Email is by far one of the top targets for hackers. They can steal our account through different methods, such as Phishing attacks, using malware to steal the passwords we put in or finding vulnerabilities to access. Now, what can they really do with a stolen email account? We will talk about it in this article.
What do they do with a stolen email account?
If a hacker manages to steal your email account, they will have access to a lot of information and may even use it to carry out further attacks. At the end of the day, we are facing an essential service in our day to day life and that can pose a serious problem for privacy in the event that someone steals it.
They can access all your accounts
The first thing cybercriminals might do is break into all of your accounts. Have you ever forgotten the password of a social network like Facebook or any Internet account? Surely you have seen the button to remember password. That key is usually sent by email or we can generate a new one that reaches us by email.
If an attacker manages to gain access to the email account, he could give passwords to many accounts you have on the Internet. In this way he would receive the keys and could enter easily. Without a doubt, it is a problem that seriously endangers privacy and security on the network.
impersonate you
Another very important problem is that the attacker could impersonate your identity. Having access to the email account will be able to send emails on your behalf. For example, you could contact people in your environment or any other Internet user simply by using your name.
This can also be used to attack other people. Think for example of a friend or family member. If they receive an email from you, they are more likely to open it and click on a link that may contain a virus or be Phishing. A cyber criminal can take advantage of this.
Receive 2FA codes
Also worth mentioning is the possibility that you may receive two-factor authentication codes. Nowadays, many Internet services and platforms such as social networks or bank accounts require a second step to be able to log in. It is usually a code that arrives by SMS, mail or by application.
If an attacker has access to the email account, they could also receive 2FA codes that can arrive by email. You will have full control over any account that is protected in this way. It is something that will greatly affect security.
Steal sensitive information
Of course, they would also have access to everything you save in that email account. You will be able to access personal messages, business e-mails that may contain sensitive information or any data that may directly affect you or another person.
With that stolen information they can extort money. They can ask for money in exchange for not publishing sensitive data or sending it to the competition. It is basically like a ransomware attack, only in this case they are going to hijack your email account and not the files on a computer.
In short, as you have seen, they can steal your email and have very important control over your personal data and even access other accounts. It is important to avoid e-mail theft and be prepared to deal with attacks of this type that may appear on the network.
