In 2022, most of us use a computer on a daily basis. Whether it’s for work, scrolling through social media, or playing online games, there are risks attached to your online activity. Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, hackers can gain access to your PC and cause an array of problems. If your PC has been playing up recently, here are some signs that may indicate your PC has been hacked.
Random Popups
When surfing the internet, you may find random popups dominating your screen. If they keep popping up and you’re not sure where they came from, this could be a sign your PC has been hacked. These popups can lure you into downloading new anti-virus software, which could cause further damage to your device. Whatever you do, don’t click on these ads!
Suspicious Activity
If you notice suspicious activity on your PC, you could be a victim of hacking. For instance, you may have random software that’s been installed that you had no clue about. If this is the case, this is a major sign you’ve been hacked. Other indicators your PC has been hacked include high resource utilization and unknown processes operating.
Unprompted Actions
When you’re not using your cursor, if you notice it’s moving on its own or you’re seeing random words appear on your screen, this is a major sign that your PC has been hijacked. Rather than thinking you have a ghost in the house, sadly, this will be a cybercriminal who is up to no good. Another sign to look out for is if you are redirected from the results of an internet search to a different page without you actioning it. It can be scary to see this in real-time, so it’s time to act.
Slow Speed
Whatever you use your PC for, you’ll want it to have excellent speed for maximum enjoyment. Whether you’re online shopping, playing games, or using it for work, if you’ve noticed it’s taking a long time for pages to load, this is a sign your PC has been hacked. Hackers use system resources such as memory, CPU, and bandwidth. This means there’s less for you to use, which could slow down your performance speed.
Fake Invites
Millions of us use social media platforms like Facebook daily. If your social media friends are receiving suspicious invites from you, this could be a sign that your PC has been hacked and the hacker has access to your social media account. Should this occur, it’s time to check for malware and change your social media passwords.
What to Do Next
There are certain things you can do which will protect your PC from hackers. Firstly, wiping your hard drive completely and reinstalling your operating system is essential. Next, ensure you have up-to-date anti-virus software installed. Going forward, it pays to be cautious with your online activity. For example, if you like playing online casino games, you should check out these casino reviews first to ensure you’re using a trustworthy provider.
We should all feel safe when using our PCs. If you notice any of the signs above, you must take action to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your personal information.
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