How Do You Know if You’ve Been Hacked?
Believe it or not it’s not that easy to know if you’ve been hacked. Why? Because hackers have very crafty ways of hiding or disguising their actions. However, there are some common things to look for after a computer hack.
If you notice new programs have been installed on your computer, it could be one indication of a hack. After installing updates or plugins users should be prompted by a box to check to authorize installing additional software. Unchecking the box can help avoid installing a potentially dangerous piece of malware or something worse.
If you are a home user typically User Account Control will provide a pop-up message to alert you to authorize a change or install. If this feature has been disabled and not by you, it may also shed light that an issue may be present.
After a computer has been hacked it may have programs running on it such as backdoors, Trojan, Spyware, keyloggers, mailbots, ransomware, script kiddies, root kits, and various other types of malware. If you have visited a hijacked page while browsing, you could have been infected with one of these and not know that it is running on your machine.
Remotely controlled programs are another common way for hackers to do their dirty deeds and possibly remotely control and view your machine. Online passwords can be a red flag that you’ve been hacked. If you have not changed your password, but it has been changed, you should contact the service provider. Passwords don’t change on their own.
E-mail accounts can be hijacked and used to spread viruses and spam to people on your contact list. Advise your contacts if they get e-mails that you have not sent, but it appears they came from you. Please change your e-mail password immediately if this happens to you.
If you receive an e-mail from one your contacts and the grammar is a little off, it might be a clear indication of a phishing attempt. A good rule of thumb is to hover your mouse over the “from” address and verify it came from the address displayed. If you receive an email from a contact or business that seems too good to be true, don’t hesitate to place a call to them to verify. Typically, a phone call will sort out whether the message is legit or not.
An increase in network activity can indicate someone has remotely connected to your computer. It can then be used to attack other computers. Your internet connection may appear to be slower, but that is not always associated with a hack. There may be a legitimate reason why it is slower.
Security programs that have been disabled or uninstalled may be an indication of a hack. A virus that has been added to your computer has the potential to disable the antivirus or anti-malware program and do harm.
If you notice your computer doing things by itself, that is a big indicator that it has been breached at the very root level.
Changes to your web browser configuration can be symptomatic of a viral infection. Things like browser changes on your homepage or an added third-party toolbar.
All of these things are indicators and on a network level it can be devastating. If you rely on an IT team to come to the rescue, can you count on them to respond quickly? Or if they are really savvy, perhaps they alerted you of a potential problem.
What really matters most is that you have the immediate help you need at a critical time. It’s good to know that experts are just a phone call or e-mail away from getting to the bottom of it. Hacking is not likely to go away in the near future, so make sure you, your associates, your network, your friends know the name Sentry GT.
More (Employees) Can Mean Less (Security).
In these times of high security risks, companies need to understand what’s needed when it comes to avoiding data breaches. One recurring fact is that companies with more employees stand a greater risk of a security breach. Why? Because more people with more devices in more locations equals more security risk. It really is that simple.
Employees want access. That’s a given. Sometimes it’s necessary access to what they need to do their job, but far too often it is access to what they do not need. At least, not to do their job. This is an ongoing problem that larger (and growing) companies are faced with daily.
Policing employee access should not be a constant aggravation. Following are some helpful measure to reduce the risk of data loss and breaches because of too much employee access: Limit Access to Sensitive Data
Give access to proprietary data only to employees who need it to perform their jobs. Some of the data protection measures might also include:
Monitoring of end-user privileges
Performing a background check on the online activity of the employ prior to giving access
Segregating the network to ensure improved security
Educate Employees on Data Security
If employees know how to recognize data threats, scams and other harmful cyber menaces, they are better employees. Ongoing cyber education helps to build a more responsible organization and gives employees the insight to know how to avoid data issues.
Use Smart Technology Security Solutions
Sentry Global Technologies understand the extreme importance of keeping clients’ network data and voice infrastructure as secure and hacker-resistant as possible — inside and out. The experts who form our security team function like an extension of your IT department. They will analyze, assess, and review the status of your network to keep your organization safe from cyber threats and data breaches.
Whether you’re an enterprise-sized giant with hundreds or thousands of employees, or a small to medium sized business with 100 employees or less – you still need smart security solutions.
Get the Best Infrastructure, IT and Tech Support
When and Where You Need It – Fast.
Technology projects and the competitive demands that go along with them affect many parts of an organization. Risks are high if something goes wrong or doesn’t get fixed in time. So how do confidently move forward on major infrastructure changes or company-wide deployment of new software knowing there could be snags along the way?
You partner with experts located throughout the world so that you have access – immediate access – to the certified professionals who not only know what to do, but who take action to get it done – fast.
Whether stakeholders or employees are counting on you to deliver on time and on budget, the problem is equally demanding. If you’re located in the Midwest Southwest, Europe or even Latin America, to name a few locations – IT services help is only a phone call or email away.
Sentry Global is esteemed for its comprehensive ability to solve major IT, infrastructure and technical issues regardless of the location. Wherever you are – Sentry Global is there to help.
High-performing project teams will be on site or on hand when you need them, night or day. Quality assurance, functionality, migration, security, rollouts and much more can be easily managed if Sentry Global certified experts are doing the work.
Sentry Global gives new meaning to the word ‘immediacy’. When you’re in the middle of a software rollout, you want the caliber of people on hand who fully understand the technology and the obstacles that may go along with it.
How stress-free it is to know that no matter where your company is located — Pocatello, Idaho or San Jose, Costa Rica, you have immediate access to the certified IT experts you need.
You’ll work with a dedicated engineer specifically assigned to you so each time you need us, you’re working with someone you know. And most of all, someone you know delivers.
Don’t wait until you need us. Let’s start the conversation right away so we can get to work for you.