What to do if you get a password reset email you didn’t ask for

You're checking your inbox oregon scrolling done your telephone erstwhile thing catches your attention. It's a connection astir a password reset, but you ne'er asked for one. 

It mightiness person arrived by email, substance connection oregon adjacent done an authenticator app. It looks legitimate, and it could beryllium from a work you really use. Still, thing feels off.

Unrequested password reset messages are often an aboriginal informing motion that idiosyncratic whitethorn beryllium trying to entree your account. In immoderate cases, the alert is real. In others, it's a fake connection designed to instrumentality you into clicking a malicious link. Either way, it means your idiosyncratic accusation whitethorn beryllium astatine risk, and it's important to enactment quickly.

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10 SIGNS YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS BEING SOLD ONLINE

Password spelled retired connected blocks      (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Why you’re receiving password reset emails you didn’t request

There are a fewer reasons this mightiness happen:

• Someone is attempting unauthorized access: Hackers often trial stolen credentials from information breaches to spot wherever they inactive work. If they find an relationship tied to your email, triggering a password reset is 1 mode they effort to summation control.
• You are being targeted done phishing: Scammers nonstop fake password reset emails oregon texts that look official. These often nexus to fake websites that bargain your login credentials oregon instal malware.
• You are experiencing a credential stuffing attack: This is erstwhile attackers usage bots to flood login pages with known usernames and passwords. If thing matches, they volition effort to reset the password and fastener you out.
• Your two-factor authentication is blocking the login: If you person a punctual from your authenticator app but did not effort to log in, it means idiosyncratic has your close password and is trying to interruption done your 2nd furniture of protection.
• You whitethorn beryllium facing a SIM swap attempt: SMS-based two-factor authentication is susceptible if idiosyncratic hijacks your telephone number. If you abruptly halt receiving texts oregon spot password resets tied to SMS, interaction your mobile supplier immediately.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

In immoderate cases, the connection is legitimate, arsenic seen successful the email below, but the petition didn’t travel from you. That is often a motion your login details are already successful idiosyncratic else’s hands.

Legit Microsoft password reset email  (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

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How to place suspicious password reset attempts

Unsolicited password reset alerts tin instrumentality respective forms, each with signs of imaginable fraud oregon hacking:

• Email: Most services volition nonstop a password reset nexus to your inbox. If you didn’t petition it, that is simply a reddish flag.
• Text message: You mightiness person a verification codification oregon reset nexus via SMS. While galore companies usage text-based verification, scammers besides nonstop fake messages that mimic existent ones.
• Authenticator app requests: This is often the clearest motion that idiosyncratic already has your password. If you get a 2FA punctual you didn’t trigger, idiosyncratic is trying to log successful close present and needs your support to decorativeness the process.

No substance however the alert appears, the extremity is the same. Either idiosyncratic is trying to instrumentality you into handing implicit your credentials, oregon they already person your password and are trying to decorativeness the job.

Legit Microsoft sign-in request   (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

1.7 BILLION PASSWORDS LEAKED ON DARK WEB AND WHY YOURS IS AT RISK

What to bash if you person an unrequested password reset

If you person a password reset alert you didn’t request, dainty it arsenic a warning. Whether the connection is morganatic oregon not, acting rapidly tin assistance forestall unauthorized entree and halt an onslaught successful progress. Here are the steps you should instrumentality close away.

1. Don’t click connected thing successful the message: If the alert came done email oregon text, debar clicking immoderate links. Instead, spell straight to the authoritative tract oregon app to cheque your account. If the petition was real, determination volition usually beryllium a notification wrong your account.

2. Check for suspicious login activity: Most accounts person a mode to presumption your caller logins. Look for suspicious enactment similar unfamiliar devices, unusual locations oregon logins you don’t recognize. A login from a determination you person ne'er been to could beryllium a motion of a breach.

• Google accounts: Go to myaccount.google.com and unfastened the Security tab to see recent devices and activity
• Apple ID: On your iPhone, iPad oregon Mac, open Settings (or System Settings connected Mac), pat your name astatine the top, scroll down to presumption your list of signed-in devices and pat immoderate unfamiliar 1 to select Remove from Account.
• Microsoft accounts: Visit account.microsoft.com, motion in, past spell to Security > Sign-in activity to presumption caller entree attempts
• Banking and societal media platforms: Look nether your profile oregon settings for login past oregon instrumentality management

3. Change your password: Even if thing looks wrong, it’s a bully thought to reset your password. Choose 1 that is long, analyzable and unique. Avoid reusing passwords crossed antithetic accounts. Consider utilizing a password manager to make and store analyzable passwords.  Get much details astir my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2025 here.

4. Scan your instrumentality for threats: If idiosyncratic got entree to your password, determination is simply a accidental your instrumentality is compromised. Use strong antivirus software to scan for keyloggers oregon spyware.

5. Report the incident: If the alert came from a suspicious message, study it. In Gmail, pat the three-dot paper and prime Report phishing. For different services, usage the authoritative website to emblem unauthorized activity. You tin besides record a study astatine the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center if you fishy a scam.

A pistillate moving connected her laptop  (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Steps you tin instrumentality to destruct password reset emails

You tin instrumentality a fewer steps to effort to trim the fig of emails you person requesting a password reset.

1. Double-check your username and password. When accessing your account, you whitethorn person a typo successful your login information. Should you repeatedly effort to entree your relationship with this error, the institution that holds the relationship whitethorn judge a hacking effort is occurring, triggering an automatic reset. If your web browser automatically populates your username and password for you, marque definite this accusation is escaped of typos.

2. Remove unauthorized devices. Some accounts support a database of devices authorized to usage your account. If a hacker manages to summation immoderate of your idiosyncratic information, it whitethorn beryllium capable to adhd 1 of his devices to your authorized list, triggering relationship login errors arsenic helium tries to hack your password. Check the database of authorized devices and region immoderate items you don’t recognize. 

The process varies, depending connected the benignant of account. We'll screen steps for Microsoft, Gmail, Yahoo and AOL.

Microsoft

• Sign successful to your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com.
• Click your illustration icon astatine the apical close and select My Microsoft Account.
• Scroll down to find the Devices conception and click View each devices.
• You'll spot a database of devices associated with your account. Click Show details for each 1 to reappraisal activity.
• If you spot a instrumentality you don't admit oregon nary longer use, click Remove device.

Steps to region unauthorized devices from your Microsoft account. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Gmail:

• Sign successful at myaccount.google.com.
• Go to the Security tab successful the near sidebar.
• Scroll down to the Your devices conception and click Manage each devices.
• Review the database of signed-in devices. If you spot immoderate you don't recognize, click the instrumentality and select Sign out.

Yahoo:

• Go to the Yahoo Account information page at help.yahoo.com/kb/account.
• Click on Recent activity.
• Review the database of devices and locations that person accessed your account.
• If you announcement immoderate unfamiliar activity, click Remove or Sign out adjacent to the suspicious device.

AOL:

• Sign successful to your AOL account and spell to the Recent Activity page.
• Review the sections for Recent activity, Apps connected to your account and Recent relationship changes.
• If you find immoderate enactment oregon devices that you don’t recognize, click Sign out or Remove adjacent to it.

Remember to regularly cheque your relationship settings and authorized devices to guarantee the information of your accounts. If you fishy immoderate unauthorized access, it’s besides a bully thought to alteration your passwords and reappraisal your relationship betterment options.

3. Sort specified messages to spam. If you’d similar to simply not spot these kinds of email messages, acceptable up your email lawsuit to benignant messages similar this to a spam folder. (Because galore of them are spam, immoderate email clients bash this automatically.) Should you ever legitimately petition a password reset, though, you’ll request to retrieve to look successful the spam folder for the message.

4. Use a static IP address. Some accounts effort to admit your instrumentality done your IP address. If you person a dynamic IP address, your IP code changes constantly, meaning the relationship whitethorn not admit your device, triggering the reset message. This often occurs due to the fact that you are utilizing a VPN. See if your VPN allows you to usage a static IP address.

HOW SECURE IS MY PASSWORD? USE THIS TEST TO FIND OUT 

How to support your accounts from aboriginal password attacks

Even if this was a one-time scare, it is important to tighten your wide security. Here are a fewer elemental habits that spell a agelong way:

1. Use beardown and unsocial passwords: Use a password manager to make secure, one-of-a-kind passwords for each account. Get much details astir my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2025 here.

2. Consider utilizing a idiosyncratic information removal service:  If you're receiving password reset emails from accounts you don't retrieve signing up for, oregon from aggregate services, there's a bully accidental your idiosyncratic accusation is exposed connected information broker sites. These companies cod and merchantability your data, including your email, telephone number, location code and adjacent login accusation from aged accounts. Using a reputable information removal work tin assistance you automatically place and petition the removal of your idiosyncratic information from these sites. This reduces your hazard of individuality theft, credential stuffing, phishing and spam.

While nary work tin warrant the implicit removal of your information from the internet, a information removal work is truly a astute choice. They aren’t inexpensive — and neither is your privacy.  These services bash each the enactment for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your idiosyncratic accusation from hundreds of websites.  It’s what gives maine bid of caput and has proven to beryllium the astir effectual mode to erase your idiosyncratic information from the internet.  By limiting the accusation available, you trim the hazard of scammers cross-referencing information from breaches with accusation they mightiness find connected the acheronian web, making it harder for them to people you. Check retired my apical picks for information removal services here. 

Get a free scan to find retired if your idiosyncratic accusation is already retired connected the web

3. Turn connected two-factor authentication (2FA): Enabling 2FA is 1 of the astir effectual ways to halt unauthorized access, adjacent if idiosyncratic has your password. When 2FA is active, anyone trying to log successful indispensable besides implicit a 2nd verification step, usually done an app connected your phone. If an attacker triggers a login attempt, you volition person a punctual to o.k. oregon contradict it. This gives you the powerfulness to artifact the effort successful existent clip and confirms that 2FA is moving arsenic intended.

4. Install beardown antivirus software: Install beardown antivirus bundle to drawback malware earlier it causes harm. This extortion tin besides alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your idiosyncratic accusation and integer assets safe. Get my picks for the champion 2025 antivirus extortion winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

5. Review your relationship settings: Make definite your betterment telephone fig and email are current. Remove immoderate outdated oregon unused backup methods.

6. Keep your bundle up to date: Keep your instrumentality bundle and apps up to date to spot information vulnerabilities that attackers often exploit.

7. Use a VPN to support your online activity: Avoid nationalist Wi-Fi oregon usage a VPN to support your accusation erstwhile browsing connected unsecured networks. Consider utilizing a VPN to support against hackers snooping connected your instrumentality arsenic well. VPNs volition support you from those who privation to way and place your imaginable determination and the websites that you visit. For champion VPN software, spot my adept reappraisal of the champion VPNs for browsing the web privately connected your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices

Kurt’s cardinal takeaways

It's casual to brushwood disconnected an unexpected password reset message, particularly if thing other seems retired of place. But these alerts are often the integer equivalent of a sound astatine the doorway erstwhile you weren't expecting anyone. Whether it's a hacker probing for a mode successful oregon a scammer trying to bait you, the smartest determination is to dainty each unexpected information connection arsenic a wake-up call. Taking conscionable a fewer minutes to cheque your login history, unafraid your accounts and update your passwords tin marque each the difference. Cybersecurity isn't conscionable for experts anymore. It's an integral portion of mundane life. And the much proactive you are now, the little apt you'll beryllium dealing with harm power later.

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