Hacked and Compromised Email Account: What Should I Do?

[+ Axiom2001]

Since November 2025, I've had difficulty with my email account.  I changed my banking information and requested not receiving any emails from my financial institution.  

...had a wonderful I T come to my house to restore my original FB account, to reclaim my PWs, etc.  His expert work only lasted for about a month, for that friggin' hacker has been   at it again.

I rang my I T yesterday, and he will make an appointment later today or for another time.  

When he arrives, I'll, ask him if I should I create a new email account name and password, for about thirty minutes ago I received a brief notice on my screen requesting that I put in my password in order to access emails that are financially related.  

(I have already resorted to receiving my bills via mail as well as paying a few of them in person.  But I am afraid that both methods will be completely discontinued within a few years, for everything will be operated via cell phones and computers (technologically).)

To you in the know, I'd appreciate your advice prior to my I T's arrival.

[RadioRob]

Ultimately the question becomes how is the attacker gaining access to the account in the first place. If you change email addresses for example and your phone is compromised… the attacker will simply follow the chain and access the new account. 

For that email account, what are the various ways you access it?  Are each of those ways secure?  (No malware on your computer/phone etc)  Do you have a way to enable more secure ways of accessing email such as two factor authentication or client certificates?  That way even if they have your password they would need access to a trusted device to access the account.

[+ Axiom2001]

On 4/9/2026 at 2:01 PM, RadioRob said:

Ultimately the question becomes how is the attacker gaining access to the account in the first place. If you change email addresses for example and your phone is compromised… the attacker will simply follow the chain and access the new account. 

For that email account, what are the various ways you access it?  Are each of those ways secure?  (No malware on your computer/phone etc)  Do you have a way to enable more secure ways of accessing email such as two factor authentication or client certificates?  That way even if they have your password they would need access to a trusted device to access the account.

I truly thank you for addressing my concern, and in response to your initial question--  the only manner in which I gain access to my gmail account is via my computer; I don't use my phone to email or text.  

Last Thursday or Friday, when my  I T was scheduled to see me in conjunction with the problem, instead of his coming to my residence, he worked from afar via his phone, something  that surprised me, for he had my cell phone number that we used for back-up when he came to fix the problem a few weeks back.  He also had my password that I'd given to him when he sat in my study doing the work a few weeks back.  

(When I was at the Apple Store in December, the main man who worked with me and my problem, did NOT ask for my PW; he had me type it in, and from there he proceeded to fix what ailed my computer.  One thing that he did was have me use the same PW for both my gmail and yahoo accounts.  My new man did not, and right now I don't have a back up which has been problematic, for when doing business now, many companies request something else for verification to find out if it is really I who's making charges, etc.)

A very good friend of mine  recommended this new I T to me, so I trusted his recommendation.  Right now I am dubious, but when David's due back within in few days--I will address this problem again and hope that he'll address this situation honestly.

[+ Axiom2001]

The man who was recommended by my good friend came to me two days ago.  I told him that I'd wanted to reset my PW to get into my computer.  I reset it but when he was doing some other configuration--he asked for it; I in my not seriously thinking revealed it to him.  He obtained my initial Facebook account, but it did NOT have the background material; it had a list of friends along with a lot of other ones, folks who I don't know and do not desire to defend.

...woke up the next day, and at the bottom of my screen are icons for CONTACTS, MESSAGES, REMINDERS,NOTES, PRINT CENTER, PASSWORDS-- items that I DID NOT REQUEST David to put on my computer, and prior to his coming to my house the other day, he rang me and did some work via phone from his house.  I DID NOT like this at all.

RIGHT now on 04.21.26--I am extremely uncomfortable regarding my computer/internet/.  I DO NOT want to do any financial business via the net, for I feel David would be able to obtain as well as access.  A while back I asked my creditors and my bank to delete my email account from my account: all complied.  I am receiving my statements via mail.

What advice could you offer in terms of my dilemma?  (I hate to be dubious about David, for my good friend recommended him, and he seemed on the up and up, but his configuring things w/o discussing with me first really have me question his actions without discussing with me first.  I DON'T WANT ALL OF THOSE icons that he placed on my computer, for I only want to do certain things, and that is all.  

BEFORE I STOP HERE, there is one more thing-- I asked him a basic question about my printer: he gave me a response that I honored; then he stated that I should leave it on at all times, for HP's (...can't remember what he stated; we also discussed the price of ink--he talked about a company that provides a plan.  When he returned home, he placed his icon on my computer (Dr. Dave); since I did NOT take advantage of his offer, he removed his icon (something that I am glad that he did); he also told me to leave my computer on at all time; well, later that day when I went into my study, my printer was doing some sort of faxing, something that I did not execute: I immediately stopped it as well as turn off my printer.

Right now, although I took my friend's advice in hiring him to do what I needed--I am in one hell of a fix.  Should I ring him and discuss my situation with him, or should I take my problem to the Apple Store or to Best Buy.  They helped me with my initial problem which began in November of last year to discuss the above, or should I call David and ask him to remove everything that he placed on my computer from his home?