How to Tell If Your Computer Has Been Hacked and How to Fix It

In today’s digital age, the threat of hacking and cybercrime is more prevalent than ever. With estimates suggesting that hackers attack someone online every 32 seconds, it’s crucial for Indian computer users to stay vigilant. While many cyberattacks target companies and organisations, individual users are also at risk of having their personal information stolen from computers, mobile phones, and tablets.

As cybercriminals continue to develop new methods to infiltrate our devices, it’s essential to remain aware of your computer’s security status. No one asks to be hacked, but it’s an unfortunate reality we all face. If you find yourself in this situation, here’s how to determine if your computer has been hacked and how to thwart hackers in their tracks.

How to tell if you’ve been hacked

The first step in identifying a hack is to check your most frequently used and vital accounts, such as email addresses, social networking profiles, and bank accounts. For instance, have your friends and family members messaged you about a strange DM you supposedly sent? Or perhaps you’ve noticed a suspicious transaction on one of your bank statements?

These data breaches clearly indicate that a particular account has been compromised. If you notice any suspicious activity, take immediate action. Change your password, notify the company, and try to identify the type of cyberattack that occurred so you can secure your personal data.

Two most common types of attacks

Let’s examine two of the most prevalent attacks and how to prevent them, both during and after an incident.

1. Denial-of-service attack

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack can be identified when your password for an account or device seems to have changed randomly. Another indicator is the inability to access key system settings, such as factory reset or system restore options. A DoS attack may sometimes escalate into a ransomware attack, where a hacker attempts to hold your sensitive stolen data for ransom.

The simplest way to avoid DoS attacks is to follow basic security protocols. These include using strong, unique passwords for each site or using a secure password manager, setting up an internet firewall, and avoiding email phishing attempts. Beyond these basic tips, let’s explore four additional steps you can take to prevent a DoS attack.

Check your online account settings

Stay ahead of hackers by regularly monitoring your online accounts for any recent changes. This step is easy to overlook, especially for accounts you don’t use frequently or social media profiles you don’t often view. However, it’s worth doing because social media platforms allow you to lock down your account in the account settings tab if you suspect suspicious activity.

Enable two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security, making it more challenging for hackers to access your account, even if they obtain your password. This feature adds your phone number or an authenticator app to the login process, meaning a hacker would need access to your phone as well as the original account. Many major companies, including Amazon, Google, Twitter, and Facebook, offer this option within their security or help settings.

Check for suspicious logins

Most major online accounts allow you to view when someone has logged into your account and from which location or IP address. If you don’t recognise a login attempt, immediately change your password and notify the company that your account has been compromised.

Also, disconnect any credit cards or other financial information linked to your account settings. This will help prevent further identity theft and ensure that your sensitive data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Prevent remote access

Remote access is a valuable feature for certain industries and employers, as it helps connect employees to necessary servers and storage devices via their internet connection. However, beyond workplace settings, there are limited scenarios where you would want to access your device remotely.

If you don’t have a good reason to use remote access, it’s more secure to disable it. This helps prevent hackers from accessing your computer remotely and installing malware on your device.

To prevent remote access to your PC:

• Click on the Windows Start button
• Type “Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be sent to this computer” in the search bar
• Uncheck the box next to “Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer”
• Click Apply

To check if someone is remotely accessing your computer without permission, follow these steps:

• Press Ctrl+Alt+Del
• Click on Task Manager
• Review your current processes
• Identify any processes or applications that look unusual or suspicious

Another option is to check the Windows Event Viewer app to look for any unfamiliar remote access. This app shows a log of application use and system messages, including error messages, with timestamps. If you don’t recognise a particular action at a time when you were not using your device, it’s likely that someone accessed your PC. You can find this app in the Windows search bar by searching for “Event Viewer.”

2. Suspicious applications installed on your PC

Have you ever found programs or applications installed on your computer that you don’t remember downloading? Chances are they’re malware, and someone may be using them for nefarious purposes like logging your keystrokes or accessing your online accounts.

If you notice suspicious applications in your list of installed programs, it’s crucial to uninstall them immediately. To ensure you can see every possible application, start your Windows PC in Safe Mode. Then, uninstall any suspicious programs to clean up your PC.

Fake antivirus software messages and pop-ups

Malware is often the root cause of fake antivirus messages and other unwanted pop-ups on your PC. If you see random pop-ups on your screen, do not click them. Instead, close your browser and restart it in incognito mode, then reload the page. Next, check your computer’s antivirus program, firewall, task manager, and registry to ensure they haven’t been disabled or altered in any way.

It’s crucial never to download any antivirus software that you haven’t thoroughly researched and vetted. If it seems illegitimate, it probably is, and it may lead to malware infecting your PC.

Image Placeholder: Image of a virus warning popup on a computer screen. Alt text: Virus warning on an HP laptop screen in India

The dreaded Trojan attack

Fake antivirus software may also serve as a Trojan. Much like the Trojan Horse of Homer’s Iliad, these attacks allow bad actors to breach your computer’s defences. If you accidentally install a fake antivirus program, your operating system may view it as a trusted program. Your OS then won’t prevent you from downloading anything else nefarious initiated by the Trojan.

If you fall victim to a Trojan attack, there are steps you can take to mitigate it. First, you need to format your hard drive, which may be painful if you haven’t backed up your important data. For those who may not be up to date with this critical maintenance task, consider investing in reliable backup software to be prepared.

If you can’t format your drive, you can stop the threat by downloading a malware removal tool from a non-infected device. Then connect it to your infected system via a USB flash drive. In many cases, this will remove the fake antivirus software without damaging your PC.

Browser toolbars and search redirection

There may be times when your preferred browser inexplicably loads to an unfamiliar homepage. While this change could be accidental and easy to fix, it may actually indicate that you’re the victim of a virus actively redirecting your browser. There isn’t a single type of virus that performs this function, but it’s important to recognise when your browser is hijacked and how to restore it to your default or preferred homepage and search engine.

Hackers typically do this to serve you ads. They may even redirect you to a mirror of Google that earns them ad revenue every time you search. To eliminate this issue, remove any installed third-party browser add-ons, extensions, and toolbars you don’t recognise.

You should also change your browser back to the default homepage and remove any unwanted search engines from your tools. Then, restart your PC in Safe Mode and ensure the browser works according to your preferences. If not, your system is likely infected with deeper malware, and you will need to run an antivirus scan to resolve the issue.

Summary

Staying ahead of hackers isn’t easy, but by following the guidelines we’ve outlined, you’ll be better equipped to identify if your computer has been hacked. If you notice anything amiss with your PC, immediately check for changes, especially whether any programs or applications were installed without your consent.

Once you identify the root cause of the problem on your PC, you should be able to resolve it by troubleshooting the issue using the steps above. Then, take the time to implement some basic cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents.

By staying informed about potential threats and taking proactive measures to secure your devices, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks. Remember to regularly update your software, use strong passwords, and invest in reliable security solutions to keep your digital life safe and secure.