Phishers got my email address. Does Thunderbird protect me? Or do I need to get a new email address?
I pop my email forward from Verizon/Aol to Thunderbird. I don't store messages on AOL. I gave my name, phone number, and email to a phishing scheme.....woke the next morning feeling like something was wrong, googled the email address the "facebook marketplace seller" had given me, and found the address all over the internet selling cars at too-good-to-be-true prices :( My email address is used for financial accounts and other important stuff. Do I need to get a new email address for those accounts? Is my computer (Mac) now more vulnerable to hacking?
thanks very much :)
Chosen solution
Just having your email address does not give a hacker access to your accounts. You give out that email address to many people. All your accounts should be password protected. However, giving out other personal information can help a hacker 'steal' your identity. The more they know about you, the easier it is to convince a third-party that the 'hacker' is actually you.
Change your passwords regularly. Use a password manager to assist you, like Firefox Lockwise https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/getting-started-firefox-lockwise
EDIT: Add You may start receiving more 'Phishing" type of email that try to get additional information from you. If you do not trust the sender, do not reply to them.
Remember to never give out your login details until you are SURE that the site is legitimate. Don't trust the links to accounts that you receive via emails. Use your own book-marked access page, or the one listed on the written documentation from your financial institution.
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Chosen Solution
Just having your email address does not give a hacker access to your accounts. You give out that email address to many people. All your accounts should be password protected. However, giving out other personal information can help a hacker 'steal' your identity. The more they know about you, the easier it is to convince a third-party that the 'hacker' is actually you.
Change your passwords regularly. Use a password manager to assist you, like Firefox Lockwise https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/getting-started-firefox-lockwise
EDIT: Add You may start receiving more 'Phishing" type of email that try to get additional information from you. If you do not trust the sender, do not reply to them.
Remember to never give out your login details until you are SURE that the site is legitimate. Don't trust the links to accounts that you receive via emails. Use your own book-marked access page, or the one listed on the written documentation from your financial institution.
Modified by gild
thank so much As the situation played out, it seemed that this was someone trying to hook me into a financial transaction more than identity theft. They want to sell me a $6,000 car for $1600, and they are going to ship it all the way from Nebraska to Maryland at no extra charge hahaha. Hopefully, not going for their deal will be the end of this problem. The advice about protecting myself online is reassuring. I have been online since 1999 and have had more problems in the past year than the previous 2 decades combined. I think it's getting worse out there on the internet. thanks again