How to Tell If Your Computer Has Been Hacked
How to Tell If Your Computer Has Been Hacked
Has your computer
been hacked?
Internet users with lackluster security aren’t the only ones racing to Google in a panic to search “how to tell if my computer has been hacked.” No matter how careful you are online, you’re a potential target for hackers. (Yes, even if you use good passwords and practice smart online security.) Giant data breaches at megacorporations may get the most media attention, but cybercriminals don’t discriminate.
“The unfortunate
truth about cybersecurity is that many people don’t think about it until it’s
too late,” says Hari Ravichandran, founder and CEO of consumer cybersecurity
company Aura Identity Protection. The
FBI received nearly 860,000 complaints about concerns regarding internet
security in 2024, with reported losses exceeding $16 billion—a 33% increase
from the previous year. Hackers will prey on anyone with vulnerabilities, from
easy-to-guess passwords to public-facing information that makes doxxing
easier. Reader’s Digest spoke to
Ravichandran and nine other cybersecurity experts about the top 15 signs that
your computer may be compromised. Ahead,
how to tell if your computer has been hacked, and what to do about it.
Throughout the entire week, receive the Read Up newsletter from Reader's Digest for additional fun facts about technology, humor, travel, cleaning, and other topics. How do hackers get access to your computer?
Hackers are skilled
at a variety of techniques. Viruses and malicious software, aka malware, make
the most of security gaps, but something called social engineering is even
easier. As Ravichandran points out,
“Hackers and scammers know there’s one vulnerability they can always exploit:
you.”
Social engineering
attacks use so-called human hacking to get around cybersecurity
roadblocks. “Instead of hacking your
accounts to steal your identity, they hack you by using phishing attacks,
imposter frauds and other scams,” he says.
This deceptive psychological manipulation instills fear, excitement and
urgency. “Once you’re in a heightened
emotional state, they’ll use that against you to cloud your better judgment,”
Ravichandran adds.
Once they have you hooked, they swoop in to steal your data, personal information, or banking details. If you suspect that may have happened to you, look for these subtle (and not-so-subtle) clues that your computer has been hacked.
Your computer starts
running slower
If it suddenly takes forever for your computer to boot up or for applications to open, it may be infected. Viruses, Trojans, and worms, which run in the background and use a lot of your computer’s memory, can really slow down your device.
Naturally, computers can be slow for a variety of reasons, including improper maintenance, a full hard drive, processor overheating, and more. Snail-like speed isn’t a definitive sign your machine has a bug. Still, if your computer is lagging, it’s a good idea to use security software to scan your device and remove any problematic programs. Doing so could fix the problem and make your computer run faste
Your fans speed up, and your battery is depleted. Keep an eye on how your computer sounds and feels because a compromised computer is inefficient. According to Bill Siegel, founder of the Coveware ransomware recovery company, "paying attention to the physical temperature and battery life of the machine is one of the easiest ways to tell if a machine or mobile device has spyware, crypto-mining malware, or other viruses that consume processing power." Is your computer fan running more than half the time? Is your phone or computer hot to the touch? Does your device suddenly need to be charged three or four times a day? All of these symptoms could be signs that malware is running and using significant power.
Programs
automatically connect to the internet
Is your calculator app suddenly connecting to the internet? Does your media player launch without asking? Paige Hanson, co-founder of SecureLabs, and Jeff Nathan, the director of detection engineering at Netography, say these could be signs of a hacked device. Malware often has a directive to connect back to its home server, so if you’re seeing programs start connecting to the web on their own, especially ones that normally don’t, that’s a red flag.
Even programs that
normally connect can be suspicious if they start behaving strangely for that
application. Excessive popups, prompts
to download unusual updates or connecting constantly to random servers are all
clues. So, if you’re wondering how to
tell if your computer has been hacked, check the task manager, and be on the
lookout for programs that connect to the internet when you’re not using them.
Your webcam randomly
turns on
You probably know how to browse the internet anonymously by opening an incognito browser. But it’s a good idea to hide your camera, too. Hackers can access your camera for nefarious purposes, and one way to tell it’s happening is that your camera keeps starting by itself, says cybersecurity expert and journalist David Geer. (You’ll know it’s on by the indicator light.)
Online spies aren’t
necessarily trying to catch you walking around naked. They’re often trying to get a peek at
passwords as you type them in. While the
best protection is maintaining strong digital security, you can go above and
beyond by blocking their view. Place a
piece of tape over your webcam when it’s not in use, or buy a special webcam
cover, to protect your privacy and any sensitive information you have on your
desk. Or use an external camera for
meetings, then unplug it when you’re done.
You see unknown
sending and receiving lights
Raise your hand if you pay attention to the lights on your router or modem. Good for you! For the rest of us, it’s smart to glance at them every once in a while. They may tip us off that someone is controlling our computer. “Blinking ‘send’ and ‘receive’ lights when your computer is idle is a warning sign,” says Jack Vonder Heide, a tech expert and CEO of Technology Briefing Centers.
Look at your
devices. They’ll have lights that are
consistently lit or flashing, indicating you’re connected to the internet or
receiving data. The colors will vary by
brand, so pay attention to what’s normal on your modem, router, and computer. That way, you’ll have an easier time spotting
lights acting oddly. If you suddenly
notice an increase in blinking even when you’re not online, it’s a sign of
trouble.
Your apps act up
Computer apps make our lives easier, but they can also be vehicles for malicious code aimed at collecting our data. This is called an injection attack, and according to CrowdStrike, the code gives hackers the ability to execute remote commands or access data and systems. If an app is running slowly or crashing more frequently than usual, it may be compromised.
And heads up: Bad
apps don’t just live on computers; they’re found on smartphones, too. To safeguard both, make sure you’re dealing
with a reputable company before downloading an app from the internet.
You notice unusually high internet data consumption
Has your internet usage increased suddenly? You’ve probably been hacked, according to Ravichandran. Why do hackers gobble up so much data? Well, once they gain access to your computer, they know it’s only a matter of time before they’re discovered. So they aggressively go through your system to get as much data and sensitive information as possible before you take action.
Hackers might also
use your system to attempt to reach and control another system, or people in
your address book or on your network.
Hackers can do a lot with just your cell phone number, so imagine what
they could do with all of that data.
Take action the minute you notice suspiciously high internet usage. You
start seeing more pop-up ads
“If all of a sudden
you have browser add-ins or plug-ins you don’t remember installing, your
machine may be infected,” says Richard Ford, vice president of engineering at
CyberCube. “Often, these add-ins help an
attacker monetize their access to your machine.
Similarly, if the web now seems full of pop-up advertisements, you may
be infected.”
Your smart devices
act stupid
The Internet of Things (IoT) aims to make life easier. Voice assistants can play music or tell you the weather. Smart thermostats keep your environment comfortable, and smart locks secure your home. But IoT devices are “common targets for bad actors, as they don’t have space to run proper security systems, and often store sensitive information like login details and passwords,” Ravichandran says.
That’s right: Items
in your home could be spying on you.
“Once they install malware, hackers can link devices together and launch
[denial of service] attacks,” he says.
“These attacks attempt to knock out networks by flooding them with traffic.” Unfortunately, once hackers are in, they can
gain access to your entire system. Pay
attention to odd behavior like devices that turn on and off randomly, strange
sounds, spikes in data usage, and passwords that don’t work.
Your homepage changed
You may know all the ways Google is tracking you across the internet. But something even more nefarious may be following you: spyware. “If you open your web browser and are taken to an unfamiliar page instead of your normal homepage, or if you type a search term into your browser and another browser pops up with a list of websites for your search term, this could be a sign of spyware,” says cybersecurity consultant Stacy Clements. “This is especially true if you realize your browser settings have been modified and you are unable to change the settings.”
Mysterious tools
start showing up
“Other signs of potential spyware are files appearing on your computer, or toolbars and tray icons that you didn’t install,” Clements says. Do you have a cluttered computer desktop? A non-existent file system? This would be a good time to tidy things up. A bit of spring cleaning will help you keep track of your apps and programs. If something sketchy pops up as you organize, you can take immediate action.
Websites and other
tools stop responding
You open a web browser, and faster than you can search “how to tell if my computer has been hacked,” you encounter website after website that won’t load. That’s a red flag you’ve been hacked, says Trave Harmon, founder and CEO of Triton Technologies. “I’m not talking about one or two websites, but multiple ones that aren’t related,” he says.
Here’s an even bigger
clue that something is afoot: Your coworkers or other people on the same
network aren’t having any problems accessing these same sites. You may also find that your antivirus
software or some system tools on your computer are unresponsive or don’t work
properly.
You get a warning
“If an antivirus
warning pops up, don’t ignore it,” says Adam Dean, an incident response and
forensics lead at Octillo, a law firm specializing in data security and
privacy. And don’t presume your
antivirus software has removed the virus, either. “If you see a malware detection by antivirus
software, assume it’s letting you know you have an issue, not that it has
deleted the virus,” he says.
Be very careful when
deleting so that you don’t inadvertently start the program. Follow your computer’s prompts on how to
delete a program, and then empty your trash bin to be on the safe side. One note: Sometimes malware can be disguised
as a warning. Hover your cursor over the
link before clicking, scan the URL, and make sure it’s legit.
Passwords are not
working
Google’s not
working. Your Instagram account is
unavailable to you. And though you’re positive you’re using the correct
password, you’re locked out of your health insurer’s site. According to Ravichandran, if none of your
passwords work, especially across multiple sites all at once, you’ve probably
been hacked.
Your account is
sending mass emails
This is a tricky situation. It’s possible that your email account was hacked and not your computer. But if you notice giant group emails being sent from your account to every single person in your address book, it’s probably a sign that your computer was hacked.
What to do if you’ve
been hacked
Act quickly. Someone may have access to all your information and contacts. “Once cybercriminals have remote access to your computer, the potential for identity theft and financial losses increases dramatically,” say Hanson and Nathan. The longer you wait to tackle the problem, the more time hackers have to steal your personal information and target people in your network.
Here’s what to do:
Confirm the breach
Have your computer
examined for malware as soon as possible, Ravichandran says. Hanson and Nathan suggest using a different
computer to schedule the appointment: “If possible, use a separate device to
locate a reputable source of technical support, as some malware will prevent you
from browsing a legitimate antivirus site.”
It’s important to
“find out what sensitive data was stolen and is available to hackers,”
Ravichandran says. Ask yourself what’s
accessible on your computer: social security numbers, bank and retirement accounts,
home title information, phone numbers, home address? Having this information handy will help
later.
Update your passwords
“Think back to what websites you’ve visited while your computer [or] device has been compromised, and update those passwords immediately,” Hanson and Nathan advise. Using a password manager makes keeping track of hard-to-crack passwords easier, and the pair say if you’ve been hacked, it’s safer to update passwords using another device.
Then, go a step
beyond basic security by setting up two-factor authentication (or multi-factor)
for all your accounts.
Freeze your credit
Bad actors can use data collected from your computer to steal your identity, so it’s crucial to freeze your credit after a hack. Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and call your bank to set up a fraud alert to prevent unauthorized access or card use.
Monitor your accounts
Next, keep an eye out
for suspicious activity. Monitor web
activity for things like failed log-in attempts and odd emails, and check your
bank account for unknown charges. Keep
tabs on your credit file and credit card charges to make sure no one has opened
new accounts in your name.
Sign up for identity
theft prevention
Sign up for a service
that monitors credit information and prevents identity theft. Ask your bank or credit card company if they
have a tool to monitor the dark web for your data, or use a monitoring company
like LifeLock or CrowdStrike.
How to protect your
computer from hackers
The best way to avoid
getting hacked is to have a solid, reputable antivirus or anti-malware program
installed on your computer, says Troy Wilkinson, the CEO of Axiom Cyber
Solutions. “These cost just a couple of
dollars a month, so there really is no valid reason not to use one,” he says. But if you get infected, spyware can run in
the background and quietly collect your information, which could end up costing
you hundreds or thousands of dollars in the long run. In addition to installing
antivirus software, follow these expert tips for protecting your computer from
hackers and spyware:
Never open suspicious
emails or click on suspicious links
Use strong passwords
Don’t download
pirated material
Don’t use USB devices
that aren’t yours
Install a firewall
Update your computer
when prompted
Use multi-factor
authentication
FAQs
Can someone spy on me
through public Wi-Fi?
Yes. Public Wi-Fi networks can be exploited
through middleman attacks, where a hacker intercepts data between your device
and the internet. Using a VPN adds a
layer of encryption to help protect your activity.
Could a browser
extension be used to spy on me?
Absolutely. Malicious browser extensions can log
keystrokes, track browsing behavior, and even inject malicious ads. Stick to well-reviewed extensions from
trusted developers, and check permissions before installing.
Additional reporting
by Joe McKinley.
About the experts
Paige Hanson is the
co-founder of SecureLabs with nearly two decades of experience in identity
management. She is a certified identity
theft risk management specialist and holds a certificate in identity
leadership from the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Identity.
Jeff Nathan is the
director of detection engineering at Netography. He has nearly 24 years of experience in
cybersecurity, specializing in developing threat detection systems. He leads a team creating detection models
that enhance security across diverse network environments.
Hari Ravichandran is
the founder and CEO of Aura Identity Protection. He is named on over 40 technology patents,
and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. He also founded and was the previous CEO of
Endurance International Group, a software company.
Bill Siegel is the
co-founder and CEO of Coveware, a ransomware incident response firm acquired by
Veeam Software in 2024. He has held
leadership roles at SecurityScorecard and NASDAQ Private M
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