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Locking down your Payhawk account in an emergency

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If you believe your company's Payhawk account has been compromised, you can lock it down straight away. A lockdown signs everyone out, stops all new payments, and alerts Payhawk's Security team. Only Payhawk can lift it, so use it only in a real emergency.

Who can lock down an account

Payhawk Administrators can lock down an account from the Emergency lockdown tab in Settings > Security. Other users don't see this tab.

What happens when you lock down your account

A lockdown takes effect immediately:

  • Everyone, including you, is signed out of the Payhawk Web Portal and the Payhawk Mobile App. No one can sign in again until Payhawk lifts the lockdown.

  • Payhawk's Security team is alerted.

  • All Payhawk Administrators get an email saying who locked down the account and when.

  • All other users get an email letting them know they're locked out of your company's Payhawk account and can't make new payments.

While the account is locked down, no new deposits or payments can be initiated. This includes bank transfers and card payments.

You can't undo a lockdown in Payhawk. Only Payhawk can lift it, after verifying with you.

Locking down your account

Because a lockdown stops access for everyone, Payhawk asks you to confirm it three times: you start the lockdown, select a checkbox, and type a confirmation phrase.

To lock down your account:

  1. Go to the Settings > Security > Emergency lockdown tab.

  2. Click on Lock down account. A dialog opens and lists what happens when you lock down the account.

  3. Select the I understand I will be locked out too and cannot undo this checkbox.

  4. In the Type "Lock me out" to confirm field, enter “Lock me out”.

  5. Click on Lock down account.

Emergency lockdown tab in Payhawk Security settings, the confirmation dialog with the checkbox and the Lock me out phrase, and the Lockdown in progress screen.

The Security page then shows Lockdown in progress while Payhawk blocks payments and transfers, signs everyone out, alerts Payhawk’s Security team, and emails your company’s Payhawk Administrators. When the lockdown is in place, you are signed out and see the Payhawk sign-in screen.

Restoring access after a lockdown

Only Payhawk can lift a lockdown. To restore access:

  1. Email Payhawk’s Support team at support@payhawk.com with details of what led to the lockdown.

  2. Wait for Payhawk's Support team to contact you and verify the details.

When Payhawk lifts the lockdown, everyone can sign in to Payhawk again.

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