- Scarecrow118
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- Noble Heroic Member
Okay everyone, I think this is some pretty good advice. But here a few things you can do if Microsoft fails on you.
1) Send a password reset email to an alternate address. ALWAYS create an alternate address.
2) Remember your secret question and reset it that way.
3) Set the password reset for every 72 days. This will reset the password and allow you to change it.
What I don't understand is what do people mean by "changing the Windows Live ID"? I mean is this just changing the email, or everything, including passwords, names, secret question and emails? Because if it is, then the above methods wont work if they change the ID.
I suppose the only other thing to do is get the account locked. As the saying goes, prevention is better than the cure. So to this end, here are a few tips.
1) Get internet security. This is a must if you have an internet connection.
2) Make a strong password/passphrase.
3) Set an alternate password.
4) Use a prepaid card to activate the account or buy things. This limits the damage a hacker can do and you can use that number to get it back if all else fails.
5) Don't enter sites asking you for your Live details, unless you trust them and they are well known sites. Random sites asking you for ID information in return for MS points are always trouble.
6) Make sure you remember your secret question.
If the hacker is smart enough, they can get around all of the above and the best thing you can do at that point is cut your losses and limit the damage caused. Using a prepaid card will stop them from spending thousands of dollars, and if they change it to prevent you from recovering it, they lose any source of income from it. Have it locked if there is nothing else you can do. Stop him from doing whatever he is trying to do. It may mean you lose Gamerscore, or Recon or something else, but it is better than losing thousands of dollars.
On the bright side my friend lost his account (I won't say hacked since he literally gave away the info) and it took him two weeks to get it back. The hacker didn't change the secret question and he finally remembered it, so he got it back and got some bonus Live for his troubles :D But most people will hack or steal accounts for the Gamerscore, armor, rank or Live. More often than not they will actually sell it for money or Live.
I hope this helps.