How to protect your server from hackers.

• A Richfield woman lost access to her Windstream email account.
• Hackers began trying to move money to new accounts and opening accounts.
• Unique strong passwords or pass-phrases can help thwart unauthorized access.

A Richfield, Ohio, woman’s recent experience losing access to her email to hackers is a good example of the importance of email security. It’s also a reminder that your email provides the keys to your online accounts. 

Hackers nearly transferred $35,000 from Anita Gantner’s retirement IRA to a different company and tried to move $350 from her bank. She has spent hours trying to regain access to accounts and cleaning up the identity theft mess. 

In early June, Gantner stopped getting new mail to her Windstream email account, which she accesses on her phone and computer. She thought that was odd. It wasn’t prompting her by saying her password was wrong or asking for a new password. She just wasn’t getting new email. 

She waited a day and tried again. Still nothing. 

She searched online to see if there were any reports of a Windstream hack. She didn’t see anything. She phoned Windstream. After waiting on the phone for about an hour − and getting disconnected four times – Gantner reached a representative who she said told her there had been an email hack of the system and someone would get back to her when the problem was resolved.

About a week later, Gantner called Windstream and asked for her account to be disabled. But a week later when her husband sent a “test email,” it went through. She called Windstream again and was told the account would be disabled.

In the meantime, Gantner started getting letters thanking her for opening new accounts. She also was locked out of her Amazon account and still hasn’t been able to get into her Facebook account. 

Why? Because when you “forget your password” or need to reset it, a reset link is sent to your email address on file. 

Avoiding fraud:An elderly man was scammed out of millions. Could the bank…