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My Google account was hijacked: what do I do now?
use a clean device, start Google's official recovery by typing g.co/recover in yourself, and secure every other account that used the same password. Never pay or hand ID to anyone who offers to "recover" the account for you.
What to do, in order
- If you are under 18, get a parent or guardian involved first. Attackers sometimes change the account's birthday, and Google then asks for ID or a parent's consent before it will keep the account.
- Use a clean device. If your computer may be infected, wipe it, and until you are sure it is clean, do everything from a different phone or computer.
- Start Google's official recovery. Type g.co/recover in yourself; do not use links from emails or messages. Use a device and Wi-Fi network you have signed in from before, and answer as many questions as you can.
- Only ever upload ID on Google's own site (accounts.google.com). Anyone who messages you offering to help recover the account, or asks for your ID or codes, is a scammer.
- Secure your other accounts. For Discord: reset the password, turn on two-factor authentication, and log out of all devices in Settings, then Devices. Warn your friends that recent messages from your account were not you.
- Check anything with payment details (Google Play, Steam, PayPal and so on). Change those passwords and check your bank card for anything you did not buy.
- Once you are back in, turn on 2-Step Verification for Google and Discord, so a stolen password alone is not enough next time.
How it usually happens
Many of these takeovers start with a link or a file from a friend's account that has already been hacked, often a "game mod", "free gift" or "check out my project" message on Discord. Running the file installs malware that steals saved passwords and login sessions from the browser. That is why wiping the device and changing passwords from a clean one matters.
Sources
- Google Account Help: How to recover your Google Account
- Google Account Help: Secure a hacked or compromised Google Account
- Discord Support: Securing your account
This answer started as a reply in a Reddit discussion.
Frequently asked questions
My Google account was hijacked: what do I do now?
use a clean device, start Google's official recovery by typing g.co/recover in yourself, and secure every other account that used the same password. Never pay or hand ID to anyone who offers to "recover" the account for you.