Your email account is the master key to your digital life. If a hacker gains access to it, they can reset passwords for every other account you own — your bank, social media, shopping accounts, and more. Here's how to tell if your email has been compromised and what to do about it.

You're locked out of your account. Friends report receiving strange emails or links from you that you never sent. You notice emails you didn't write in your sent folder. Your password suddenly doesn't work. You receive password reset emails for accounts you didn't request.

Most email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) show you recent login activity — including locations and devices. Log into your email settings and look for this information. Unfamiliar locations or devices accessing your account are a major red flag.

Visit haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address. This free service checks your email against known data breaches. If your email appears in a breach, change your password immediately — even if you don't notice any other signs.

Recover your account using your provider's account recovery process. Change your password to something strong and unique. Enable two-factor authentication immediately. Check your email forwarding rules — hackers often set up forwarding to silently copy your emails. Review connected apps and revoke any you don't recognize. Change passwords on any other accounts that use the same password.

Use a unique, strong password for your email. Enable 2FA — preferably using an authenticator app, not just SMS. Be wary of phishing emails. Don't log into your email on public computers or unsecured devices.

Treat your email account like a vault. It deserves your strongest password, your best security settings, and regular monitoring. Losing it can cascade into losing control of your entire digital life.