Someone's hacking into my account

So, basically on several occasions the same thing happens (most recently two nights ago)—I try to log in and get a message saying: Susan Price30, you are already logged in under the username Susan Price30... followed by some further explanation.

(By the way, this is the second time I've copied the entire text from the pop-up window because last time I didn't manage to do it—I just ran out of time and didn't think to.)

I definitely wasn't logged in when this happened (in fact, there were times I hadn't even logged in for days before it occurred).

So, I'm wondering why this keeps happening, what the possible explanations are, and if there's any way to prevent it.

Thanks

Btw, if any additional info or details regarding what I suspect is going on with my account are needed, I'm happy to forward them to administration for review.

Even if it seems unrelated, certain information might not be confidential since databases containing specific details about individuals or criminal activities are public and accessible (in the USA, at least, certain records are made available through public registries, newspapers, or wherever it serves the public interest).

I am curious about why this occurs. What are the possible explanations, and is there any way to prevent it?

Does anyone have an answer?

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The system didn't actually log you out the last time you were signed in. That's why "someone" is currently logged in, when in reality, it's just you. Is it possible this keeps happening because you're logging in from the UK? Everything over there seems to be backwards, including their internet.

I had the exact same thought regarding the first option.

But since there were times when I hadn't logged in for days, I find it hard to believe the system would have just kept me signed in the entire time.

.

The technical admin probably has a better handle on this; I'm pretty much a layman when it comes to tech stuff anyway.

Just grab a toothpick and give the splitter a little nudge; that should do the trick.

Well done, Ed.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but... have you actually thought about changing your password yet?

Susan Price30 said:but since there were times I hadn't even logged in for days, I kind of doubt the 'system' kept me logged in that whole time

Look, if you checked that little box to stay logged in, you could have been stuck logged in for years.

The odds of someone actually cracking into your account are incredibly low. Honestly, you’re mostly just asking for trouble if you use predictable passwords—like if Susan Price30 uses "SusanPrice30" as her password. Beyond that kind of obvious stuff, it isn't exactly easy to just waltz into someone's account.

Sarah Doyle54 said:If you checked that "remember me" box during login, you could have stayed logged in for years.

I’ve never actually clicked that option because I usually just hop on during my work breaks or from my laptop while traveling; when I'm home, I have much more important things to do...😁

Also, from what I've noticed, if you don't manually log out, the forum automatically signs you out after a certain amount of time, so it doesn't seem like it lasts forever....

Susan Price30 said:Also, I’ve noticed that if you don't log out manually, the forum automatically kicks you off after a certain amount of time. So, it doesn't really seem like it's totally unlimited after all...🤷

It’s basically unlimited. The only way they actually catch you is if you clear your cookies or just go ahead and reinstall the browser entirely.

Honestly, looking at some of the posts on this forum, you’d think they required an Intelligence Quotient test just to log in. 🤷

Matthew Anderson said:The odds of someone actually hacking into your account are incredibly slim. You really only increase that risk if you’re using super basic passwords—like using a username like Susan Price30 with a password like susanprice123. Beyond that, breaking into an account isn't as easy as people think.

So, it looks like Sophia Thomas7, who clearly knows her way around a computer, is pretty much on the mark here.🙏

A password like this might give some people enough of a clue to start guessing (it's not quite as glaringly obvious as 😁 suggests, but still, it could definitely be more complex).

Susan Price30 said:Basically, Sophia Thomas7—who actually knows her way around a computer—is getting pretty close to cracking the code here.🙏

With a password like this, I guess some people might have a fighting chance at guessing it (it’s not quite as glaringly obvious as 😁 suggests, though it could definitely be more complex).

So, here’s the simplified version of how it works. When you log in, you can check that 'remember me' box, which tells your browser to hang onto your session. Unless you manually log out, you should technically stay logged in indefinitely. I say "should," because I can't rule out the possibility of a glitch somewhere on the forum itself. But if you reinstall your browser or decide to clear your cache (you know, clicking that 'delete cookies, forms, whatever' button), you'll be logged out.

Also, if you're jumping between multiple devices and stayed logged in on one of them, it's entirely possible you'll still show up as active on the forum even if you logged out of your desktop.

I'm not sure what setup you're using, so I'm just shooting in the dark.

Raymond Ross33 said:Honestly, looking at some of the nonsense being posted on this forum, I’m starting to think they should require an Intelligence Quotient test just to log in. 🤷

🤣 🤣 🤣

Susan Price30 said:So, Sophia Thomas7, who actually knows her way around a computer, is basically about to explain it all.🙏

Go ahead. 🤣 🤣 🤣

Sophia Thomas7 really does know her stuff, but this isn't some high-level tech crisis. Knowing a) that the site won't log you out automatically if you tell it to remember you, and b) that you should probably rotate your main passwords every once in a while, is basic digital literacy. It's common sense. But hey, I hope she charges you an hourly consulting fee for the lesson. 😈

Sarah Doyle54 said:🤣 🤣 🤣

Come on. 🤣 🤣 🤣

Sophia Thomas7 definitely knows her way around a computer, but this isn't exactly an issue that calls for a tech expert. Knowing a) that the site won't log you out if you select "remember me" and b) that updating your major passwords every once in a while is just basic digital literacy. But hey, I hope she charges you an hourly consulting fee for the advice. 😈

Nah, he's actually a good guy. 😁

I've been changing my passwords constantly.🤷

Look at the other person—I'm not exactly some newbie; I know my way around a computer just fine (that stuff about the 'tudum' earlier was just a joke 😍)

Just poking fun a little, don't take it personally, but I had to laugh. Seriously though, go ahead and change your password and just be more careful when you log in next time. 😘

Susan Price30 said:Nah, I think he's doing fine. 😁

To be fair, you were actually the first one to bring up changing the password—so yeah, you called it. 🙏(I had to swap mine out last time this happened, too... looks like I'm due for another reset.)

If you're just browsing on your own laptop, you might want to grab a LastPass extension to make things easier.

Matthew Anderson said:If you're using your own laptop for browsing, you should really check out LastPass.

I've always wondered what actually happens to your LastPass data if someone just swipes your laptop. 😁

Sarah Doyle54 said:I’ve always wondered what actually happens to your LastPass data if someone manages to swipe your laptop. 😁

LastPass has its own online and offline modes, plus it uses a separate master password on top of everything else. If someone actually manages to swipe your laptop, you can just hop onto their website, reset your password, and call it a day. Problem solved.

I really have to give a shout-out to the top brass here for being so incredibly "on top of things" regarding my report about someone hacking into my account.

Sarcasm mode
NFL
☕