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Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy
Managing personal Outlook.com account settings, security, and privacy
Hello JAY_ANN,
Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community.
I am sorry you are experiencing this issue. When you receive one-time code (code) that you did not request, Microsoft recommends you ignore it. Without this code, anyone trying to access your account will fail. It could also be a case of someone who mistakenly entered your email address or a technical issue.
I pulled this information from Microsoft article: https://support.microsoft.com/office/eba43e04-d348-b914-1e95-fb5052d3d8f0
"If you received an email alerting you to an unusual sign-in attempt on your account but you have not done anything different with your account recently, follow these steps to review your account security:
- Sign in to the Security basics page for your Microsoft account. https://account.microsoft.com/security
- Select Review activity to check for any unusual sign-in attempts on the Recent activity page https://support.microsoft.com/office/23cf5556-4dbe-70da-82c8-bb3a8d8f8016
If you see account activity that you are sure wasn't yours, let Microsoft know and they can help secure your account—if it's in the Unusual activity section, you can expand the activity and select This wasn't me. If it's in the Recent activity section, you can expand the activity and select Secure your account.
- If you think someone else may have accessed your account, go back to the Security basics page and select Change password. Create a strong password that you can remember, and don't share it with anybody else."
Reference: https://support.microsoft.com/office/eba43e04-d348-b914-1e95-fb5052d3d8f0.
I pulled this information from Microsoft article: "You can find information on how to help keep your Microsoft account safe and secure:
- Set a Strong Password for your account: A strong password should contain at least 12 characters with a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
To change your password, go to login.live.com and sign in if you aren't already. Next, click your profile picture at the top-right corner of the page and choose My Microsoft account to access your account settings. Click the Change password link at the top right of your list, If you don't see it, click Security > Change my password.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Two-step verification helps protect you by making it more difficult for someone else to sign in to your Microsoft account. It uses two different forms of identity: your password, and a contact method (also known as security info). Even if someone else finds your password, they'll be stopped if they don't have access to your security info. This is also why it's important to use different passwords for all your accounts. How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account: https://support.microsoft.com/office/c7910146-672f-01e9-50a0-93b4585e7eb4
- Be Aware of Phishing: Email phishing attempts to steal sensitive information from you by presenting as legitimate to get account credentials. It is recommended that users never clicking links in suspicious emails. Don't trust messages claiming that you need to verify your Outlook password to upgrade your mailbox size, as they may be phishing attempts. Microsoft will never ask you for your password. Also, emails stating your account will be deleted if you don't act soon are also phishing attempts to get your account credentials.
- Keep Your Account Recovery Information updated: This is a very important step that is often neglected by users. Updating your account recovery information will allow you easily regain access to your account in an unfortunate incident. Add security info to your account to make it easier to recover your account if it’s hacked. Because this info can help keep your account safe, it's important to keep it up to date. Add or update your security info on the Security basics page using link https://account.microsoft.com/security. Or, learn more about Security info & security codes using link https://support.microsoft.com/office/bf2505ca-cae5-c5b4-77d1-69d3343a5452 and get steps to help protect your account today.
- Review Account Activity Regularly: You can review the history on your Microsoft account to confirm that the only activity taking place is your own. Use link: https://account.live.com/activity If you receive an email notifying you of unusual activity, you can see when and where your account has been accessed—including successful sign-ins and security challenges—on the Recent activity page. Microsoft learns how you usually sign in to your account and flags events that are suspicious.
- Keep your devices safe: Always check to make sure that sure your account isn't tied to any old phones or PCs. If you lose or give away a device that you use to sign in to your Microsoft account, or if you know that someone else has access to your devices for whatever reason, be proactive and remove the trusted status from your devices. To remove trusted devices, go to the Security basics page, select more security options, scroll down to Trusted Devices, and then select Remove all the trusted devices associated with my account.
For more information, see how to add a trusted device to your Microsoft account using link: https://support.microsoft.com/office/fe3860c8-bc04-9770-e218-b4fd6b767f4b
- Protect your password: Don’t use the same password you use on other sites and remember to change your Microsoft account password (as well as other passwords) regularly. Watch out for email social engineering scams designed to trick you into turning over your password to a cybercriminal.
- Always update your operating system: Most operating systems have free software updates to enhance security and performance. Because updates help keep your mobile and computer safer, we strongly recommend that you set up your device to get these updates automatically. You can set up your PC to get the latest updates automatically for Windows."
Reference: https://support.microsoft.com/office/628538c2-7006-33bb-5ef4-c917657362b9
Let me know if you need more help.
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Kind regards Eunice