Life · Scam-safe digital life
Been hacked? Identity theft and data breach recovery
Six short lessons for when something has gone wrong: the signs of identity theft and hacked accounts, the first-hour recovery steps, what to do about a data breach notice, protecting your credit, and exactly where to report and get help in Australia, the UK and the US.
About this course
Been hacked? Identity theft and data breach recovery.
Starter · About 0.75 hours of learning · 6 lessons · 15 quick checks · 1 download
Who it's for
Adults in Australia, the UK, the US and elsewhere who think they’ve been hacked, had their identity stolen, or been caught in a data breach.
How it works
6 guided lessons in your browser, with worked examples, exercises and a quick check after each lesson. Progress is saved in this browser only, and you can restart at any time.
Sources we rely on
19 published sources, mostly regulators and official bodies, listed below so you can check the original guidance yourself.
By the end you can
- Tell identity theft, a hacked account and a data breach apart, and spot the signs of each
- Recover a hacked account in the right order, starting with email
- Respond to a data breach notice with actions matched to the data exposed
- Choose the right credit protection for your country and handle lost or stolen documents
- Report to the right places, get free support and set up a short prevention routine
Downloads
- Hacked account and identity theft recovery plan .docxFirst-hour checklist, account recovery details, breach actions by data type, credit protection by country, AU/UK/US reporting contacts and a recovery log.
Rules by country
Learning time
About 0.75 hours of learning. May count towards your CPD or professional development; check your professional body's rules. Estimated from reading time, exercises, quick checks and downloads.
Sources
Check the originals.
Drafted with AI assistance and run through automated quality and source checks. How these courses are made. Spotted an error or out-of-date rule? Send a correction.
General information only. Life courses don't give health, financial or legal advice.
- Recovering a hacked account · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- Data breaches: guidance for individuals and families · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- Respond to a data breach notification · Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
- What To Know About Identity Theft · Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice (US)
- What To Know About Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts · Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice (US)
- IdentityTheft.gov: report identity theft and get a recovery plan · Federal Trade Commission (US)
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov · Federal Trade Commission (US)
- Identity theft · Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO, UK)
- Protective Registration · Cifas, UK fraud prevention service (not-for-profit membership body)
- Report Fraud: the place to report, prevent, and learn about cyber crime & fraud · Report Fraud, City of London Police (UK)
- Report Fraud service goes live (4 December 2025) · Report Fraud, City of London Police (UK)
- Personal cyber security handbook: Getting help · ASD’s ACSC (Australia)
- IDCARE: national identity and cyber support service · IDCARE (Australia and New Zealand)
- Stop. Check. Protect. · Scamwatch, National Anti-Scam Centre (ACCC, Australia)
- Report a scam email · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- Report a scam text · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- Public Service Announcement I-120324-PSA: criminals use generative AI to facilitate financial fraud · FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3, US)
- Turn on 2-step verification (2SV) · National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, UK)
- How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams · Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice (US)
Publisher
Who publishes this course.
Published by trainyourself.org, a trading name of Combine TRS Pty Ltd (ABN 42 112 983 678), Brisbane, Australia.
How it's made: drafted with AI assistance from published official, government and vendor guidance, then run through automated quality checks against our course depth standard and automated source checks that match each rule to its official source, listed above. The course guide is an AI presenter and is labelled as one. Read how these courses are made.
Last updated:
General information, not legal, financial, medical or professional advice. Spotted an error or an out-of-date rule? Send us a correction.
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