ENThe online world is vast and complex, it gives you access to information and tools that are essential today. However, it is also a world where hackers exist, where you read about online scams daily and data breaches happen more often than we would like.
While this paints a grim picture, it’s important to remember the many dangers that can quickly make your life more difficult. Question is: How do you know if you have been hacked?
Ransomware locks all your files
Some online threats are more obvious that others, but receiving a ransom message is one the scariest. We currently live in the age of ransomware, malware that locks your files and asks for payment to get them back.
If you receive a message informing you that your files are inaccessible you are a ransomware victim.
There are few steps you can take to minimize the effects of a ransomware attack. Learn how to prevent data corruption with vBoxxCloud.
Data breach of your personal info
Created by Troy Hunt in 2013, Have I been pwned? is a website that lets users check if their personal data has been part data breaches.
You can check whether your email or password has been compromised and even set notifications if your email is among the data breach registered on the website.
Popular breaches like the 2012 Dropbox data breach are included in the database, and you can see if your email or password have been compromised.
Friends receive invitations you didn’t send
This can happen in different platforms. Hackers can hijack your Facebook profile and use it to spread spam or as ransom. The best way to prevent this is to change your password periodically and activate two step authentication.
Fake anti-virus messages
Fake anti-virus notifications are not as common as they used to be. However they are a strong sign that your system has malware. If you stumble upon a fake anti-virus warning, your computer has already been infected.
Usually fake anti-virus messages trick you into providing financial details after a fake virus scan. Which will eventually lead to the inappropriate use of your credit card. Try researching what type of threat is it and how to remove it from your computer.
Deactivated anti-virus and malware software
Suddenly your security software is not working, windows registry doesn’t open and you can’t restart anything. This tells you that your computer has been compromised by malware. Perform a system restore as soon as possible to see if you can resolve the situation. Otherwise you will have to research each symptom individually while searching for the cure.