How was it possible to have my account hacked?

[sbettyspe]

I got an email from ebay in the middle of the night saying I'd changed my password - which I hadn't. 

Someone had got into my account and changed the password.

I've been able to change it back by going to the ebay site I've got stored - not by clicking on a link in the email, and I can't see any damage done.

Has this happened to others?

Why was it so easy for someone to change the password without authorisation via email/phone?

What should I check for?

Why would someone hack into my account, change the password and then not do anything?

Many thanks for any comments and advice.

[john1297576]

As already commented on, if the password had been changed how were you able to log in to change it again?

Are you sure that the email was from ebay? All emails from ebay are also sent by message which is more secure and address you by name not just Dear member or similar.

By presumably using a link in the email to change your password you may well have allowed your account to be hacked when it hadn't been in the first place.

[sbettyspe]

See reply to that comment. I did it from the ebay website, not clicking on a link.