Securing your account after unauthorized access

Here's what you can do if you assume or notice unauthorized access to your GMX.

If you have learned from a reliable source that your GMX Account was hacked, you should carry out the following steps in the suggested order after you regain access to your account.

Summary

The most important steps:

  1. Changing your password immediately
  2. Performing a virus scan
  3. Checking your contact email adress and mobile number
  4. Checking filter rules and mail collectors
  5. Checking your personal data

Changing your password immediately

Changing your password is the most important step, even if you have already had it reset via customer service.

How to change your GMX password

  1. Click Home and My Account.
  2. On the left side, click Security Options.
  3. Under Password click Change password.
  4. Enter your current password.
  5. Enter the new password in the two lower boxes.
  6. Confirm the new password by clicking Save changes.
    Info:

    A strong password does not need to be changed regularly. However, it should consist of at least 8 characters, preferably 12 or more. The longer your password, the harder it is to crack. Also mix letters, numbers and special characters and switch between upper and lower case.

Performing a virus scan

Your computer may is or has been infected with a virus or trojan that spies on your keyboard input. A virus scan is therefore strongly recommended.

Info:

If you actually detect a virus infection, please change your password again after cleaning, even if you have just done so.

How to perform a virus scan

A virus scanner checks your computer for viruses and protects you from them. If you do not have a virus scanner, install Avira, for instance.

Checking your security data

Check your contact email address and your security mobile phone number and your security question. If these have been changed or are not up-to-date, update them. This is the fastest and easiest way to reset your password if necessary.

How to check your GMX security mobile phone number

Follow the instructions under "Add a mobile phone number" .

How to check GMX contact email adress

Follow the instructions under "Adding a Contact Email Address" .

Checking the filter rules and mail collectors in your settings

Filter rules and mail collectors can be used by hackers to forward your mails unauthorized and unnoticed.

How to check GMX filter rules

Follow the instructions under "Filter Rules" .

Check alias addresses and sender names

Check whether the hacker has set up an alias address or saved a new sender name to send emails from your account under another name. If you find alias addresses or sender names that were not created by you, delete them.

To check alias addresses and sender names

  1. Go to the E-mail tab and click Settings.
  2. Click Alias Addresses.
  3. Under Created E-mail Addresses, you can check which email addresses have been created in your account. To delete an email address, click the trash can icon to the right of the email address in question and confirm by clicking OK. Under Define Sender Name you will find the sender name that has been saved for your email address. To change the sender name, enter a new name and then click Save.

Checking your personal data

Your name, date of birth or postal address may have been changed. This information is important if you want to contact us via customer service.

How to check your personal data

  1. Click Home and My Account.
  2. On the left side, click Personal Data.
  3. In each area where you want to edit your data, click Edit....
  4. Enter your current data.
  5. Enter your GMX password and confirm the changes by clicking Save changes.

Was this article helpful?