Password Reset

Question

Someone is trying to access my a Microsoft account using Authenticator without my permission or in other words I’m being hacked. How do I change my password? Or how do I stop this.

Answer 1

Hello @Josh Witheld

Receiving a lot of unauthorized access attempts to your account is very concerning. I will do my best to assist you based on information I have gathered from similar cases. To better assist you, may I confirm:

• Are you using a personal email account (e.g., @outlook.com, @hotmail.com) or a business account (e.g., @companyname.com) that belongs to an organization?
• Additionally, are you receiving these unauthorized access attempts through Microsoft Authenticator app notifications, and have you been denying them?

This activity typically occurs when your email address or username becomes visible to automated scripts on the internet. When an unauthorized sign-in attempt is made using your email, the system automatically sends a notification to your Microsoft Authenticator app as part of its security design.

You need to do the right thing by consistently denying these requests. This helps protect your account and prevent unauthorized access.

Along the way, I recommend taking the following steps to further strengthen your account security and prevent repeated notifications based on your account type:

1/ If you are using personal account:

You can set up an additional sign-in alias. These options help reduce unwanted sign-in attempts and provide an extra layer of protection.

-Sign in to your Microsoft account 

• Go to: https://account.live.com/names/manage

-Choose “Add email” 

• Start adding a new alias (do not remove anything yet). 

-Create a new email alias 

• Use a strong, hard-to-guess address (e.g., random string). 
• Set it as your primary login email 

-Make the new alias your main sign-in address. 

-Disable login for your old email 

• This is critical, it blocks attackers from using the old address. 

-Remove the old email alias if you no longer need it (Optional, last step)  

For your reference: Change the email address for your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support

I have attached screenshots to help you with the process:

2/ If you are using business account:

You can reach out to your IT Admin, who has global administrative rights in your organization’s tenant, to help strengthen your account security and prevent repeated notifications by referencing this thread.

Getting too many authentication attempts on my account - Microsoft Q&A

If you still need my assistance, please come back with screenshots or any additional details so I can review it again and see if there’s anything more I can help you with.  

Wishing you all the best!

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Answer 2

You didn’t answer it.