7 Unfortunate Signs You’ve Been Computer Hacked

signs computer hacked

Do you think you have been hacked?

It’s a pretty common assumption. There are over 14 million businesses that risk getting hit by a cyber attack. That can cost time, productivity, lost revenue and consumer trust. 

Why would hackers attack your business? For customer data such as credit cards, social security numbers or other data that they can use for ID theft or to sell for money on the black market.

How do you know if you’ve been hacked for sure? Read this article for 7 warning signs that you’ve been hacked and find out what you can do about it.

1. Computer Slows Down

The first sign that a computer is compromised is that a computer on your network is super slow. This usually happens suddenly.

You’ll find that websites take longer to load, documents take longer to open, and it takes much longer than normal for the computer to start up.

If you have an older machine, you might assume that it’s slow because it’s older. You can usually tell if there’s an issue because the slowdowns or changes in computer behavior is sudden.

2. Noticeable Program Crashes

You’re working in the middle of a big project and your computer keeps crashing. It could be one or two programs that are constantly crashing. Malware will interfere with some programs that cause these programs to crash.

That could include your antivirus software. Malware will target these types of programs and prevent them from starting up.

3. Popup Ads & Redirects

If you spend a lot of time on the web, you may notice that there are suddenly a lot of windows that open taking you to spammy sites. You may also get redirected to sites that you want no part of.

4. Changed Passwords

Do you find that your passwords for some sites are no longer working?

You may have inadvertently installed malware or clicked on a phishing email that caused your computer to be infected.

Depending how long it’s been since you last logged into a site, it may take you a while to figure out. At the very least, you want to make sure that your financial data isn’t compromised. You’ll want to be sure to check using a device that you know hasn’t been infected to make sure.

5. Your Mouse is Moving Without Your Help

Hackers can gain complete control of your computer from anywhere. That’s scary to think about, but it’s true.

There’s a difference between a mouse jumping because it’s being annoying and a hacker opening up programs on your PC.

This type of thing will usually happen when it’s unlikely that anyone will notice, like overnight hours. If you do notice this, pull the computer off of the network and change all of your passwords from another device.

6. Sudden Reboots

There’s also a difference between your computer restarting because of an update and a malware attack. You’ll usually have some kind of system warning if your computer is about to reboot because of an update.

Should you find that your computer is rebooting without warning and it’s happened more than once, it’s likely that your computer is under attack.

7. Sent Emails That You Didn’t Send

Check your email outboxes. Do you see emails that were sent that you didn’t send? If you do, you’ll want to change your email passwords right away.

It’s good practice to do this for all of your accounts, including social media and streaming accounts. Remember, hackers can gain access to password and credit card information through these accounts, too.

What to Do if You Have Been Hacked

What do you do if you have been hacked? If you suspect if you’ve been hacked, follow these steps below to protect your business from a lot of damage.

Unplug the Infected Machine from the Network

The very first step you need to take if you have a machine that’s infected with a virus is to take it offline as soon as possible. That will prevent other computers in your network from being compromised as well. 

The next thing you want to do is run a few scans on your computer for malware, spyware, and viruses. Run these scans a few times because some types of malware can evade these scans.

If there’s still an issue with the machine and your scans didn’t turn anything up, you’ll want to have an expert look at it to make sure it’s not infected and the machine is running as it should.

Have Cyber Security Insurance

The average cost of a cyber attack costs $1 million. Unless you can afford that type of expense, you want to have cybersecurity insurance in place. 

Come Up with a Plan Now

There are a couple of ways to deal with a cyber attack. The first is to do everything you can to prevent an attack.

That starts by training your employees. Clicking on emails, checking Facebook, and using easy to remember passwords puts your company at risk. Read this to learn more about your employees’ impact on cyber attacks. 

You can have the best training and prevention program in place, but there’s still a good chance that your network will be compromised at some point.

You’ll want to keep damage to a minimum. Put an action plan in place so when there is an attack or suspected attack, your company will know exactly what to do. They’ll also be prepared so they’ll remain calm throughout the entire process.

A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way

We live in a connected world. With all the great things that technology brings to small businesses, there’s also a very dark side to technology.

Hackers can break into your system and steal your company’s most sensitive data. When you know the signs to tell if you have been hacked, you can take action quickly. That will minimize the damage that is don’t to your business.

You could save your business by taking action immediately. If you want to know more about protecting your company from a cyber attack, read this article to help you choose the right security app.