Devices especially smartphones and computers have become attracted a lot of hackers because a whole lot of people rely on them to store data. Today, cyberattacks are sophisticated, well-orchestrated and capable of posing severe threats to the personal data of Internet users. You might wonder why should anyone be keen to hack your system?
These days data is money and it can be sold to companies which can then use it for With device hacks being closer than you might think, it is essential to be prepared.
The faster you’ll react and take necessary actions, the less the damage it will cause to you, as well as to others on the same network — family, friends, or co-workers. So first things first: learn how to recognize if your device has been compromised. Here are 5 signs your device may have been hacked:
Frequent random pop-ups
This is one of the most explicit indications of a device being infected. If you start seeing more annoying pop-ups in your web browser, and they often flash in sites that usually don’t generate pop-ups, this is a bad sign.
Antivirus shutting down
Some types of malware disable your antivirus or anti-malware programs and make it difficult to re-enable them. If you notice that your antivirus has suddenly stopped working and you can’t open the Task Manager properly, it is very likely that your system has been infected with malware.
Fake emails sent from your account
If a virus has compromised your email, it might be trying to spread further by sending malicious emails to your contacts. It doesn’t automatically mean that your device has been hacked. However, if the fake email includes your name and email address, it is likely that your system has been infected.
Programs that you didn’t install show up
A malicious program may be disguised as legitimate software to slip into your device. Usually, it is done by worms or malware that attach to other software to get installed together as a bundle. So, if you notice an unknown program residing on your system, it’s likely a malicious one.
Your passwords no longer work
Getting locked out of your online accounts might mean that you have fallen into a phishing trap. A common tactic scammers use is to send an authentic-looking email from a bank or any other service you’re signed up for, asking to update your password by clicking the included link. Once you do it, you provide access to your account to hackers.
