It may happen that spam is being sent from your e-mail account. This happens when someone gains unauthorised access and uses your login credentials to connect to our mail server and send messages in your name.
When this occurs, it means that the password for your specific email account has been compromised. To protect your account and prevent further misuse, we take immediate action by resetting your password. This ensures that the unauthorised party can no longer access your mailbox or send spam through our servers.
You will receive an e-mail notification informing you that your password has been changed for security reasons. After receiving this message, you will need to set a new, strong password and update it in your e-mail programs and devices to restore access.
Possible causes of spam
The security of your account or website can be compromised in several ways. Common causes include:
- Using the same password across multiple services
If one of those services is breached, attackers can often use the same credentials to access other accounts. - Sharing passwords with others
Even well-intentioned sharing can lead to accidental leaks or misuse. - Using a public computer
Public or shared computers may store login data or be infected with malware that captures your credentials. - Connecting to a public Wi-Fi network
Open or unsecured networks can allow attackers to intercept your data, including usernames and passwords. - Falling victim to phishing or malware
Phishing e-mails and malicious software can trick you into revealing your login information or use keyloggers to record what you type.
For detailed instructions on how to clean and secure your website, please refer to the following manual.
Steps to restore your e-mail access
When an account is compromised, acting quickly is crucial to limit potential damage. If you discover that your account is being misused, follow these steps:
- Change your passwords immediately
Not only the password for the affected account, but also the passwords of your other important accounts. It is often unclear how or to what extent your personal information has been exposed, so a broad password reset is the safest approach. - Thoroughly scan your computer(s) for viruses and malware
Use a reliable antivirus and anti-malware program to thoroughly scan all your devices.
If any threats or suspicious files are found, remove them and change your passwords again afterwards to ensure that your system is fully secure.
Changing your e-mail account password
You can change the password of an e-mail account in DirectAdmin. To do this, go to 'E-mail Accounts', which can be found under the 'E-mail Manager' category. This is also the section where you originally created the e-mail account.
For step-by-step instructions, please refer to this guide.