Why did secureserver net godaddy access my gmail account?
Why did secureserver.net (GoDaddy) access my Gmail account?
One day later... Gmail reports suspicious activity... really?
So... Why did secureserver.net (GoDaddy) access my Gmail account?
According to my web searching, secureserver.net is a domain that's owned and operated by GoDaddy, and secureserver net GoDaddy provides email services to its customers. For example, GoDaddy customers can set their SMTP server for outgoing email to smtp.secureserver.net, and use that to send outgoing email. Similarly, GoDaddy customers can read their email there (via POP or IMAP). It appears that GoDaddy also occasionally sends emails to its customers from the secureserver.net domain. GoDaddy may also use it for other purposes as well.
Did you perhaps enter your gmail account and gmail password into the secureserver.net website, or provide it to GoDaddy? Perhaps their software on that domain will check your Gmail for you if you provide it with your Gmail username and password (I am speculating now, as I am not a GoDaddy customer).
If you want to know for sure why secureserver.net accessed your Gmail account, I suggest contacting GoDaddy support.
P.S. As @tylerl suggests: change your Gmail password now.
Change your security question, too. Then, go to the Activity Monitor (click on "Details" next to the thing saying "Last account activity: X minutes ago at this IP (xx.xx.xxx.xx)") and click "Sign out all other sessions".
Also, check the list of secondary email addresses and the forwarding options for your Gmail account to make sure that your Gmail is not being forwarded somewhere (a favourite ploy of hackers, if they gain access to your Gmail account, is to set up a secondary address or forward your email to themselves, so they can regain access later using a password reset).
While you're at it, consider enabling 2-step verification); once that is activated, logging into Gmail will require both your Gmail password and access to your phone. This will help prevent cases where others try to log onto your Gmail, since they won't know the verification code that is sent to your phone.
Also, you could check the Gmail Activity Log (Activity Monitor), to see if it has any further details about what accesses have been made to your Gmail account.
Answer (1)
If you noticed that "secureserver.net" or "GoDaddy" accessed your Gmail account, it could be due to several legitimate or potentially concerning reasons. Here are a few possibilities:
Legitimate Reasons
Linked Services and Integrations: If you have linked your Gmail account to a service provided by GoDaddy, such as email hosting or a domain management service that requires access to your Gmail, this could be a reason for the access. For example, you might have integrated a GoDaddy service to manage your emails via Gmail.
Third-Party Apps and Permissions: Sometimes, when you use a third-party app or service that requires access to your Gmail account, you might inadvertently grant permissions to access your emails. GoDaddy could be involved if the app uses their infrastructure.
GoDaddy Workspace Email: If you are using GoDaddy’s Workspace Email or another email hosting service provided by GoDaddy, it might require access to your Gmail for syncing or migrating emails.
Potentially Concerning Reasons
Phishing or Unauthorized Access:
If you didn't intentionally grant access to GoDaddy or any of its services, this could indicate a security issue. Unauthorized access can occur through phishing attacks or if someone has gained access to your Gmail account credentials.
Misconfigured Settings:
Sometimes, email forwarding settings or other configurations might cause unexpected access. For instance, if you have set up email forwarding from your Gmail to a GoDaddy email account, it might show as access from GoDaddy.
Steps to Take
Check Authorized Apps:
Go to your Google Account settings and review the list of apps that have access to your account:
- Open Google Account settings.
- Go to "Security" and then "Manage third-party access" under "Third-party apps with account access".
- Review the list and remove any apps you do not recognize or no longer use.
1. Change Your Password:
If you suspect unauthorized access, change your Gmail password immediately. Ensure it's strong and unique.
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
Enable 2FA on your Google account to add an extra layer of security. This will require a second form of verification when logging in.
3. Review Security Activity:
Check the recent security activity in your Google Account to see if there have been any unauthorized logins or changes.
4. Contact Support:
If you're unsure why the access occurred, you can contact Google or GoDaddy support for further clarification and assistance.
By taking these steps, you can better understand why "secureserver.net" or "GoDaddy" accessed your Gmail account and ensure your account remains secure.