Unauthorized account access often leaves subtle patterns in your activity logs. Knowing what to look for helps you detect suspicious activity early—before significant privacy damage occurs. Here are 20+ risk patterns that signal potential unauthorized access.

Login & Access Patterns

1. Unfamiliar IP Addresses

Logins from IP addresses you don't recognize—especially from different cities, states, or countries—signal potential unauthorized access. Attackers often use VPNs or proxy servers, making IP addresses appear from unfamiliar locations.

2. Suspicious Login Locations

Access from physical locations you haven't visited, or simultaneous logins from multiple distant locations, indicates someone else may have access to your account.

3. Unusual Login Times

Logins during hours when you're typically inactive (late night or early morning) can indicate someone else is accessing your account.

4. Rapid Geographic Changes

Logins from multiple cities or countries within short timeframes are physically impossible and signal unauthorized access.

5. Multiple Concurrent Sessions

Multiple active sessions from different devices or locations suggest someone else is logged into your account simultaneously.

Device & Browser Patterns

6. Unrecognized Device Logins

New devices you don't remember authorizing, or devices you thought were removed from your account, indicate potential unauthorized access.

7. Device Model Changes

Access from device models you've never owned, or switching between multiple device types in short periods, suggests unauthorized access.

8. Browser Fingerprint Changes

Changes in browser versions, operating systems, or screen resolutions you don't recognize can indicate someone else is accessing your account.

9. Multiple Device Types

Access from devices you've never used (different phone models, tablets, or computers) suggests unauthorized account access.

Activity & Behavior Patterns

10. Unusual Viewing Activity

Someone viewing your messages, photos, or location data during times you weren't actively using the account suggests unauthorized access.

11. Information Gathering

Access patterns that focus on viewing contacts, messages, photos, or location history—without making changes—indicate surveillance or information gathering.

12. Repeated Access Patterns

Consistent access at the same times or intervals (daily, weekly) suggests systematic monitoring or surveillance.

13. Access After Account Changes

Logins immediately after you change your password or security settings suggest the attacker still has access through another method.

Location & Network Patterns

14. IP Address Anomalies

IP addresses associated with VPNs, proxy servers, or data centers suggest someone is intentionally masking their location.

15. Location Data Mismatches

Location data from your activity logs that doesn't match where you actually were suggests unauthorized access or location spoofing.

16. Network Provider Changes

Access from network providers you don't use, or switching between multiple providers rapidly, can indicate unauthorized access.

Account Modification Patterns

17. Unauthorized Password Changes

Password resets or changes you didn't initiate are clear signs of unauthorized access—immediately secure your account.

18. Security Setting Modifications

Changes to two-factor authentication, recovery email addresses, or security questions you didn't make indicate someone else has access.

19. Email or Phone Changes

Recovery email addresses or phone numbers changed without your knowledge suggest someone is trying to lock you out of your account.

20. Permission or Access Grants

New app permissions, device authorizations, or account access grants you didn't approve indicate unauthorized access.

Combined Pattern Indicators

21. Multiple Risk Patterns Together

Multiple suspicious patterns appearing together—unfamiliar IPs, unrecognized devices, unusual times, and information gathering—strongly indicate unauthorized access.

22. Persistent Patterns

Risk patterns that continue over weeks or months suggest ongoing unauthorized access rather than isolated incidents.

23. Patterns That Match Known Threats

Access patterns that match known threats—specific IP addresses, devices, or locations associated with former partners, family members, or known attackers—require immediate action.

How ForensAI Detects These Patterns

ForensAI automatically analyzes your account exports to identify all 20+ risk patterns simultaneously:

• Automatic pattern detection: AI reviews every timestamp, IP address, device change, and access pattern
• Cross-referencing: AI correlates patterns across multiple data sources to identify suspicious activity
• Custom flagging: Add specific IP addresses or physical addresses to flag in every scan
• Risk scoring: AI generates risk scores based on the number and severity of detected patterns
• Comprehensive reports: Detailed findings organized by pattern type, with timestamps and evidence

What to Do If You Detect Risk Patterns

If ForensAI detects suspicious patterns in your accounts:

1. Secure your accounts immediately: Change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, remove unknown devices
2. Document everything: Save ForensAI reports as evidence of unauthorized access
3. Review all accounts: Check Google, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, Microsoft, Dropbox, Snapchat, TikTok & X for similar patterns
4. Consult legal counsel: If unauthorized access involves harassment or surveillance, consult an attorney
5. Consider law enforcement: Report unauthorized access to local authorities if it involves stalking or harassment

Bottom Line

Unauthorized account access leaves detectable patterns—unfamiliar IPs, unrecognized devices, unusual times, and suspicious activity. Knowing what to look for helps you detect unauthorized access early, before significant privacy damage occurs.

Need to download your account data first? See our Google Takeout guide.