Cyber attacks are becoming common, so everyone worries about the integrity of their data. To prevent your passwords and other important data from being stolen, you should be aware of any changes to your computer.
In this report, the US "Maximus" website explored ways to find out if your computer was compromised, and how to deal with it.
1. The antivirus program has stopped
If you did not stop running the antivirus program but noticed that it stopped working, your computer has probably been compromised, as this program cannot stop working on its own, and the first thing that hackers do is to turn off the antivirus program for easy access to Your files.
2. Passwords are broken
The site reported that if you did not change your passwords but suddenly stopped working, and you were unable to open your accounts, your computer was probably compromised.
| Passwords change on their own are evidence of hacking (Reuters) |
3. Suddenly increasing the number of friends
The site mentioned that if you notice the emergence of new friends that you do not know and do not remember that you added them to your accounts on social media, this is a sign that your account has been compromised, and that it is used to send spam.
4. The emergence of new icons
When you launch your browser and notice new icons on the computer interface, this is a sign that some dangerous icons have infiltrated your device.
5. The writing pointer moves by itself
If you notice that the typing indicator on your computer is moving on its own and highlighting something, your computer has definitely been compromised.
6. The printer is not working properly
Signs of cyber attack not only appear on the computer itself, but also affect the printer, such as not responding to print orders or printing something that you did not ask to print.
| The printer may also be affected by electronic attacks (Reuters) |
7. Directing you to different sites
If your browser continues to redirect you to different websites, it should pay attention, and the same thing if you type something in the search engine, you will see pages that you do not know instead of Google pages, and if you see many windows often, this indicates Also to hack your computer.
8. Delete files
The site made it clear that your computer is definitely hacked if you notice that some of your programs or files have been deleted without your knowledge.
9. Publish your personal data on the Internet
Check it with the search engine, and search for information about yourself that you did not put on the Internet. If you find this information, then your computer has definitely been hacked to steal the information.
| If you find information that you did not put online, your computer has definitely been hacked. |
The site stated that if you see anti-virus warnings that look different from the usual, then this is a clear sign of a hack, and another bad sign is also finding a new version of the anti-virus program that you did not install on your computer.
11. Unusual camera behavior
Check the webcam on your computer. If its indicator is flashing on its own, restart the computer and check within 10 minutes if the indicator is flashing again. If this happens, then your computer is compromised.
| If the camera pointer is flashing, this could be a sign of a hack. (Reuters) |
12. The computer is very slow
If the simplest computer operations take a very long time, or you notice a significant decrease in the speed of the Internet, this could mean that someone has hacked your computer.
What you should do:
You should start by warning your friends, who have received e-mails from you, that your computer has been compromised, asking them not to open the messages sent to them from your account, and to avoid clicking on any links sent.
In addition, it is necessary to alert your bank that a possible leak has occurred to your personal data, and find out how to protect your money. You should also delete all the unfamiliar programs that you cannot run, then install a reliable antivirus, scan your computer system, change the passwords of all your accounts, and if you still feel that the problem is not resolved yet, consult an expert.