Title: Critical error, email hack?
Last modified: August 21, 2023

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# Critical error, email hack?

 *  [chriscarrera10](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chriscarrera10/)
 * (@chriscarrera10)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-email-hack/)
 * I received an email from my own email account (which I did not send). It is the
   email account associated with WordPress. Whoever sent the email is obviously 
   demanding funds, bitcoin, etc. So, I have a hacking concern.
 * 2nd issue: I logged into my WordPress admin page and cannot access menus. I keep
   receiving a critical error message. Also, I can’t even access the email or message
   area of the admin page.
 * I am trying to figure out what is going on and what I should do.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fcritical-error-email-hack%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Moderator [threadi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/threadi/)
 * (@threadi)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-email-hack/#post-16990265)
 * Regarding point 1: such spam emails can be generated very easily, sender forgery
   is unfortunately very simple. Therefore, I would not pay too much attention to
   it. If you are still unsure and you use your own domain for your e-mails, contact
   the support of your e-mail hosting – if necessary, they can secure your domain
   in this regard.
 * To point 2:
   a) what kind of error message do you get?b) The fact that you do 
   not get any emails from WordPress can be due to the hosting if it has security
   settings in this regard. The support of your hosting can also tell you something
   about this. Alternatively, you would have to install an SMTP plugin with which
   WordPress can send emails via your email server.
 *  Thread Starter [chriscarrera10](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chriscarrera10/)
 * (@chriscarrera10)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-email-hack/#post-16990285)
 * Hi, threadi – thank you for replying. I think I resolved the email issue. But,
   the below wording is what I see when I am logged into my WordPress admin page.
   I cannot access any menu. Every menu gives me the “critical error” message: “
   There has been a critical error on this website. Please check your admin email
   inbox for instructions.”
 * But, I cannot access my admin email inbox because that, too, gives me an error
   message.
 *  Moderator [threadi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/threadi/)
 * (@threadi)
 * [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-email-hack/#post-16990296)
 * The reason for the error should be visible in the error log. You can find it 
   in your hosting area. If necessary, the support of your hosting can help you.
 * Alternatively, you could also enable debugging in WordPress. How to do this is
   described here: [https://wordpress.org/support/article/debugging-in-wordpress/](https://wordpress.org/support/article/debugging-in-wordpress/)–
   also here the support of your hosting can help you if necessary to edit the file
   accordingly.
 * In both cases you should be able to see what the cause is in the logfile. Often
   it is a plugin. You can delete the directory of the guilty plugin via FTP. After
   that you should be able to access it again.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Critical error, email hack?’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [critical error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/critical-error/)

 * In: [Everything else WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/miscellaneous/)
 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [threadi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/threadi/)
 * Last activity: [2 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/critical-error-email-hack/#post-16990296)
 * Status: not resolved

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