Hacking: here’s how to detect if you are a victim without knowing it

Phishing, malicious programs, intrusion via an unsecured Wi-Fi network… Hackers have no shortage of tools and ingenuity to hack your smartphone or PC and steal your personal data. Even with extreme caution, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of attack.

Knowing how to detect if one of your devices or online accounts has been hacked is therefore essential. Here are some elements that should alert you and the key methods to regain control of all your terminals, as well as your data.

Beware of the behavior of your smartphone and your PC

When a device is hacked, its operation may be partially altered. However, the signals can be discreet. Even more so if your equipment is aging and you put this down to obsolescence.

A few key elements should therefore be monitored closely, starting with the battery life of your smartphone and your laptop. Indeed, once a malicious program is installed, it uses the device’s resources and drains your battery more or less quickly.

Malware can also cause slowdowns, abrupt closure of applications in use, or even in some cases overheating of the device. However, do not fall into paranoia, certain stains naturally damage our machines.

Fortunately, there are other, much more visible elements to identify a potential attack. Here are some examples:

• programs and applications magically appear or disappear;
• your mouse seems uncontrollable at times, it moves and clicks on its own without intervention on your part;
• the camera or microphone indicator lights up even though you have not activated them;
• unwanted advertisements appear suddenly and massively;
• the number of unwanted calls and text messages received has recently exploded;
• some of your files are inaccessible and require a code to access them;
• your mobile data consumption has soared.

Of course, it is not a question of crying wolf at the first pop-up appearing on the screen, but of having a few keys to detect that a device is potentially infected.

Stay alert when browsing the web

On the internet, every unusual detail should alert you. For example, hackers can make certain changes to your browser, particularly with a view to sending you to phishing sites.

They can then choose to modify your home page, add malicious extensions or even program automatic redirects to fraudulent sites. In all cases, their objective is always the same: to collect your usernames, passwords, and even your banking details.

It is therefore essential to systematically check that the URL corresponds to the one you requested and that the page is secure, that is to say that its address begins with “ https “.

The mailbox is also the nerve center of your online activity. It centralizes your access to the different platforms, and generally allows you to reset your different passwords. Guaranteeing your safety is essential.

But then, how do you know if a hacker has broken into your inbox? A few signs are unmistakable:

• emails are marked as read even though you never opened them;
• you suddenly receive multiple notifications for password resets even though you have not initiated any;
• your contacts inform you that they have received strange messages from you;
• your outbox is full of emails you didn’t write.

Finally, remember to regularly take a look at your publications on social networks to detect if some of them are not yours, and therefore if you are the victim of identity theft.

Check your mobile bill and bank accounts every month

Some hackers are so meticulous that it is almost impossible to detect their intrusion using the previous indicators. Generally, they try to remain as invisible and undetectable as possible. Some of them even work to not use the device’s resources when you are using it. And whether subtle or not, they all traditionally share the same goal: to take your money.

Here again, several strategies are available to them: issuing transfers in their favor, purchases on the internet with your bank card, or even direct debits generated by malicious applications. Known as “ fleecewares », These latter register you without your knowledge for paid services, which can cost you dearly.

Hence the importance of frequently consulting your bank account history, without forgetting your card balances. Such verification is essential to detect atypical transactions and above all to be able to quickly notify your bank in the event of fraud.

The first reflexes to adopt

At the slightest suspicion, start by changing all your passwords, as this is often the entry point for hackers. Ideally, install a password manager and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever the service offers it. Moreover, prefer double authentication by application rather than by SMS, the latter can easily be intercepted by hackers.

Next, it’s time to remove malware. First try to identify the source of the infection by seeing if an unknown application has recently appeared on your smartphone or PC. For the latter, it is also advisable to check which software launches at startup and if any of them seem suspicious. Finally, browse your download history to spot the strangest items that you have no memory of.

If you still can’t figure out which app is affected and don’t have a cybersecurity solution on your device, it’s time to install one. The last step before completely resetting your devices.

Once in place, tools like Bitdefender Premium Security Plus take care of securing your devices, eliminating existing threats and allowing you to regain control of your data.

Prevent risks and react quickly when security is compromised

Although it is always important to know how to detect possible cases of hacking, the best thing is to protect yourself against them, with a suitable and complete cybersecurity solution like Bitdefender Premium Security Plus.

For 125.99 euros for the first year instead of 179.99 euros, you have access to optimal protection for all of your devices, the offer covering up to 10 different terminals. Viruses, malware, ransomware, rootkits, or even phishing attempts, all threats are automatically blocked.

And to further protect your data, Bitdefender Premium Security Plus also includes a firewall, a VPN, and a password manager.

Finally, the publisher is responsible for continuously checking whether the security of your personal data is compromised. The solution automatically alerts you when this is the case and provides you with a whole series of advice to effectively regain control of your data and your digital identity.