Windows 8 Hotmail Password Hacked :(

Hey_Dude

My partner is running Windows 8 on her PC and uses her Hotmail account password to log in (there is no other user, admin or otherwise on the PC) - a few days back I think she was hacked as she was prompted to change her Hotmail password (I'm not sure why...) and the next time she signs into her PC her newly changed password is invalid - so I guess she's been hacked.


I've tried her new and old passwords to no avail - her alternate email account is a secondary account @blueyonder (I use the primary) and try as I might I can't add this secondary account to my Outlook or get in via the Virgin Internet browser - so having Microsoft send assistance to this email address is a non-starter...


So I've followed the Microsoft guidelines when hacked - filled out a form with a zillion questions about the account - they said 24 hours to reply to my personal email address - it's getting close to 72 hours now....


So dudes - any idea how long Microsoft will take to assist us in cases like this?
Is there anything else I can do?


Aside from the inconvenience for my partner being locked out of her PC we're worried what the hackers could be doing to her email although we've warned family and friends..


MTIA Duder

ossie

Perhaps she had Caps Lock on when she changed password!

Hey_Dude

ossie wrote: »

Perhaps she had Caps Lock on when she changed password!

Tried this - no luck

Chino

Hey_Dude wrote: »

a few days back I think she was hacked as she was prompted to change her Hotmail password (I'm not sure why...)

When creating her Windows 8 account, did your partner un-tick the option to force a password change after so many days?

If not, that might be the reason she was forced to change her password.

Hey_Dude

She can't recall - I've tried loads of variations of the new password without any luck just in case it was finger trouble - no further forward alas....

50Twuncle

What method are you using to confirm your ID ?
Mobile phone number or another email ?
Can you not log into her email from another PC ?
Webmail is available from most/all providers - that will then allow you to change the password ..........

Hey_Dude

50Twuncle wrote: »

What method are you using to confirm your ID ?
Mobile phone number or another email ?
Can you not log into her email from another PC ?
Webmail is available from most/all providers - that will then allow you to change the password ..........

Another email - the problem with this is that this is a long-forgotten blueyonder account and the only way that I can access this from my main blueyonder account is for Virgin Media to send a verification link... to the old blueyonder account which I can't access...


I'm hoping that Microsoft will help soon - I posted on one of their forums and this seemed to get their attention - just waiting for them to email me a rest link...


Duder

grumpycrab

Hey_Dude wrote: »

her alternate email account is a secondary account @blueyonder (I use the primary)

Bit surprised you cannot sort out your secondary account. Have you talked to VM tech support?

droopsnoot

Might it be 24 hours during the working week, not including weekends? Not sure how these consumer support things work.

Strider590

Hey_Dude wrote: »

My partner is running Windows 8 on her PC and uses her Hotmail account password to log in (there is no other user, admin or otherwise on the PC) - a few days back I think she was hacked as she was prompted to change her Hotmail password (I'm not sure why...) and the next time she signs into her PC her newly changed password is invalid - so I guess she's been hacked.


I've tried her new and old passwords to no avail - her alternate email account is a secondary account @blueyonder (I use the primary) and try as I might I can't add this secondary account to my Outlook or get in via the Virgin Internet browser - so having Microsoft send assistance to this email address is a non-starter...


So I've followed the Microsoft guidelines when hacked - filled out a form with a zillion questions about the account - they said 24 hours to reply to my personal email address - it's getting close to 72 hours now....


So dudes - any idea how long Microsoft will take to assist us in cases like this?
Is there anything else I can do?


Aside from the inconvenience for my partner being locked out of her PC we're worried what the hackers could be doing to her email although we've warned family and friends..


MTIA Duder

So she fell for the old "change your password" trick, on some random website that probably looked like Hotmail.

I think "Hacked" is really the wrong word, more like "user naivety".

Contact Hotmail, get the password reset, they'll ask a few security questions and you'll be sorted in no time.

Fightsback

Hey_Dude wrote: »

Another email - the problem with this is that this is a long-forgotten blueyonder account and the only way that I can access this from my main blueyonder account is for Virgin Media to send a verification link... to the old blueyonder account which I can't access...


I'm hoping that Microsoft will help soon - I posted on one of their forums and this seemed to get their attention - just waiting for them to email me a rest link...


Duder

If and when you regain control of the account, set up two factor authorisation.