Username or Password for Sites Isnt Correct Please Try Again

What to consider when the system thinks otherwise.

If your password won't work and your secret questions are different, it's pretty clear what's happened and what you need to do.

Hi, my password has been the same for the last 10 years and suddenly I get a message that says password incorrect, what the hell? After a few attempts, it blocked all attempts and the question it asks is not what I filled in when I signed up. It asks me for my first dog's name and I know that I did not fill that in. What do I do, do I just go to Gmail as most of my friends did when Hotmail started with their nonsense?!

I hear this one frequently: "I know my password is correct and yet it doesn't work."

This isn't "nonsense" at all. What you think is your password isn't your password.

It's pretty clear what's happened, so I'll refer you to a number of my previous articles that might apply.

But my password is correct!

If you're absolutely certain you're entering the right password and username and your password still is not accepted, then it's no longer the correct password. Somehow the password was changed — most likely by someone else. You need to treat it as a hacked account and attempt to regain access. Then you need to secure your account to make sure this doesn't happen again.

First, the obvious

Please don't be offended — but take the time to make certain that you're typing in the password you think you are. Perhaps type it into Notepad so you can see it, and then copy/paste it into the password field of the site or app.

CAPS LOCK is your enemy here, and it's common to hear back from people who are somewhat embarrassed that it was the problem.

Also, please confirm that you're typing the username or email address in properly. For example, if you type in the wrong email address as the user name, your correct password will not be the correct password for some other (or non-existent) account.

It's (probably) a hack

If your typing is accurate and your user name is correct, the most likely scenario is that your account has been hacked.

Someone guessed or otherwise got your password and then changed it. Having done so, they also changed the recovery information — like your first dog's name — associated with your account.

The password you're convinced is correct is no longer the password to your account.

Hotmail (or Outlook.com, these days) is doing exactly the right thing: it's telling you your password is incorrect because your password is incorrect.

What to do next

Your account is no longer your account. Your next step is to attempt to recover it. Email Hacked? 7 Things You Need to Do NOW covers the steps you need to take as soon as possible.

One of the more important points from that article is reiterated in Is Changing My Password Enough? The answer is no. Particularly since you've apparently had your recovery information changed, if you do regain access to your account, you need to review absolutely everything about it.

While I don't have high hopes, if you're having trouble, you can try reaching out to Microsoft's Outlook.com customer service. How Do I Contact Outlook.com Customer Service? discusses your options.

And, for the record, I cannot help you directly. Would You Please Recover My Password? My Account Has Been Hacked or I've Forgotten It explains why, and reiterates what you need to do instead.

Prevention

Once you've either recovered your account or created a new one, focus on keeping this from happening again.

12 Steps to Keep from Getting Your Account Hacked has an important and complete list of steps you need to take to prevent account loss.

Internet Safety: 7 Steps to Keeping Your Computer Safe on the Internet includes a more global list of steps to take to keep yourself safe online.

I will say that the fact you used the same password for 10 years probably didn't help. That can make it easier for a hacker. Especially if you use the same password on other accounts (very bad idea), now would be the time to change it everywhere else also.

Do this

Start by doing everything you can to prevent this from happening again. Having your email account hacked is a pain, and can result in quite a bit of inconvenience and data loss.

Then, consider using a different account with better support options. You get what you pay for with free services, particularly when it comes to customer service and account recovery. Are Free Email Services Worth It? discusses the risks you run when using free services.

Finally, subscribe to Confident Computing, my weekly newsletter, for more tips and advice to keep your accounts and everything else secure. Less frustration and more confidence, solutions, answers, and tips in your inbox every week.

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Source: https://askleo.com/my-password-is-right/