Hotmail security features

Hotmail security features

Hotmail, the free webmail service from Microsoft, includes security features that can help protect you from spam and fraud. If you do not have a Hotmail account, you can get one now.

Looking for information about how to change your Hotmail password? If you think that your Hotmail account has been hacked, you can reset your password. Even if you don’t think that you’ve been hacked, you can increase your security by changing your password. To change your Hotmail password (which is also your Windows Live ID password), sign in and change your password on the Account overview page in the Account security section.

Get rid of spam

Hotmail uses Microsoft SmartScreen to filter spam. This is the same technology that businesses and governments use to help protect their employee email. Most of the time, SmartScreen works behind the scenes to separate legitimate messages from spam and help keep your inbox free of scams.

When you receive email from a sender that Hotmail has verified, the trusted sender icon appears next to the message. The trusted sender icon is a green shield with a check mark. This icon helps you determine if a message comes from a legitimate sender such as your bank or the Windows Live team.

If you trust the person or website that sent you a message, you can mark them as safe. This sends any messages from them straight to your inbox. For more tips, see Hotmail: Keep junk mail out.

Hotmail also lets you delete non-spam messages that you don’t want, like a newsletter you signed up for a long time ago and don't read anymore. To learn more see Clean up your inbox.

For more information about getting rid of spam in Hotmail and other email programs, see Help keep spam out of your Inbox.

Watch for yellow and red safety bars

Hotmail automatically verifies senders and uses a safety bar within an email message to warn you about potentially harmful senders.

A yellow safety bar in your email message means that the message contains blocked attachments, pictures, or links to websites. If you don't recognize and trust the sender of the message, don't download any attachments or pictures and don't click any links in the message.

A red safety bar in an email message means that the message you received contains something that might be unsafe and has been blocked by Hotmail. We recommend that you don't open these types of email messages and that you delete them from your inbox.

Connect with HTTPS

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) helps protect information that's sent over the Internet. Hotmail always uses HTTPS to encrypt your sign-in information (logon and password). When you log on to your Hotmail account at https://www.hotmail.com you have extra security when you read or write email. But this extra security disappears if you check your calendar, edit a contact, or go to another site. For the most secure connection, change your Hotmail settings to use HTTPS.

HTTPS helps keep your account secure from hackers, especially if you commonly use public computers or unsecure wireless connections.

Keep your email address private

If you don't want to give your personal email address to online retailers or others who might send unwanted email, you can create another email address, or "alias," within your account. When someone sends an email to your alias, it goes to a folder in Hotmail that you designate. When you're done with the alias, you can delete it.

When you use an alias, people will not know your real email address. This means less spam and more privacy.

Hotmail lets you create up to five email aliases within your account each year. You can create a different alias for each aspect of your online life. For example, you might have one alias for gaming, one for communicating with old friends, and one for your work life.

For step-by-step instructions, see Create an alias.

Recover your account if it gets hacked

Hotmail now lets you recover your account by associating it with information that hackers cannot easily access, like your mobile phone number. For example, if you lose your password, or your account is compromised, Hotmail sends you an account-recapture code in a text message to help you regain access to your account.

You can also set up a "trusted PC" to recapture a hijacked account. You can associate your Hotmail account with one or more of your personal computers. Then, if you ever need to regain control of your account by resetting your password, use one of your trusted computers and Hotmail will know you are the legitimate owner.

Help your hacked friends

If cybercriminals hack into a Hotmail account, they can send messages that look like they originate from a trusted source. The first people to know that a Hotmail account has been compromised are often people in the recipient's contact list, who get unwanted or even dangerous spam from the hacked account. This spam can contain malicious links or fake stories about how the sender is in danger and needs money right away.

If you get mail like this, you can use a feature in Hotmail that lets you report someone else's account has been hacked. You can even use this feature for messages from people who use other email providers.

For more information, see Hey! My friend's account was hacked.

Be safer when you use a public computer

When you sign in to Hotmail from a public computer, like those at airports, coffee shops, and Internet cafes, you can now use a single-use code to sign in. A single-use code is like a disposable password that you use only once. That means that you do not have to type your password into a computer that might be controlled by a cybercriminal.

To get a single-use code, click Sign in with a single-use code, and Hotmail will send a one-time use authentication code to a cell phone or another email address that you've already given them. You can opt to use the one-time code, instead of your password, to access your account on a public computer.

For more information, see Hotmail: Tips to help you protect your account.