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How I Lost Access to Everything in 4 Minutes

I Lost Access to Everything in 4 Minutes: A Cautionary Tale

In the early hours of the morning, at 4:40 AM to be precise, my digital life was turned upside down. Within just four minutes, an attacker managed to compromise my primary Gmail account, bypass all my security measures, and seize control over almost everything connected to it. Here’s what happened, how they did it, and what you can do to protect yourself from a similar nightmare.

The Attack

How It Started

I hadn’t received any suspicious emails, nor had I clicked on any obvious phishing links. However, the attack likely stemmed from visiting a compromised or malicious website that exploited vulnerabilities in my session data. This allowed the attacker to execute a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) or Session Token Attack.

Session tokens are unique identifiers your browser uses to stay logged into websites. In this case, the attacker intercepted mine, enabling them to act as though they were me—without needing my password or two-factor authentication (2FA).

What They Did

Once inside my Gmail account, the attacker wasted no time:

  • Added a Passkey: They introduced a secure passkey—a newer, device-based authentication method. This effectively locked me out.
  • Removed Recovery Options: My recovery email addresses and phone numbers were deleted and replaced with theirs.
  • Changed All Backup Codes: They regenerated backup codes for account recovery, cutting off every possible way for me to regain access.

By 4:44 AM, my account was fully compromised. By 4:45 AM, I was locked out entirely.

The Fallout

Losing my primary Gmail account was just the beginning. As the central hub for many of my services, its compromise rippled through my digital and personal life:

  • Social Media: They used my email to create a spam Instagram account, which was later suspended. This suspension also affected my linked Facebook account, including business pages.
  • Smart Home Devices: Lights, door locks, cameras, and other connected devices in my home were tied to the compromised account. Suddenly, I couldn’t control my own house.
  • Ecommerce and Domains: My domain provider and ecommerce store accounts were potentially at risk, forcing me to lock them down immediately.
  • Financial Services: I had to freeze all bank accounts, payment services, and credit cards to prevent unauthorized transactions.

Lessons Learned and How You Can Protect Yourself

1. Upgrade Your Security Measures

  • Use hardware security keys like YubiKey.
  • Avoid SMS-based 2FA, as it’s more vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks.

2. Be Cautious Online

  • Avoid logging into sensitive accounts on public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Use a VPN for added security.
  • Be vigilant about the websites you visit and the links you click.

3. Monitor and Audit Your Accounts

  • Regularly check recovery methods and ensure they are up to date.
  • Enable alerts for account changes and unusual login attempts.

4. Separate Critical Accounts

  • Use a dedicated email account for sensitive services like banking and IoT devices.

5. Backup Your Data

  • Maintain offline backups of important data, such as recovery codes.

6. Implement Network Segmentation

  • Create VLANs to separate business, personal, and IoT devices.

Final Thoughts

This experience was one of the most frustrating and disruptive events I’ve ever dealt with. While I’m still working to recover fully, I’m sharing this story to help others avoid a similar fate.

Stay safe, and don’t wait until it’s too late to protect yourself.