Passwords can definitely be a frustrating part of our lives. Without the help of a password manager, it’s nearly impossible to remember the passwords you’ve used for dozens of different accounts.
If you suddenly start receiving emails informing you that you need to reset your password for some reason (or no reason stated), your patience may be running out. there is.
There are several reasons why you might receive such email messages, ranging from legitimate to scams and everything in between.
App on smartphone (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
What is the password reset email message?
When you enter your username and password on a website to access your account, you may see a small “Forgot your password?” text link. If you can’t remember your password, click this link and your account holder will send you an email to help you reset your password. This type of email reset message, like the one below, is legitimate.
However, some of the password reset emails you receive are fake, usually trying to trick you into revealing your username and password to the hacker.
Example of a legitimate password reset email (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
Read more: Here’s how your email gets into the wrong hands
Why am I receiving a fake password reset email?
If you receive an email message asking you to reset your password even though you didn’t request it, the message may be fake. Possible reasons for receiving such fake emails include:
Be careful with bait: The hacker is trying to Phishing attackThe hope is that you will click on the fake link in the message.
Privacy warning: You may have shared your email address on an unsecured website, and the hacker is trying to trick you into stealing your account password.
Security warning: Your account has some kind of security issue that causes these messages.
Please update: may be necessary Update your software or app to the latest version.
Illustration of a hacker on a laptop (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
More information: How to keep your online passwords safe
What if the password reset email is legitimate?
The password reset email message you receive may be a legitimate request. This may indicate that your account is under attack from a hacker. You can protect yourself in several ways.
Go directly to the website and access your account. Next, change your password to make it stronger.
setting two-factor authentication (2FA) in your account. If someone were to find a way to hack your account password, the second verification requirement would greatly protect you.
Visit the website We will keep your account in order to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves.
You may receive a message saying This is because you need to change your password every few months to meet the requirements of the company where you hold your account.
Never click links in email messages Because there is a possibility that it is a fake. If you click this, you may be giving hackers information that they can use to take over your account, rather than actually protecting your account. The best way to protect yourself from clicking on malicious links that install malware that can access your personal information is to antivirus protection Installed on all devices. This can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams.
Steps you can take to eliminate password reset emails
You can take a few steps to reduce the number of emails you receive requesting to reset your password.
1. Double-check your username and password. There may be a typo in your login information when accessing your account. If you encounter this error and repeatedly try to access your account, the company holding your account may think that a hacking attempt has occurred and trigger an automatic reset. If your web browser automatically fills in your username and password, check this information for typographical errors.
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2. Remove unauthorized devices. Some accounts maintain a list of devices that are authorized to use the account. If a hacker obtains some of your personal information, he may add one of your devices to his allow list and cause an account login error when trying to hack your password. Review the list of allowed devices and remove any items you don’t recognize.
The process varies depending on your account type. We’ll walk you through the steps for Microsoft, Gmail, Yahoo, and AOL.
Microsoft:
- From your Microsoft account home page, personalized logo It’s at the top right of the page.
- then click my microsoft account
- Scroll down the page until you see . List of trusted devices.
- click Show all devices
- On the next page, click remove device For each device you want to remove from your account.
Steps to remove rogue devices from your PC (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
G-mail:
- sign in to Google account at myaccount.google.com.
- click Security tab It’s on the left side of the page.
- Scroll down to the “Your Device” section and select Manage all your devices.
- It shows list of devices Where your Google Account is currently signed in.
- If you see a device that you don’t recognize, Click and select sign out.
Yahoo:
- Go to your Yahoo Account security page (help.yahoo.com/kb/account).
- click Recent activities.
- Please Confirm List of devices and locations Who has accessed your account?
- If you notice activity that you don’t recognize, remove or Please signIt’s next to the suspicious device.
AOL:
- sign in to AOL accountand go to recent activities page.
- Check the section below recent activities, Apps connected to your account and recent account changes.
- If you see activity or devices that you don’t recognize, sign out or remove the next one.
To ensure the security of your account, please periodically review your account settings and allowed devices. If you suspect unauthorized access, we also recommend changing your password and checking your account recovery options.
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3. Classify such messages as spam. If you simply don’t want to see these types of email messages, set your email client to categorize such messages in your spam folder. (Many of them are spam, so some email clients do this automatically.) However, if you legitimately requested a password reset, you should remember to look for the message in your spam folder. there is.
4. Use a static IP address. Some accounts attempt to recognize your device through its IP address. If you have a dynamic IP address, your account may no longer recognize your device and you may receive a reset message because your IP address changes all the time. This often happens because you are using a VPN. Check whether your VPN allows the use of static IP addresses.
Woman with tablet with VPN installed (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
More information: What happens when a cybercriminal gains access to your email address
Cart important points
Receiving a password reset email can be frustrating, but if you receive a request like this from an account you use regularly, you should investigate. Please contact the customer service team for the account you are experiencing issues with. A simple glitch may prove to be the cause of the problem. Fixing it will stop these irritating messages. Or if it was a fake password reset email, now you know how to handle the situation to stay safe.
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