I Lost Access to My Email. Here's How It Changed My Career Path

A few years ago, I suddenly lost access to my email.

I didn't understand cybersecurity well enough to know what had happened. I only knew that I couldn't get into an account I relied on, and that I needed to get it back.

Thankfully, I was able to recover it through the recovery option connected to the account.

The experience that stayed with me

At the time, I thought I wanted to go into full-stack development. I enjoyed building things, and that was the path I had in mind.

But that experience stayed with me.

Later, when I started learning cybersecurity, I began to look at what had happened from a different angle. I realised I was becoming more interested in how systems, networks, digital information and accounts can be protected, and in the people who depend on them.

That is what moved me from full-stack development towards cybersecurity and networking. I'm still learning, and this blog is where I'm documenting the journey.

So, how can someone lose access to an account?

There is rarely one single answer, but some common ways include:

• Weak or reused passwords: if one is guessed or exposed, every account that uses it is at risk.
• Phishing: a type of cyberattack that uses fraudulent emails, text messages or phone calls to trick people into sharing sensitive data or downloading malware.
• Data leaks: when another website is breached, the details you used there can end up in the wrong hands.

I still don't know exactly how it happened to me. But I learned how to avoid it next time, and that is what I want to share.

3 ways to protect your accounts

1. Use strong, unique passwords

Your password is the first lock on your account.

• Use a minimum of 8 characters. Longer is even better.
• Mix capital letters, small letters, numbers and symbols.
• Never reuse the same password across accounts. If one leaks, the others stay safe.

A password manager can help you keep track of them all.

2. Turn on 2-step verification

2-step verification adds a second step to logging in, so your password alone is not enough. Set it up properly:

• Add a recovery email and a phone number, so you can get back in if something goes wrong.
• Use an authenticator app to generate your codes.
• Save your backup codes somewhere safe, such as a password manager or a secure offline place.

Start with your email, since it is often used to reset your other accounts.

3. Practise phishing awareness

• Verify before you click unexpected links. Check the sender's address and the web address before you sign in.
• Never share your passwords or verification codes with anyone, however official the message looks.
• Limit the personal information you share online. The more an attacker knows about you, the more convincing their messages can be. This is called social engineering.

Final thoughts

These are small habits, and none of them is difficult. Together, they make it much harder to lose access to your accounts.

Don't wait until you lose access to an account before you start securing it.

Have you ever lost access to an account, or had a cybersecurity experience that taught you something? Share your story or your own security tip in the comments. I'd love to learn from you too.