Urgent Steps to Take After a Cybersecurity Breach: A Personal Account

In a troubling turn of events, I recently faced a severe cybersecurity crisis that left me with compromised accounts across several major platforms. My Microsoft, EA, Epic Games, Instagram, Twitter, Ubisoft, and LinkedIn accounts were breached in a matter of hours, impacting not just my online presence but also my peace of mind.

Despite taking initial precautions, the situation escalated rapidly. I ran a scan with Malwarebytes, which identified and removed eight threats—two of which were confirmed malware while the others appeared to be potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). However, this did little to mitigate the ongoing issues. Even after these actions, I woke up to find that yet another EA account had been compromised, alongside my Supercell account.

The aftermath of this breach has been overwhelmingly frustrating. My Instagram account is now harassing my contacts by following random users and posting offensive content, such as adult material and cryptocurrency scams. Each day lost to recovery feels like a small victory snatched away.

In desperate attempts to regain control, I reached out to customer support for each affected platform. However, my experience has been far from satisfactory. LinkedIn’s support has proved to be almost unresponsive, and Instagram’s assistance has been equally frustrating. Their standard advice—resetting my password and enabling two-factor authentication—hasn’t resolved the underlying issues.

If you find yourself in a similar predicament, here are some steps to consider:

Immediate Account Recovery: Start by changing your passwords on all affected accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for each.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If you haven’t already, ensure that 2FA is activated for all your accounts to provide an additional layer of security.
Run Comprehensive Security Scans: Utilize trusted software like Malwarebytes to conduct thorough scans of your devices. Regularly update your antivirus software.
Keep a Record of All Communications: When contacting support teams, document all communications—dates, names, and any steps they suggest.
Consider Professional Help: If your situation worsens or feels unmanageable, seeking professional cybersecurity assistance may be necessary.
Educate Yourself About Phishing and Scams: Stay informed about common tactics used by cybercriminals. Awareness is your first line of defense.