Yesterday started out like any other day…beautifully gorgeous sunrise, turned on the computer as everyone was getting ready to begin the day, working through packing lunch and getting the family off to school and work…until I saw the alert posted on my computer screen that my Skype password wasn’t being recognized. I usually had Skype open when the computer turned on.
Hmm, unusual. This triggered a yell to my top-notch IT professional (my husband – bonus is he does this line of work professionally, aren’t I a blessed wife?) to see if he changed anything on my behalf. Unfortunately, it wasn’t him.
After emails with Skype support and reviewing the emails that had landed in my inbox overnight I quickly realized that someone accessed my account, activated voice mail alerts, and promptly changed my registered email address and password.
Never, never a good way to begin the day…and, I hadn’t even had a cup of sweet tea…or breakfast, yet.
Realizing that my bank debit card was listed as a payment method for recurring payments I called the bank to have the card closed. I also reviewed some key accounts to make password changes.
24 hours later, two Skype support security gurus worked out all the nuisances to return my account to me.
Upon closer examination I discovered the hacker was from the Ukraine, had made a phone call on the account, had set up a voice mail message, had set up a new phone number, and had attempted to charge against my bank card FIVE times.
I’m so glad that the payment method was closed soon after discovering the account was compromised.
So, here are a few lessons to help YOU boost your security – nothing is fool proof when working online. A hacked account can happen to anyone, for any reason, at any time.
- Always turn on email notifications on the account so any activity will auto-send an email to you. It’s your first level of defense – be aware of what’s happening.
- Notify support ASAP.
- If the account info includes a stored payment method, immediately contact your financial provider to have the card closed.
- Document everything that’s happened and keep this info in either hardcopy versions or digitally for later reference should something come up. This includes phone call notes and digital chat notes. (Yes, note names, times, and dates when talking with someone – the details are good here.) Hopefully you’ll never need it but it’s good to have if you do.
- Keep a listing of all the places you have stored a credit card or bank debit card on file for use with auto-payment or monthly recurring fees. Should you need to replace a closed card you’ll be able to quickly make the shift and keep operational.
- Get in the habit of using STRONG passwords always AND changing these regularly. Set reminders on your calendar to change the passwords. This is a two-fold – strong passwords and change regularly. (That should be on a t-shirt somewhere.)
- If an account has been compromised run computer scans for: viruses, malware, spyware, and trojans, etc. Yes, all of them. Not all anti-virus software are equal so what one doesn’t catch, another may. (Happy to say, my scans came up clean. WooT!)
- Once you have access to your account again review everything to remove any trace of the hacker’s presence. Check all the nooks and crannies (every setting) to be sure all settings and information is to your preferences.