Australians rely on online accounts for all sorts of services, from banking and shopping, to messaging and file sharing. While online accounts can be convenient for users, they are not without risk. Cybercriminals highly value our accounts because they can be used to steal our personal information, money and identity.
Before you begin
- If you can no longer access your files or have received a ransom note it is possible you have been infected with ransomware. For specific recovery advice, follow our guidance on ransomware.
- Some malware can steal the login details for your accounts. This is a common cause of account compromise. If you suspect that your account was compromised as a result of malware, or if you’re not sure how your account was compromised, follow the steps below on a device you know is free from malware. Otherwise your account may be compromised again.
If you need cyber security assistance call the Australian Cyber Security Centre 24/7 Hotline on
1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371)
Steps to recover your account
Email accounts
Email accounts are valuable targets for cybercriminals. Not just because they store sensitive messages, but also because they can be used to impersonate the account owner, to spread scams, and to perform password resets.
Bank accounts
Bank accounts are among the most important accounts to us and the most prized accounts to cybercriminals.
Other accounts
Online accounts are important for our day-to-day activities and often store sensitive information about us. This can make them useful for cybercriminals looking to gain access to our resources or identities.