How to Recover Your AWS Account After Hack Suspicion and Billing Oversight

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If you’ve had an AWS account and discovered that it was accessed without your permission, it’s important to take careful steps to protect your information and prevent future problems. Here’s a simple guide to help you fix the situation and safely start over with a new account.

First, don’t ignore any emails from AWS. These messages are important and often warn you about security issues. If you get an email saying your account was accessed by someone else, it’s best to take it seriously. The email may ask you to change your passwords, disable certain keys, or contact support to secure your account. Even if you don’t understand everything, follow the instructions as best you can.

Next, if you believe your account was compromised, it’s good to replace any exposed access keys and disable or delete them. If you’re unsure how to do this, AWS provides guides and support that can walk you through the process. Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) can add an extra layer of security to help prevent unauthorized access in the future.

If your account was deleted because you couldn’t sign in or didn’t understand the situation, be aware that AWS typically bans or blacklists accounts that have been compromised or misused to prevent further harm. However, creating a new account is usually allowed if you’re starting fresh and following all AWS’s terms of service.

Before creating a new account, make sure to:

– Use a strong, unique password.
– Enable MFA on your new account.
– Be cautious with shared access keys or other credentials.
– Keep an eye out for any suspicious emails or activity.

You shouldn’t be banned from creating a new AWS account unless you violate their policies, such as attempting to create multiple accounts to bypass restrictions or engaging in malicious activity. As long as you follow their rules and security best practices, you can learn and use AWS again without issues.

Remember, staying vigilant about account security and regularly monitoring your activity will help you avoid similar problems in the future.