The internet has become an important part of our daily lives. Several businesses now go online to advertise to people, and you can also connect with friends and families online. Despite these benefits, a major issue that comes with the internet is the threat of being hacked. In this article, we'll give you tips to know if you've been hacked and what you should do about it.



Strange Network Traffic Pattern

When browsing the internet and you suddenly observe a strange network traffic pattern, chances are you're being hacked especially if it is a company network. An attacker can launch a denial of service attack on your company's webserver to deny you access to its resources. This is why it's recommended to outsource tasks to industry experts, such as tasks that involve making your brand rank higher to blogger outreach agencies like Click Intelligence.

Your Internet Searches Are Redirected

One of the common ways that hackers can get control of your internet activity is to hack your browser. They can do this by sending malware to your email address, and once you click on it, they have control of your browser. Using this method, they can redirect your searches to their site and get paid for your clicks. This attack is called malicious redirection.

Your Online Password Isn't Working

According to the Guardian, there are over 770 email addresses and passwords hacked and posted online in mid-December 2019. If you notice that your password for some sites is not working, you may have fallen victim to a hacker. This is why it's advisable to have different passwords for different platforms to avoid being overexposed in case one of your passwords falls into a hacker's hands.

Unexpected Software Installs

If you are using the internet on your personal devices, you need to check the software being installed on them constantly. If you notice unexpected software installs, it may be the work of a hacker that already has access to your device remotely. It is also possible for malicious software to present it as legitimate software which you may download and grant access to your devices unsuspectingly.

Antimalware, Registry Editor or Task Manager is Disabled

If the antimalware, registry editor or task manager of your computer is being disabled (except by an administrator), you have likely been hacked. A disabled antimalware will leave your computer prone to different kinds of malware attacks that may even attempt to modify keys in your registry editor. With a disabled task manager, you cannot close unknown tasks working in the background to cause harm.

What You Should Do in Case You've Been Hacked

According to The Week Magazine, prevention is better than cure in cyberspace. Thus, you need to ensure that you install quality antivirus software on your device and keep it up to date. You should also install security patches by constantly updating your device operating system. As part of your preventive measures, you should avoid installing software from untrusted sources and use different passwords for online platforms.

If you fall victim to hacking after using all these preventive measures, you need to consider exactly what kind of hacking it is to know how to battle it. If it involves password hijacking, you should instantly change your password to a strong one. However, if the hack is on your system or company's server, you may need the services of an IT professional to help you out.