This article will highlight 7 signs that could indicate a hack to your systems and offer actionable advice to tackle these challenges head-on. As cyber attacks and security related incidents are on the rise, understanding potential cyber threats is crucial.
1. System Performance Drop: A Silent Indicator
If you notice that your computer or servers are suddenly slow, this could be a sign of malware. Malicious software often uses system resources, possibly for cryptocurrency mining or joining a botnet.
Actionable Tip: Monitor your system’s performance and metrics. Some tools that come embedded and you use are Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) can help identify resource-heavy processes.
2. Strange System Behavior: More Than Just Glitches
Are you experiencing abnormal system behavior? Perhaps your settings have changed inexplicably, your antivirus is disabled, or your mouse cursor moves independently. These are potential red flags for unauthorized access.
Actionable Tip: Regularly update your antivirus software and perform full system scans to detect and eliminate threats.
3. Unusual Email or Account Activity: A Digital Wake-Up Call
If emails or messages are sent from your accounts without your knowledge. In that case, you may receive bounce-back emails from emails you never sent, or you’re receiving alerts of login attempts from unknown devices. Your credentials might be compromised.
Actionable Tip: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) if offered for your accounts and set new passwords regularly.
4. Unexpected Pop-Ups or Redirects: Navigating the Unwanted
Are unsolicited browser tabs popping up, or are you frequently redirected to suspicious websites? This could be an indication of adware or other malicious software.
Actionable Tip: Use pop-up blockers and regularly clear your browser cache and cookies.
5. Bank or Credit Card Anomalies: Financial Red Flags
Getting alerts for unknown transactions on your bank account is very concerning. This might indicate your financial details have been breached.
Actionable Tip: Regularly review your bank statements and set up transaction alerts for instant notifications on any activity.
6. Compromised Credentials: Your Digital Identity at Risk
Finding your email in a dark web database severely indicates compromised data. Websites like “Have I Been Pwned” can help check if your email or phone number is exposed.
Actionable Tip: Regularly change passwords and use a password manager to generate strong credentials.
7. Your Data is Encrypted (Ransomware): Digital Hostage Situation
If your files are inaccessible and you receive a ransom message, you may be facing a ransomware attack. Always have an offline set of backups of your data that you can quickly restore from.
Actionable Tip: Do not pay the ransom. Instead, seek professional help immediately and restore your files from a secure backup. The algorithms used are often old and already have decryption keys published.
Key Takeaways for Cyber Vigilance:
We have seen 7 signs that could indicate a hack to your systems but are the key takeaways here?
- Get yourself familiar with your system’s normal behavior to recognize any abnormalities quickly. You can use a monitoring system for this which we recommend some in this article.
- Over 90% of reported hacks turn out to be false alarms due to user error or system malfunctions.
- If issues persist or critical systems are compromised, seek professional IT assistance.
Remember, staying informed and vigilant is your best defense against cyber threats, and we can help set up a securely monitored environment.
If the above sounds confusing, very technical, or just time consuming for you current capacity, we are here to help Contact us by Clicking Here. We are helping businesses to stabilizing and optimizing their environments. We also offer monitoring as a service if you just want us to keep an eye and alert you if something has indications of the will stop working soon. Here is an article related to monitoring
 | About Alexios Pappas – Alexios Pappas has worked internally in IT Departments in multi-role technical and management positions for many years. In parallel, Alexios led IT multinational projects across several countries globally as an IT Freelancer. He repeatedly got Top Rated Plus distinction and also 100% satisfaction rate for over one and a half-decade, resulting from the Client’s feedback. Since 2015 he has been focused on informing and helping Businesses that want to improve and excel in their IT Section. |
