Using the internet is extremely useful, and not to mention that it’s also fun. You get to watch movies, listen to music, download and play games and do pretty much anything else that you want.
Thanks to that, it’s easy to forget that there are many online dangers. One of the biggest issue when it comes to using the internet is the cyber security of the user. Sure, antimalware and antivirus software is good to have, and they do a decent work protecting you.
Still, even then, you’re not completely safe. That’s especially true these days when new attacks are registered on a daily basis.
Now, when it comes to hacking attacks, most of the time, they aren’t really obvious. And that’s logical since hackers need time to inspect your data and uncover useful info. With that in mind, you won’t expect them to openly announce their presence.
Most hackers also prefer to leave a backdoor open, so that they might return and check your device out later as well. Because of these sneaky methods, it’s hard to tell that you’re hacked. Dealing with the hacker is often much easier than noticing that they’re there in the first place.
That’s why we’re bringing you this guide, in which we’ll list some of the hints that you might be hacked, as well as the methods of dealing with that situations.
Fake antivirus warnings
While browsing the web, you might stumble upon a warning that your system is in danger. Viruses are attacking, or maybe they already got to you, and you need this product.
Many people have seen such warnings online. The real problems start if you click on them. First, you’ll end up on an official-looking page that asks for your data. This often includes credit card number, computer passwords, and similar private info.
If you don’t deliver, the viruses will get you, or so they claim. This is where many people start panicking and give their data without thinking. In reality, the entire thing is fake, and it’s just a hacker trying to get your credentials and other data.
Solution to this issue is to restart your device as soon as you notice such warnings. Of course, you must also know how to recognize the real warning from your real antivirus. Just save whatever you’re doing, and restart the computer. Boot it up in Safe Mode, and uninstall any new software that you’ve got since it’s probably the source of your problems.
When that is done, try running your device in regular mode again, and the issue should be solved.
New and suspicious toolbars in your browser
If you notice some new toolbars in your browser, it’s probably the best idea to get rid of them. This especially goes if they’re not from a known vendor. If you have some new program, maybe that’s how the toolbar got to you.
Many people just click Next while installing the programs, and they don’t even look what they are agreeing to. Otherwise, maybe it’s a new extension that you recently added. If the new toolbar isn’t put there by you and on purpose, get rid of it. Most browsers will allow it, and you’ll find it in active toolbars.
If it’s not there, the instructions for fake virus messages will help you with this problem as well.
Are your Internet searches redirected?
If the answer to this is yes, then you probably have a problem. Hackers would often accept payment from some website and redirect the searches of their victims in return.
Compromised users might not even know, but their search results are probably pretty wrong all the time. Thanks to proxies and other technologies that hackers use these days, it’s hard to notice things like that.
If such redirections sound familiar, the same instructions as before should help you. The biggest issue is some malicious program, app, browser extension or something similar. When you get rid of that, everything will be back to normal once more.
Have your passwords change by themselves?
This is a pretty obvious clue, and it goes without saying that you’re hacked if this situation sounds familiar. If not you, then the service or site that you’re using definitely is.
This mostly happens if you’ve recently received an email from that site that had a link to it inside. If you clicked on the link, you would end up on a login page for the site. Also, the message in the email often sounds urgent in these situations. Once you try to log into the account, nothing will happen.
This is because you were under a phishing attack, and the login page was a fake. Hackers use them for getting access to your credentials. After they get as much data about you as they can, they use your account for their own purposes. Sometimes, that includes changing the password and hijacking it.
In this situation, tell your contacts that you’re hacked so that they wouldn’t go through the same thing. Also, try to get back the control over your account by notifying the website. Hacking and account hijacking is a common problem, and most websites know how to deal with it. There are also options like ‘My friend’s hacked’, especially since your friends will probably find out about that before you.
New, unfamiliar software installations
If you start finding new programs on your computer, and you don’t remember installing it yourself, you might have a hacking problem. Once again, it’s a malicious software, and it’s probably downloading even more of its kind right now.
Its goal is to trick you into thinking that it’s an official software so that you would leave it alone. Don’t fall for that, but instead try uninstalling it. It’s important to disable such programs as soon as possible.
The longer it remains undisturbed, longer it will cause damage to your device.
Your friends receive strange emails from you
If your friends start complaining about such problems, it’s once again a sign that you’re in danger. This situation mostly comes after you’ve lost your credentials to hackers. They use them to access your email, and then use your own address to trick your friends as well.
Most of the time, it’s not the hacker himself that does this, but rather some sort of malware. You might detect it with your antivirus or antimalware.
Random pop-outs
Pop-ups are often a sign of malware infection, especially if you start noticing them on sites that didn’t have them before. Most often, it’s because of a malicious toolbar, extension, or some other app or program. Deal with them like we explained earlier, and the problem should go away.
Are you missing money from your bank account?
Missing money is one of the worst things that might happen to you. It’s also a sure sign that your computer or phone is hacked, and that hackers are using you as a mine. Many would simply try to steal everything at once and disappear with it.
As soon as you notice something like this, inform your bank immediately. Alerting them as soon as possible is the most important thing to do. Change your login information, as well as everything else that can help someone connect to your account.
Is your cursor moving on its own?
Another sign that you’re hacked is if your cursor goes around the screen doing things on its own. Especially if those things make sense, and are actually making real selections.
Your cursor moving by itself isn’t unheard of, and in many situations, this happens because of hardware flaw. However, if it starts doing things that make sense, then it’s a remote control, and you have a hacking problem.
Change all of your login credentials and restore the computer completely. Also, do a thorough check of all of your accounts, including those in banks.
Are your antivirus, anti-malware, Registry Editor, or Task Manager off?
Malware and viruses often try to disable your security when they slip past it. They do that so that even more of infections can enter the device.
If you notice that any of your security programs aren’t working properly (or at all), restore all of your software completely. You can do it by following the same methods as before.
Add extra protection – use a VPN
VPNs are very useful when it comes to protecting your internet connection. They do so with secure protocols, as well as with encryptions.
Also, many of them offer protection of malware, as well as hackers, ads, and anything else that might infect and disturb you. Using VPNs is never wrong, and the amount of protection that they provide you with is priceless.
The best ones for you to choose are TorGuard, IPVanish, GhostVPN, and Private Internet Access. We’ve tested them out of many, and these ones have had the best results.
Not only do they protect you, but they also allow you to remain anonymous, and even access restricted content. VPNs are the best method of online safety, and they also offer many other features that you shouldn’t miss on.
Conclusion
Hacking is not a distant thing that won’t affect you if you watch your own business. Instead, hacking and hackers are a serious threat, and you must protect yourself as best as possible to avoid them.
The methods from this text should help you notice a hacking problem if you have one. Still, it’s a much better option to prevent it by using a VPN.
