What happens when your Google account gets hacked?

Having your Google Account hacked can be a serious security incident, as it can give an attacker access to a wide range of personal and financial information.¹ Here’s a breakdown of what happens, how to recover, and how to protect yourself.

Here comes a visual interpretation—ready to help make the risks feel more real and relatable. If you’d like, we can turn this into part of your digital safety toolkit for seniors: a poster, a slideshow story, or even a visual quiz prompt. Let’s keep this empowering.

 

What Happens When Your Google Account Is Hacked?

When a hacker gains access to your Google Account, they can do a number of things that can lead to significant consequences.² Some of the immediate signs and potential damages include:

• You're locked out: The hacker might change your password, recovery email, and phone number, making it difficult or impossible for you to sign in.³

• Data theft and misuse: They can access all the data stored in your account, including your Gmail messages, Google Photos, Google Drive files, and contacts.⁴ This information can be used for identity theft, blackmail, or fraud.⁵

• Spam and scams: The attacker can use your account to send spam, phishing emails, or malicious links to your contacts, using your trusted identity to further their attacks.⁶

• Financial fraud: If you have payment information saved in Google Pay or Chrome, the hacker can make unauthorized purchases or transfer money. They can also access financial accounts linked to your Google Account.

• Compromised linked accounts: Your Google Account is often the "key" to other online services.⁷ A hacker can use it to reset passwords on your social media, banking, or shopping accounts, leading to a much wider breach.⁸

• Changes to your account: You might notice unfamiliar activity in your account, such as new forwarding rules in Gmail, deleted emails, or changes to your settings.⁹

How to Recover a Hacked Google Account

If you believe your account has been compromised, it's crucial to act quickly.

1. Go to the Google Account Recovery page: This is the primary tool for regaining access.¹⁰ You can find it by searching for "Google Account Recovery" or going to g.co/recover.¹¹

2. Answer the questions as best you can: Google will ask a series of questions to verify your identity.¹² These might include your last known password, a recovery email or phone number, or the month and year you created the account.¹³

   • Pro tip: Use a device and a location you've previously used to sign in, like your home computer or smartphone.¹⁴ This helps Google confirm it's really you.¹⁵

3. Reset your password: Once your identity is verified, you'll be prompted to create a new, strong password that you have not used before.¹⁶

4. Secure your account: After you're back in, immediately take these steps:

   • Change your password again: Make sure it's a unique and complex password.

   • Enable 2-Step Verification (2SV): This is a critical security measure. With 2SV, you'll need both your password and a second factor (like a code sent to your phone or a prompt on a trusted device) to sign in.¹⁷

   • Review your recovery options: Check that the recovery email and phone number listed are correct and belong to you.¹⁸

   • Review third-party app access: Go to your Google Account settings and revoke access for any apps or services you don't recognize.¹⁹

   • Scan your devices for malware: Run a full scan on your computer and phone to ensure they are free of any malicious software like keyloggers.²⁰

   • Notify your contacts: Let your friends and family know that your account was compromised and that they should be cautious of any strange messages they may have received from you.²¹

   • Check other accounts: Change the passwords for any other online services that may have been linked to your Google Account.

How to Prevent Your Google Account from Being Hacked

The best defense is a proactive one. Here's what you can do to make your account much more secure:

• Use a strong, unique password: Don't reuse passwords across different sites.²² A password manager can help you create and remember complex passwords for all your accounts.²³

• Turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV): This is the single most effective way to protect your account. Even if a hacker gets your password, they can't log in without the second step.²⁴ Using a security key or Google Prompts is more secure than text message codes.²⁵

• Keep your recovery information up-to-date: Make sure your recovery email and phone number are current and accessible.²⁶

• Be aware of phishing scams: Never click on suspicious links in emails or messages.²⁷ Always check the URL of a website to ensure it's legitimate before entering your login details. Google will never ask for your password or verification codes in an email.²⁸

• Use Google's Security Checkup: Regularly use the built-in tool in your Google Account settings to get personalized security recommendations and review your recent activity.²⁹

• Keep your software updated: Make sure your operating system, web browser, and other apps are always up-to-date to patch any security vulnerabilities.³⁰

• Review third-party app permissions: Be cautious about granting apps and services access to your Google Account data. Periodically review and remove access for any that you no longer need.