With the prevalence of cyber attacks and data breaches, many people worry that their online accounts or devices may have been compromised by hackers. However, knowing for certain if you have been hacked can be difficult. Here are some signs to watch out for and steps you can take to determine if your data has been accessed by unauthorized parties.
Unusual Activity in Online Accounts
One of the most obvious signs of a hack is seeing activity in your online accounts that you don’t recognize. For example:
- Emails or social media posts sent from your accounts that you didn’t write.
- New friends, followers, connections or direct messages that you didn’t initiate.
- Password changes or account lockouts that you didn’t authorize.
- Purchases, money transfers or withdrawals you didn’t make.
- Unfamiliar devices or locations in your account activity logs.
Any type of activity that seems unfamiliar could be a red flag. The key is watching out for actions you absolutely did not take yourself.
Increased Spam and Phishing Attempts
If hackers have obtained your email address or other private data, you may notice an uptick in the amount of spam and phishing attempts sent to you. Criminals use spam campaigns and phishing scams to install malware, gain login credentials or further compromise your information.
Signs of this could include:
- More frequent spam messages in your inbox.
- Increase in scam calls or text messages.
- Suspicious emails asking you to verify personal information or reset passwords.
- Links to malicious sites disguised as familiar organizations.
The criminals may be targeting you specifically based on your leaked data or sending mass spam out hoping you’ll fall victim.
Unexpected Bills and Credit Activity
If hackers have stolen your financial data, they may rack up fraudulent charges with your credit cards or bank accounts. Keep an eye out for:
- Purchases you don’t remember making showing up on your statements.
- Credit card bills for cards you don’t own.
- Withdrawals or wire transfers you didn’t authorize.
- Debt collection calls or bills for accounts you never opened.
This type of identity theft can damage your finances and credit score. The sooner you can report it, the better.
Unfamiliar Logins in Your Account Activity
Many online accounts track the devices and locations associated with each login to your profile. You can check this type of activity log to look for:
- Logins from geographic locations you’ve never visited.
- Device IDs you don’t recognize.
- Unexpected activity from familiar devices and locations.
This could indicate your account credentials have been compromised and accessed elsewhere.
Problems Connecting to Accounts
Another possible warning sign is if you suddenly have trouble logging into your online accounts. Issues like:
- Getting locked out of your accounts unexpectedly.
- Error messages about your credentials being invalid.
- Multi-factor authentication codes failing.
Could point to someone else trying to access your accounts and changing credentials to lock you out.
Slow, Malfunctioning Devices
Hackers can also gain remote access to internet-connected devices in your home, like laptops, tablets and phones. This can cause noticeable glitches like:
- Sluggish performance and frequent freezing.
- Programs taking much longer to load.
- Home or screen buttons not working.
- Odd popups, messages or notifications.
These issues suggest your device may have malware installed by attackers to spy on you.
How to Confirm You’ve Been Hacked
If you notice any of these warning signs, there are steps you can take to confirm whether you have suffered a security breach:
- Run antivirus software: Malware scans can detect malicious programs like keyloggers installed by hackers.
- Change passwords: Log into all your accounts and reset the passwords to lock out intruders.
- Review account activity: Check your account history and security logs closely for any unauthorized actions.
- Contact service providers: Ask providers to check for unusual activity associated with your accounts.
- Monitor credit reports: Request credit reports to uncover any fraudulent accounts or charges.
- Enlist experts: Consult IT security firms to examine devices and identify breach evidence if needed.
Prevent Future Hacks
If your data has been compromised, take measures to prevent it from happening again in the future:
- Install antivirus and anti-spyware software.
- Avoid unprotected public WiFi networks.
- Use a password manager and unique complex passwords.
- Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere.
- Limit what data you share online.
- Regularly update and patch all software.
- Routinely scan devices for malware and viruses.
- Use a VPN when accessing public networks.
Recover from Identity Theft
If hackers have stolen and misused your personal information, take these steps to start recovering:
- Contact banks and credit card companies to stop payments.
- Close any unauthorized or compromised accounts.
- Change credentials on your existing accounts.
- Report identity theft to the FTC and major credit bureaus.
- Place a fraud alert and credit freeze with bureaus.
- Dispute any fraudulent charges and accounts.
- Monitor your credit reports and financial statements.
It can be a lengthy process, but acting quickly can help minimize the damage.
When to Get Law Enforcement Involved
In many cases, you can investigate and remedy a data breach yourself. However, it may be wise to contact law enforcement or seek legal counsel if:
- The hack involves a large amount of sensitive data or very serious crimes.
- Significant funds have been lost due to theft and fraud.
- Your identity is being actively misused in severe ways.
- You are being threatened or blackmailed for data.
- You have a high public profile that could lead to reputational damage.
Having an official investigation and legal support can help in high-risk situations.
Conclusion
Discovering that your personal information has been accessed by hackers can be a scary and frustrating experience. However, by watching for key warning signs, following up with precise diagnostics steps, and taking action to prevent future attacks, you can limit the damage and avoid becoming a victim again down the road. Keeping on top of best practices for online safety and security makes it much harder for criminals to succeed in compromising your accounts and devices.