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Hacked. Locked Out. Everything Lost.

Microsoft Locks Hacked Account; User Loses 25 Years of Data

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The case of a suspended Microsoft account sparked widespread criticism within the user community. Photo: Getty Images
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July 19, 2026, 4:16 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

A hacker attack on a Microsoft account has far-reaching consequences for Dutch streamer Joshua Khane. According to him, unknown individuals took over access to his account and then changed the stored security information. Although he contacted support and tried to prove he was the rightful owner, he did not regain access. Instead, he lost not only access to the account itself but also to the associated content.

Security Information Cannot Be Reset

According to a letter published by Khane, Microsoft was able to verify that unauthorized access to the account had occurred. However, the company stated it could not restore the security information changed by the attackers. Microsoft cited its security policies and the applicable service agreement as the reason.

To prevent further misuse, Microsoft permanently blocked the affected account. According to the company, this decision is final and cannot be reversed. For Khane, this meant that all content linked to the account remained inaccessible.

OneDrive Content Also Affected

According to Microsoft, the data in the linked OneDrive storage is also affected by the block. The company explained that the content stored there cannot be restored due to the encryption and data protection mechanisms used.

For the streamer, this affects data from around 25 years. This includes personal pictures and photos of his son, according to him. Despite the confirmed hacker attack, he was denied access to these contents.

Millions Follow the Case

In addition to the stored files, Khane also lost access to digital purchases. According to him, he spent several thousand euros on them. Affected are games and other digital content linked to the blocked account. These purchases include “Minecraft.” According to the letter, the game cannot be transferred to another account. Thus, the acquired content initially remained inaccessible, even though Microsoft claimed it could trace the unauthorized access.

The company’s actions sparked significant criticism within the user community. Many users criticized that Khane lost access to his personal files and digital purchases despite the confirmed hacker attack. The streamer made the incident public. His post quickly garnered several million views, making the case known far beyond his own community.

More on the topic

Xbox Support Responds to Public Criticism

The significant attention did not go unnoticed by the Xbox support team. The team apologized and announced that they are already working on a solution to restore Khane’s access to his purchases.

According to the support team, the next steps were discussed directly with him. Whether the blocked Microsoft account or the lost OneDrive content will be re-evaluated remains open. A more detailed statement from Microsoft on the specific case was not initially available.

Also of interest: Windows 11 may soon reinstall without a USB stick

How to Reduce the Risk

Microsoft’s case shows the consequences that problems with a central user account can have. To avoid similar situations as much as possible, securing with two-factor authentication is recommended.

Additionally, important photos and documents should not be stored exclusively in the cloud. Those who regularly back up to an external storage device or with a second provider have at least an additional copy of their data in case of emergency.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TECHBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@techbook.de.

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