Gmail may seem as secure as the Mona Lisa. No matter how hard someone tries, you are sure to hit a wall when they try to steal your information.
Unfortunately, the reality is completely opposite. Cybercriminals and other malicious actors can use advanced methods to access your account and compromise your data. The main question one asks in this situation is: “Who would do such a thing?” Is it even possible to identify the culprit?
The latter could be possible and this article will discuss possible ways to do it. Here is a detailed guide on how to find out who hacked your Gmail account.
How to know who hacked your Gmail account?
When embarking on the search for who hacked your account, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Chances are, you won’t be able to tell who hacked your account unless they admit it to you.
Still, this doesn’t mean you’re helpless. There are a few ways to identify the perpetrator, one of which is to find out his IP address.
Let’s first try to recover your account.
- Open your browser and go to Google recovery page.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and answer the questions to improve your chances of restoring your hacked account. If Google tells you that your account couldn’t be verified, keep trying until you succeed. Be careful not to skip questions and make sure your answers are 100% accurate. Here are some more tips on how to do this process correctly:
- Enter the last password you remember using. If you don’t remember this code, try another one. You are more likely to recover your account if you enter one of your recent passwords.
- Use a different email address or recovery phone number.
The next thing you should do is identify the devices associated with your account. If you only access your account from your computer and smartphone, those are just the two devices you should see listed. Anything other than that is a major red flag.
- Navigate to Gmail and enter your login credentials.
- Go to the Profile icon and click “Manage your Google Account.”
- Tap the “Security” button and choose the message that allows you to manage your devices. You should now see all the devices that have been used to access your account. Some of them may even be active while you check your Gmail, while others may have been last used a few months or weeks ago.
- Click the device you want more information about. If they are no longer active, they should have a “Closed” box next to them. However, keep in mind that this does not mean that the user will not return for another session. They can do this easily if they still have your password.
Now that you have the list of all the devices your account was accessed from, it’s time to dig a little deeper. The following steps will tell you how to determine the IP address of the device you are concerned about.
- Go to your Gmail inbox.
- Click the “Details” button at the bottom right of the screen. If you are having trouble finding the option, open the search box with the shortcut “Ctrl + F” and type “Details.” Keep scrolling until you find the p, making sure not to confuse it with one of your emails.
- Scan the list of devices and find the one you suspect belongs to the hacker. You should now see the IP address of the gadget.
The rest of the work is simple. All that is needed is to discover the physical location associated with the IP address. Various IP applications can save the day with their simple interfaces and, most importantly, quick results.
- Launch your browser and go to an IP locator tool. Find an easy-to-use website, such as iplocation.net.
- Copy the IP address of the device you want to track and paste the address into the “IP Lookup” field.
- Tap Enter and that’s it – the software will reveal the whereabouts of the would-be hacker’s device. You can use this information to guess who accessed your account without your permission.
What to do if your Gmail account is hacked
Knowing (or guessing) who hacked your Gmail account can be exciting, but let’s be real: this shouldn’t be your initial reaction to the hack. Instead, protecting your account to prevent further damage is much more important.
That’s where Google’s two-factor authentication comes into play. It allows you to log in to your hacked account using not only your password but also your phone. Here’s how to activate this handy feature:
- Go to “Manage your Google Account” and explore the window.
- Choose “Security.”
- Look for the p that contains options to sign in to your Google account.
- Press the message that allows you to enter two-step verification.
- Tap “Get Started” and set up your authentication following the instructions provided.
Your two-step verification is now operational, but don’t get discouraged just yet. You still need to prove to Google that you are the one who wants to log into your account and not someone else. For this, Google directions can be helpful. They are more convenient than verification codes and protect against SIM card-related risks.
Basically, Google Directions are nothing more than notifications that Google sends to your smartphone. Some of the platforms where you can receive these prompts include your Android phone, iPhones with Smart Lock, Google Photos, YouTube, and your Google app.
After you receive a message, be sure to tap “Yes” if you were the one who requested the login. Otherwise, the hacker may want to stay on your network, so they can send their own immediate request. If you do not recognize the message, click “No.”
Although Google prompts are the most efficient way to sign in to your account using two-step authentication, there are other methods available:
- Write a backup code on a piece of paper.
- Save digital backup codes to your PC or smartphone.
- Set up verification codes using text messages, voice calls, and other related methods.
- Trust him Google Authenticator application.
- Store physical security devices (also known as security keys).
How to prevent Gmail attacks
The saying “Prevention is better than cure” rings truer than ever in this case. It’s true that no account can be hacked-proof, but you can do a lot of things to protect your Gmail profile. Here are some easily applicable suggestions.
- Use strong passwords that combine letters, numbers, symbols, lowercase letters, and uppercase letters.
- Remove unnecessary extensions.
- Update your PC periodically.
- Avoid opening suspicious messages.
- Consider locking the screen when it is idle.
Damage control is your best friend
In the case of a hacked Gmail account, you don’t want to sit idle and allow the culprit to look through your information. But although you may be alarmed, it is essential to take quick and appropriate action and stop the perpetrator in their tracks. Knowing your identity helps, but it doesn’t do much to protect your account. Activating and logging in using two-factor verification is the superior approach, so don’t put it off.
Have you managed to find out who hacked your Gmail? What method did you use? How did you react to the hack? Share your experiences in the comments p below.
