When someone steals your password, the consequences can range from inconvenient to devastating.
Step 1: Password is Stolen
A hacker gains access to your email password through a phishing attack, where you unknowingly entered your login details on a fake website.
Step 2: Email Account Compromised
The hacker logs into your email account, giving them access to:
Personal Emails: Reading your private communications.
Account Recovery: Using your email to reset passwords on other accounts (e.g., social media, banking).
Step 3: Financial Damage
The hacker uses password reset links to access your:
Banking Apps: Transferring money or making purchases.
Shopping Accounts: Ordering items using your saved payment methods.
Step 4: Identity Theft
The hacker gathers personal information from your emails and social media.
They may open new credit lines or loans in your name, damaging your credit score.
Step 5: Reputation Harm
They might impersonate you, sending inappropriate messages to your contacts or posting damaging content on your social media.
Step 6: Data Loss
If your work accounts are linked, the hacker could access or delete important professional data, potentially leading to job-related consequences.