Get ESET antivirus today! It is even more important in the days when hackers are running phishing campaigns to get the password to your Microsoft account. Unfortunately, this alert security system is now the focus of attackers.  Users are now receiving fake Microsoft accounts and unusual sign-in activity alerts as spam emails. Hackers usually send this in a bid to get access to users’ accounts. This guide will show you to identify the spam Microsoft account sign-in activity email and how to protect yourself from it.

When does Microsoft send an unusual sign-in activity email?

Microsoft sends the unusual sign-in activity email for your account to protect you. The log-in attempt does not necessarily have to be from an unsafe device before you get this alert. Whenever it notices a strange pattern in your login activities, you will get the unusual sign-in email and an SMS alert just to be sure you are the one trying to access your account.  This will be sent to the email and phone number you provided during registration for security. Hence, you must keep the details updated in case you change them. Below are some of the situations where you get the unusual sign-in activity alert:

When you sign in with a device you have never used to access your account When you sign in from a different location to the usual If you give an app or software access to your account When you sign in with an unknown IP address

If you didn’t do any of the above and you get the security alert, it is likely that the email is from spammers and may contain a phishing link. Quick Tip: Scams mainly happen when scammers steal your personal information without your permission and use it to their advantage, which is typically spamming your email. We highly suggest using Incogni, an automated personal data removal service that prevents data brokers from selling your information to others.

What can I do when I get the Unusual sign-in email from Microsoft?

If the unusual sign-in activity email you get is truly from Microsoft, your sign-in will be blocked, especially if it is a new device. To continue, you need to follow the instructions on the sign-in page and provide a security code that will be sent to one of your security contacts. Without the security code, you will not have access to your Microsoft account. This is all to keep your account safe.

How can I recognize a spam account activity email disguised as a Microsoft email?

1. Check the sender

As much as spammers and hackers try copying Microsoft’s unusual sign-in activity email format, they can’t forge the official email address. To be sure the alert you got is legit, check the sender’s email. Microsoft’s account team’s official email is [email protected].  Ensure that every letter in the email is correct, as the hacker may use similar addresses with few differences. If the email is different, know that it is a spamming email trying to bait you.

2. Investigate the format 

The hackers sending the fake alert email for phishing majorly feed on people’s fear and vulnerability. Hence, they leave some loopholes in the format of the messages. An example is the popular Microsoft unusual sign-in activity spam email received by users signed off by The Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft Team office Center. This format is so flawed that a quick check will tell you it is fake. Foremost, the original unusual sign-in activity email is always signed off by The Microsoft account team. The Microsoft Security Essentials written in the fake email is the name of the built-in security features in the old Windows operating systems. Also, Microsoft Teams is a product, and there is nothing like the Microsoft Team office center. Hence, ensure you look at the format carefully, and you will find pointers showing the email as fake.

Most phishing emails disguised as the Microsoft unusual sign-in alert have an action link or button mostly tagged Review recent activity. If you click this link, it will take you to a fake Microsoft login page. The first thing to note here is the address. The original Microsoft login address is denoted as login.live.com/. But if it is a fake link, the address will be distinctively different.

What should I do when I get a spam email?

1. Do not enter your detail

If you could detect the spam Microsoft unusual sign-in activity email before clicking any link, you only need to ignore or trash it. However, if you only got to know after clicking the link, ensure you do not enter any of your details. This is especially important if it takes you to a login page that requires you to enter your Microsoft account password.

2. Check the Microsoft recent activity page

If you didn’t perform any unusual sign-in activity and got the alert, log in to your Microsoft account from the official website. This is the best place to check your recent login activities to know if someone else is tampering with your account or if the email you received is fake.

3. Contact Microsoft

If the email persists despite not noticing any unusual activity in your account, contact the official Microsoft support. This is to verify if there is any problem with the system or if the messages are spam. Also, if you entered your details on the fake login page, the support team will tell you what to do to secure your account. Phishing and data theft are the order of the day on today’s internet. The Microsoft unusual sign-in activity spam email is of the latest methods used by hackers to get people to submit their account details.  But with this guide, you should be able to identify the fake emails and protect your account. Are you getting a scam verification email for Eversend? Then read our guide to know everything about the scam and how to protect yourself. Feel free to share your experience with the fake sign-in security alert in the comments below.

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