outlook email has been compromised

Question

My outlook email has been compromised and taken over by someone overseas and is now in a different language

Answer 1

Hello James Spitzkowsky,

I understand that your Outlook.com account appears to have been taken over and is now displayed in another language. The priority is to secure or recover the account first, then restore the preferred language.

Please note that this is a user-to-user forum, so contributors cannot access or recover your account. For privacy, do not post your full email address, password, verification codes, phone number, or recovery information.

If you can still sign in:

1. Run a full security scan using the trusted security software available on any device used to access the account. Microsoft recommends scanning the device before changing the password.
2. Change your Microsoft account password to a strong, unique password.
3. Review the https://account.live.com/Activity. Expand any unfamiliar activity and select This wasn’t me, if that option appears. What is the Recent activity page? | Microsoft Support 
4. Review the account’s Security settings. Remove any recovery address, phone number, sign-in method, or trusted device you do not recognize, then enable two-step verification.
5. In Outlook.com, check Settings > Mail > Forwarding, Rules, and Automatic replies. Remove anything you did not create.

If you cannot sign in:

1. Use the Microsoft account Sign-in Helper. Enter the affected address and follow the recovery options shown.
2. You can also follow How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account.

After securing the account, restore the language in Outlook.com under Settings > General > Language and time. The browser’s page-translation feature may help you navigate the unfamiliar menus temporarily.

I hope these steps help you regain control of the account and secure it.

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