What Do I Do If My AOL Account Was Hacked?
In a nutshell: AOL is a pioneer of the internet, providing dial-up services and internet access. If your AOL account gets hacked, you can follow these steps to fix it: go to the AOL website, click "Sign In," enter your username, click "Forgot Password," choose a means of verification (like a phone number), input the verification code, create a new password, and contact AOL customer support if needed. Hacking is a common issue for online accounts, but these solutions can help.
Introduction
AOL was among the earliest internet pioneers in the early 1990s. The company offered dial-up services, instant messaging and internet access to Americans. Signing up for an AOL account is free, and you can access features like AOL Mail, weather and news. Subscribing to a premium account provides multiple services, including McAfee Internet Security and Safe Central. However, most online accounts are vulnerable to hacking. If your AOL account gets hacked, here are the steps to remedy the situation.
Go to the AOL Website
You must open the AOL website to access your account. Googling AOL.com opens the company’s homepage.
Click “Sign In”
Once on the AOL homepage, click the “Sign In” button to open the account login section.
Enter Your Username
Next, provide your account username and click “Next.” You can use your email, mobile number, or the username you set during your account creation.
Click “Forgot Password”
Next, AOL opens a new section for entering your account password. Since the account was hacked, it’s crucial to reset the password. How do you know the account was hacked? There are a few signs that show your account has been hacked. These include:You aren’t receiving emailsYour contacts keep receiving spam from youYour recent activities show logins from unexpected locationsYour sent folder contains emails you didn’t sendYour device is installing unauthorized softwareYou can log the hacker out of your account by resetting your password. To initiate the password reset process, click “Forgot Password.”
Choose the Means of Verification
When you click “Forgot Password,” the system provides a solution to change your password. A new page notifies you that a verification code will be sent. This verification code will be sent to a phone number with a few digits disclosed. If you can access the phone, click “Yes, Send Me a Code.” Keep the phone on standby to ensure you see the code when it’s sent. The code will be sent within a few seconds.
Input the Verification Code
After receiving the verification code, enter it immediately. The code usually expires within a short period. After entering the six characters of the verification code, click “Verify.” You can request another one if the code expires before you enter it.
Create a New Password
Next, AOL asks you to create a new password. When creating your new password, avoid using a variation of your old password and personal information. Be creative to create a strong password and click “Continue.” The interface will notify you that the password has been changed successfully.
Contact AOL Customer Support
AOL provides technical support to clients when needed. If you notice that your account has been hacked, you should notify the AOL customer support team. A customer support representative will provide a practical course of action. You’ll need to verify your identity if you decide to make a phone call to the customer support team; thus, it’s essential to cooperate when you’re asked questions.
To contact support, click the “24/7 Help” button on your account homepage. This reveals the premium support phone number. The platform also allows chatting with a virtual assistant to resolve the issue.
Conclusion
Most online accounts are prone to hacking. Hackers can steal passwords through malware, data breaches and password cracking. If your AOL account falls victim to hacking, our practical solutions will help you.
Further questions?
Solutions to similar problems
Help from Real People
Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for AOL Problems?
GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like AOL in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our What Do I Do If My AOL Account Was Hacked? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.