In plain English
This term describes a situation where an account has been entered or used by someone or something that was not allowed to do so. What makes it unauthorized is the lack of permission, whether the actor is a person or an automated process.
In context
Here, it names use of the account by a person or process that the user did not permit.
- Situation
- Responding to phishing, suspicious activity, fraud, and compromise alerts
- What it communicates
- names account use that the user did not permit.
Meaning limits
By itself, the term does not say who or what accessed the account, how it happened, or what happened afterward.
Examples
“His neighbour's use of the account without permission was unauthorized access.”
“They reported unauthorized access when an automated process they had not permitted began using the account.”