Can you report being hacked?

What should you do if you suspect you’ve been hacked?

If you suspect your online accounts, devices, or personal information have been compromised by hackers, there are several steps you should take:

Secure your accounts – Change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and lock or temporarily deactivate accounts that may have been affected.
Scan your devices – Run security scans to check for malware, viruses, or other infections on your computers, phones, tablets, and any other internet-connected devices.

Contact service providers – If accounts like your email, social media, or financial accounts were affected, contact those companies’ customer service for help securing and recovering your accounts.
Watch for suspicious activity – Monitor your financial accounts and credit reports for any transactions you don’t recognize for signs of fraud or identity theft.
Consider reporting the incident – You can report cybercrimes like computer intrusions, fraud, and identity theft to law enforcement agencies.

Taking quick action to secure your digital information and accounts can help minimize the damage from a hack. Being vigilant about suspicious activity that could signal identity theft is also key in the aftermath of an attack.

Should you report being hacked to the police?

Reporting cybercrimes and hacking incidents to law enforcement can help authorities track, investigate, and prosecute cybercriminals. Here are some reasons you may want to file a police report:

It starts a paper trail – Having an official record of the incident could help if you need to dispute fraudulent charges or deal with identity theft later on.

It can aid investigations – Your report could provide evidence that helps law enforcement identify and go after hackers.
You may need a report to file an insurance claim – Some insurance policies require a police report to back claims filed for losses due to hacking or cyber theft.
Notifications may be required – Businesses and organizations may have legal notification duties if client data or sensitive information is compromised.

It raises awareness – Reporting cybercrimes provides statistics that help measure and understand the growing threat of hacking and cyberattacks.

However, law enforcement agencies have limited resources for investigating cybercrime, so low-level incidents like individual phishing attempts likely won’t be looked into. But filing reports can still establish evidence in case a bigger pattern emerges.

How do you report a hack to the police?

To report hacking, cybercrime, or suspected internet crimes to law enforcement, follow these steps:

Gather information – Have details like logins, account numbers, dates and times of unauthorized access ready.
Contact local law enforcement – Visit your local police station or call the non-emergency number to file a report.
File an FBI Internet Crime Complaint – The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) accepts online reporting of suspected internet crimes at www.ic3.gov.

Request a copy of the report – Ask for a copy of the police report and/or a report or complaint number for your records.
Investigate identity theft – If accounts were compromised, investigate identity theft and monitor your credit reports for signs of fraud.

The more evidence and documentation you can provide, the more effective law enforcement can be in investigating your case. Be prepared to explain what was compromised, what harm was done, and what you’ve done in response.

What cybercrimes can you report?

Hacking encompasses many types of cybercrimes that can be reported, including:

Phishing – Fraudulent emails or websites disguising themselves as trustworthy to trick users into entering login credentials or sensitive information.
Computer intrusion – Unauthorized remote access to a device or network to disrupt, damage or steal data.

Malware attacks – Software infections like viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware that delete data, slow devices, or enable intruders.
Denial of Service (DoS) attacks – Flooding servers or networks with traffic to disrupt access.
Data breaches – Theft of sensitive personal, financial, or confidential information through hacking.

Identity theft – Using stolen personal information for financial fraud or gaining access to accounts.
Credit card fraud – Unauthorized charges to a credit card by someone other than the cardholder.

Cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and other online harassment issues can also sometimes be reported depending on the specific circumstances.

What information should you include when reporting a cybercrime?

Reporting cyber incidents to law enforcement or filing an official complaint typically requires including:

Your name, contact details and basic biographical information.
Type of incident – Describe the specific cybercrime like phishing, computer intrusion, identity theft, etc.

Date and time the incident occurred or was first discovered.
Location details like where unauthorized access occurred.
Service providers affected – For example, email provider, financial institutions, social media sites, etc.

Accounts impacted – Specific usernames, account details, and login credentials compromised.
Suspected perpetrators – Any information on who may be responsible like IP addresses.
Other evidence – Documents like emails, website links, error messages, etc. that provide details.

Impact assessment – Estimate financial losses or damages whenever possible.

Providing thorough and accurate information helps law enforcement have what they need to assess complaints and initiate investigations.

What details should you avoid including when reporting hacking?

While reporting cybercrimes requires detailed information, you should avoid disclosing:

Full credit/debit card numbers – Only provide the last 4-5 digits if necessary.
Social Security numbers – Don’t include full SSNs in written reports.
Additional passwords or security answers – Avoid revealing passwords other than those known to be compromised.

Unrelated personal or financial details – Stick to details essential for investigating the specific crime.
Assumptions about who hacked you – Don’t accuse specific individuals unless you have evidence.

Ensure any documentation or reports focus only on details directly relevant to the cyber incident. You can provide more sensitive identifying and financial information later on if law enforcement needs for investigative purposes.

What technical details should you include?

Technical evidence can significantly help law enforcement investigate hacking and cybercrime cases. Useful technical details to include if available:

IP addresses of unauthorized access attempts.
Website addresses (URLs) of linked suspicious sites.

Error messages received when denied system access.
Copies of phishing emails or texts.
Screenshots of altered or fake websites.

Instance names of compromised cloud resources.
Device IDs like IMEI numbers of affected mobile devices.
Hash values of malware found.

Copies of system and application logs showing access attempts.

Providing files, log entries, configuration details, and other technical evidence gives investigators concrete data to analyze for patterns, protocols, and potential weaknesses exploited.

What steps should you take to prevent further damage?

After discovering and reporting hacking or cybercrime, it’s critical to also take action to prevent additional harm:

Change online account passwords – Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
Enable two-factor authentication – Add another layer of security like biometrics, tokens, or SMS codes.
Remove unauthorized account access – Delete or block any linked apps, sites, API keys or profiles added without your approval.

Contact banks about compromised cards – Cancel cards with unauthorized charges or suspected fraud.
Place fraud alert on credit reports – An initial 90-day fraud alert flags your credit reports for suspicious activity.
Enroll in credit monitoring – Ongoing credit monitoring services can notify you of fraudulent use of your identity.

Review account settings and activity logs – Ensure security and privacy settings reflect your preferences.

Act quickly to make your accounts, devices, and personal information more secure and prevent additional damage. Monitoring for further suspicious activity is also critical.

Should you hire a cybersecurity firm?

In some cases, it may be advisable to hire an expert cybersecurity firm to assist with response and prevention:

For large-scale breaches – If many employees or customers may be impacted, having a cybersecurity firm onboard can ensure the proper response.
If you lack technical expertise – Expert analysts are needed to examine sophisticated malware, logs and technical evidence left behind.
To identify vulnerabilities – Security experts can probe systems and networks and pinpoint where weaknesses can be shored up.

For computer forensics – Cyber firms may have the capabilities and certifications needed to legally gather digital evidence admissible in court.
When reputation is on the line – PR expertise from cybersecurity firms can help manage reputation damage after high-profile breaches.

However, for minor individual account compromises, consulting cybersecurity professionals may not be cost-effective when basic precautions are sufficient.

Costs of hiring an incident response firm

The costs of hiring cybersecurity consultants to respond to hacking and breaches can include:

Incident response fees ranging from $250 to $400+ per hour
Malware analysis fees from $200 per malware sample

Digital forensics analysis fees from $100 per gigabyte of data
Network monitoring subscription fees from $100+ per device monthly
Manual penetration testing fees from $150 per tester hour

Security audits and risk assessments from $150 per hour

Expect to pay at least $10,000+ for a serious incident response. Costs for extensive phishing responses or large-scale breaches can exceed $100,000.

What legal reporting requirements apply in data breaches?

If a security incident involves unauthorized access to personal data, specific legal reporting duties may apply:

Data breach notification laws – Most states require individuals be notified if their private information is compromised.
HIPAA regulations – Healthcare entities must report data breaches affecting protected health information.
SEC reporting – Publicly traded firms may be required to report material cybersecurity incidents.

State agency reporting – Incidents involving government systems may have mandated reporting rules.
FTC notification – Breaches involving consumer data may need to be reported to the FTC.
GDPR requirements – GDPR rules require data breach notification within 72 hours for EU individuals.

Know your legal obligations for reporting data breaches and compromise of sensitive information to regulators, customers and business partners.

Can you be penalized for failing to report a breach?

Overlooking notification laws can result in significant penalties and fines:

HIPAA data breach fines can be $100 to $50,000+ per violation.

FTC penalties for failure to notify range from $43,280 to $43,792 per day.
GDPR fines for violations are up to 4% of global revenue or €20 million, whichever is greater.
State data breach laws carry civil penalties reaching into the tens of millions.

Private class action lawsuits from those impacted can seek substantial damages.

Reputational harm and loss of customer trust often far exceeds direct financial penalties for unreported breaches.

How long should you monitor for identity theft after a hack?

Identity theft can occur months or even years after intruders steal personal data and account credentials. To detect fraudulent activity:

Check credit reports and bank statements at least monthly for 12 months or longer.
Continue monitoring credit reports annually to spot issues arising later on.
Report any fraudulent charges promptly to limit liability according to law.

Consider implementing credit freezes restricting new lines of credit being opened.
Maintain vigilant monitoring of medical records for false claims in your name.

Make monitoring for identity theft using credit reports, financial statements, and other records an ongoing routine. Don’t let your guard down just because months have passed since a breach.

What legal protections apply if you are hacked?

Key legal protections can help limit liability and recover losses if you are a victim of cybercrime:

Credit cards have $0 liability for fraudulent charges.
Banks must refund unauthorized electronic transfers.

Identity theft insurance can offset related costs and losses.
Consumer privacy and data breach laws allow civil suits for damages.
The FTC provides resources to report scams and identity theft.

State laws often prohibit publishing stolen personal photos.

Document losses and immediately report unauthorized activity to strengthen your protections under law. Consider consulting an attorney if damages appear substantial.

How can you prevent becoming a victim of cybercrime?

While no defenses are foolproof, smart cyber hygiene goes a long way in avoiding compromises:

Use strong, unique passwords for each account, with a password manager.
Install antivirus software and firewall protections.
Keep software updated and patch known vulnerabilities.

Avoid clicking suspicious links or opening untrusted attachments.
Only connect to secure, encrypted WiFi networks.
Don’t link untrustworthy apps or sites to accounts.

Disable features and services not actively in use.

Backing up data regularly, monitoring accounts vigilantly, and exercising caution online also help prevent many cybercrime incidents.

Conclusion

Being targeted by cybercriminals through hacking, malware, and identity theft can have serious personal, financial, and legal consequences. Quickly securing accounts, monitoring for fraudulent activity, and reporting incidents to appropriate entities including law enforcement can all help mitigate damages. Preventative measures like strong security practices are essential as well. If you are hit by cybercrime, don’t ignore it – take action to limit injuries and prevent repeat occurrences. But whenever possible, try to avoid being an easy mark in the first place through vigilance and safe computing.