Information for a Potentially Hacked Affiliated Email
How can I know my mailbox has been hacked?
There's is no absolute answer to that question; however, there are some telltale signs your account may have been compromised:
- You receive replies or inquiries to messages you did not send out or had not authorized someone else to send on your behalf.
- You notice all your messages stop going to your Inbox and instead start going to junk or deleted items.
- You notice you can login to your mailbox, but you can no longer send messages from any device or web browser.
If any of the above situations happen to you, it's a strong indication your account has been compromised, and you should address the situation ASAP.
Is my computer/smartphone safe to use? How can I secure my devices?
A compromised mailbox could mean your computer and smart devices are infected with malware/virus that stole your login information without your knowledge. We recommend the following actions to secure your devices:
- If you have a computer issued to you by the C21 Affiliated IT department, please send an email to helpdesk@c21affiliated.com or call 608-640-3011. We typically have remote access to these devices and can scan/clean them up remotely.
- If the device DID NOT come from the C21 Affiliated IT department, we recommend you install Malwarebytes antivirus scanner, reboot the device, and run a scan for infections to remove them. The app is free to download, install, and scan with on Windows/Mac/Android/Chromebook platforms.
- If you are still concerned about the device's security and it is NOT an Affiliated asset, we recommend you take the device to a reputable computer repair service provider and/or your cellular provider retailer for assistance.
How can I secure my Affiliated account?
Contact the C21 Affiliated Helpdesk at helpdesk@c21affiliated.com or call 608-640-3011 for assistance. Alternatively, you can reach out to your office administrator, and they can reach out to our Helpdesk on your behalf.
Affiliated's Helpdesk will do the following to secure your account:
- We will sign your account out of any sessions or applications that are using the login.
- We will reset the account password and MFA (if it was enabled on the account).
- We will review the mailbox's settings and remove any sending/receiving restrictions.
What do I do once my Affiliated account is secured?
Once the account is secured, we will reach out to you with the temporary password for your account. Once you've logged back into your account, please review the following areas for your security:
- If you had MFA enabled/enforced on your account previously, you will need to re-enroll your device.
- Login and review your account’s security profile settings for accuracy.
- Inspect your Affiliated mailbox's Junk, Deleted Items, and Archive folders, for any messages that might have maliciously deleted or relocated by the hacker.
- If you have Microsoft Teams access through Affiliated, please login and review your recent chats/messages to people and channels for discrepancies.
- If you have access to Word/Excel/PowerPoint apps through Affiliated, please login and review any recent files you've accessed for changes that you might not have done yourself.
Should I be concerned about the other logins saved on my device?
If you had other logins saved in your web browser(s), please review these logins at your own discretion and contact the appropriate helpdesk if you are concerned about the security of those accounts.
- Any email account is a prime target of hackers, as often they offer the highest chance of human error/honest mistakes of clicking on a link/attachment or replying to something when the receiver should not have done those actions.
- Secondary to email accounts are any accounts that contain personally identifiable information (medical records, financial records, social media accounts, etc.) that could be exploited if the logins were exposed. Please secure such accounts as you deem necessary.
Article ID: G.02.03
Last update: 03.03.2025
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