account.

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References:

• How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account
• Hello , welcome to Account help & learning
• Help protect your Outlook.com email account
• Report abusive content in shared lists
• Prevent unauthorized purchases from Microsoft Store
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