Was My Email Hacked or Spoofed? How to Tell and What to Do

If you’re trying to determine whether your email was hacked or merely spoofed, focus on what’s happening inside your account: hacking involves someone gaining actual access, which often shows up as password-reset notices, unfamiliar logins, missing or altered messages, or new forwarding rules, while spoofing occurs when someone forges your address to send email without ever entering your account, meaning your login history and settings remain untouched. If you see no signs of internal changes but others report suspicious messages “from” you, it’s likely spoofing; if your account shows unauthorized activity, it’s far more likely a hack. In either case, secure your account with a strong new password, enable multifactor authentication, and notify contacts of any suspicious emails.

Understanding Email Hacking vs. Email Spoofing

What is Email Hacking?

Email hacking occurs when an unauthorized party gains access to your email account. This can happen in various ways, including:

• Phishing attacks: You may have unknowingly provided your login credentials by clicking on a fraudulent link in an email or website.
• Weak passwords: If your password is weak or reused across multiple accounts, hackers can crack it more easily.
• Data breaches: If a website where you use the same password is breached, hackers can access your email account.
• Malware or keyloggers: If your computer is infected with malware, attackers can steal your login details.

Read more: Was My Email Hacked or Spoofed