scorpius Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 I seem to have made a very stupid mistake, the last time I signed into one of my email accounts I failed to sign out, it appears that someone has been able to gain access to that account and change the password, result I cannot get into the account. According to google, many attempts were made to gain access to my google accounts, but because I had signed out of these they couldn't get access, this happened at 1.47am, location of the hacker is Plumsted, London, what I don't understand is that, at that time my computer would have been shut down, when I turn on I need to enter a password, how can anybody gain access without the correct password, any advice would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 They can just go to google and try and guess your password through the web app without needing to access your physical machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpius Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 They tried many times to get access to my Gmail site but didn't have the password, and I had logged out, stupidly I had not logged out of the Yahoo site, am I correct in thinking that although the computer was shut down, anybody can log into my sites provided they have the Email address, password not required because I have not logged out. They have now changed the password so I cannot log in, how can this be done because to change a password you need the old password. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Apologie if this is a daft question, but you haven't received and email telling you this have you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Good point. Whenever I change a password I get an email telling me and asking me to get in touch if its not me that's changed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Anybody logging onto your e-mail account would have needed the password unless they were logging in FROM your PC AND you hadn't previously logged off (or had told the PC to remember your password but even then it's only local to your PC). What you have written doesn't make any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Good point. Whenever I change a password I get an email telling me and asking me to get in touch if its not me that's changed it. He might have received this email , but my point was is it a phishing scam? Ie has he clicked a link in an email like this and then entered his password into what he thinks is his email provider , at which point they DO have his password? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexl Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Id imagine the problem has nothing to do with you leaving it logged in, but your password has been cracked. Mine was done a while ago and they send a load of emails out about job offers, presumably to try and get some sort of fee? Be careful if you have any info of other online accounts stored in your inbox, particularly if they share the same password as the account that was hacked, if this is the case it'd be a good idea to change the passwords on all of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 They tried many times to get access to my Gmail site but didn't have the password, and I had logged out, stupidly I had not logged out of the Yahoo site, am I correct in thinking that although the computer was shut down, anybody can log into my sites provided they have the Email address, password not required because I have not logged out. They have now changed the password so I cannot log in, how can this be done because to change a password you need the old password. OK, i think from what you are saying being logged in on one machine should not allow any other machine to log on to your accounts. Every time you log in you need to provide the password (assuming you are using web based email rather than outlook/mail etc). COntact your mail provider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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