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What to do if…
you suspect someone else has access to your private photos or cloud account

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move to a safer pause, then lock down the account that controls your photo backups from a device you trust. Change the password, sign out other devices and sessions, and contact a specialist service if intimate images may be shared or used against you.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t confront the person you suspect right now; it could escalate or prompt faster sharing.
  • Don’t start deleting everything in panic; it can remove options later and may not remove copies.
  • Don’t click “security alert” links in emails or texts unless you navigated to the service yourself.
  • Don’t hand your phone to the person you suspect “to show you” what is going on.
  • Don’t keep using the same possibly compromised device for resets if you think it may be monitored.
  • Don’t send, screenshot, or store explicit images of anyone who is under 18.

What to do now

  1. Get to a calmer, safer pause first.
    If you feel at risk right now, call 999. If it is not an emergency but you want police advice, call 101.

  2. Use a different, trusted device if you can.
    Use a phone or computer the other person has not had access to, such as a trusted friend’s device or a computer you trust.

  3. Lock the account that controls your photo backups first.
    For your Apple Account or Google Account:

    • Change the password to a new, unique one.
    • Turn on two-step or two-factor sign-in.
    • Check for unknown devices on your account and remove or sign out anything you do not recognise.

  4. End other quiet access routes.
    Review and remove anything you do not recognise, especially:

    • Third-party apps with access to your account or photos
    • Recovery email addresses or phone numbers you did not add
    • Email forwarding rules or filters you did not set
    • Saved trusted devices you do not use

  5. Check photo-sharing features specifically.
    Look for and disable or revoke:

    • Shared albums, shared libraries, partner sharing, and family sharing
    • Public links to albums or folders
    • Cloud folders shared with an email address you do not control

  6. If images may already be shared, or someone is threatening you, get specialist help.
    If you are an adult living in the UK, contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for confidential support and help with reporting or takedown options. StopNCII may help participating platforms detect matching uploads without the image leaving your device, but only use it for intimate images of you, that you can access, where you were over 18 in the image.

  7. If you are under 18, or you were under 18 in the images, use child-protection routes.
    Do not keep, send, or screenshot the intimate image. Use Report Remove through Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation if you are under 18 and want help removing a nude or sexual image of yourself online. Use the CEOP Safety Centre if you are worried about online sexual abuse, grooming, or the way someone is communicating with a child or young person online.

  8. If it is safe, keep minimal non-explicit proof.
    Write down usernames, dates, times, platform names, what was said, and page addresses for non-explicit pages if visible. Keep screenshots of threats, messages, profiles, or non-explicit pages where possible, but avoid saving or sharing explicit imagery.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to report to police.
  • You do not need to contact every platform at once; securing access comes first.
  • You do not need to write long explanations to anyone right now.
  • You do not need to prove exactly what happened before you ask for help.

Important reassurance

Feeling panicky, ashamed, or frozen is a common reaction to this situation. Account access and intimate image abuse are things someone may do to you; they are not a reason to blame yourself. You can take back some control in small, practical steps.

Scope note

These are first steps to stop access and reduce harm. If the situation involves coercion, threats, stalking, domestic abuse, or someone monitoring your devices, later decisions may need specialist support.

Important note

This guide provides general, immediate harm-reduction information and is not legal, medical, forensic, therapeutic, or professional advice. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you are unsure whether it is safe to change settings because someone monitors your device or may react violently, prioritise personal safety and get specialist support.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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