Cyber attacks happen very often, and everyone is worried about the safety of their data. To prevent your passwords and other important data from being stolen, you have to pay attention to an changes on your computer.
Reasons why you were hacked in the
first place
Hackers, like any criminals,
are opportunists. Just like a shop window left open or a bag left unattended,
some online activities leave you vulnerable to hacks.
For safer browsing, you
should:
·
Avoid opening suspicious email attachments.
·
Make sure your operating system (OS) is up to date: you’ll be
regularly informed of updates on your phone or computer. Don’t put off
installing these updates as they help keep your device’s security
current.
· Use strong passwords, including
numbers, letters and punctuation – and not your mother’s maiden name
How do I know that my computer is hacked?
If your
computer is hacked, you might notice some of the following symptoms:
1. Frequent
pop-up windows, especially the ones that encourage you to visit unusual sites,
or download antivirus or other software
2. Changes
to your home page
3. Mass
emails being sent from your email account
4. Frequent
crashes or unusually slow computer performance
5. Unknown
programs that startup when you start your computer
6. Programs
automatically connecting to the Internet
7. Unusual
activities like password changes
8. The
computer works very slowly. Your personal data is on the
internet, even though you didn’t put it there.
9. Google searches are redirecting to sites you didn’t intend to
visit.
10. There’s been an installation of an app that you’re unfamiliar
with.
11. You’re seeing suspicious pop-up ads, such as fake antivirus
warnings. (Please do not click on
these, by the way!)
12. People on your email contact lists receive social media invites
that you didn’t send.
13. Your computer slows down or freezes.
14. You notice rogue, third-party activity ranging from the very small
(keyboard strokes, your mouse moving)
to the very big (money taken from your
online bank or credit card account).
What to do right away after your
computer gets hacked
Okay, firstly, don’t panic.
Nothing harmful may have happened yet. And secondly, you can probably mitigate
anything bad that has happened.
Here’s what to do…
1. Reset your passwords
This might seem onerous at
first – you have a lot of passwords after all! But focus on the key places;
social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), emails, devices (phone, laptop and so on) and anywhere involving credit cards and finance (shopping, banking).
2. Log out of all online accounts
After you’ve reset passwords,
log out. It’s easy to forget that we tend to have our social media (and other
online accounts) set to automatically log us in.
3. Disconnect from the internet
Next, shut down contact to the
internet: that means turning off WiFi on your computer or Mac, and switching
phones and tablets to airplane mode.
4. Spread the word
Unfortunately,
your hack might have affected people in your contact list: friends and families
might have been emailed by a hacker posing as you. If that happens, it’s
important to contact those who have been emailed or texted to let them know you
weren’t behind the message and you may have been hacked.
And if your hack was the result
of clicking on a suspicious email or attachment, it’s a good idea to warn
others of the attack. Similar hacks tend to happen in waves, as multiple
victims are contacted at a time.
5. Closely monitor your credit and
financial accounts
After the hack, keep an eye on
your online expenditures, regularly checking your bank and credit card
accounts.
7.
Install security software
Naturally, up-to-date,
reputable security software is the best line of defense against a future hack.
8. Wipe your hard drive (if
necessary)
If your scan reveals a virus or
hack, you can (and probably should) wipe your hard drive, then reinstall your
OS. Wiping means to permanently erase, so be aware that whatever you’re
deleting will be gone for good unless you back it up.
Do not just manually delete
files: they’ll still exist somewhere in your hard drive. Instead, use a
downloadable programme to carry out the wipe. Like a virus scan, a wipe will
let you know when it’s been carried out completely.
9. Maintain strong passwords
Remember to keep strong
passwords and to change them regularly. Include a combination of numbers,
letters and punctuation and try to use different passwords for your various
online accounts.
10.
Don’t leave your devices unattended in public
Even two minutes is time enough
for a hacker to gain personal information or sow the seeds for a later hack.
11. Keep files backed up
It’s good practice to maintain
important or sensitive files beyond your computer, ideally in multiple places,
USB, external hard drives, cloud storage, or if you’re feeling especially
cautious, all of the above.
12.
Ensure your firewall is properly configured
You should have a firewall
installed on your computer. A firewall in a building is a sealed wall that
prevents the spread of fire. On your computer, it works the same way.
You can configure your firewall
to block communication between your computer server and another. This firewall
block could filter based on suspicious IP addresses (other specific servers),
potentially dangerous phrases, or even a website.
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Stay safe
and stay sequre. Have a good day .
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