Last updated: September 4, 2023
Here is a question we often ask ourselves when we are in front of our computer: " How do I know if my PC is hacked? »
Do you suspect someone is spying on what you are doing on your computer? Want to check if your PC is hacked, and there is no spyware?
It can be difficult to detect a hacker on a computer because it will conceal its actions. But luckily you can detect its presence en closely monitoring your computer's behavior.
Below are the most common signs that show you are being hacked.
New programs installed on your PC
If you are the only user of the computer and you notice new software appearing on your machine, it could indicate that you are a victim of hacking.
Most hackers have a tendency to install a backdoor on the victim's machine which will launch immediately after starting the computer. This allows them to continue their activity indefinitely, since they open automatically.
If you are wondering " how to detect the presence of malware on your computer», This solution is quite simple and very efficient to detect a pirate:
- Check for the presence of new programs by simultaneously pressing the Windows key + the R key then type "msconfig"and click on the Startup tab.
- You will have the list of software which launches automatically at startup. It remains to be seen which program is malicious and which is not. To find out, all you have to do is scan with your antivirus programs that appear suspicious to you.
Internet connection is slower than usual
For a hacker to take control of your computer, they need to log into it remotely. When someone remotely connects to your computer, your internet connection will be slower.
To check your network activity and find out which programs are using your internet connection without your knowledge, I recommend that you use the program tcpview.
TCPView is a real-time TCP / IP monitoring tool. With this tool you will be able to see which process communicates with the internet and via which means.
The goal will be to find a suspicious process and eliminate it.
Sending spam to your contacts without your knowledge
When your computer is hacked, the hacker almost always uses your mailbox to distribute spam and viruses to your loved ones. If your friends or family receive suspicious messages from you (request for money, advertising mail...) then you have been hacked.
There are small programs named keylogger, installed without your knowledge, which are able to copy the keys you typed on your keyboard (especially when you enter a password) and send this result over the Internet to the hacker.
The solution ? Scan your computer using an anti-malware like Malwarebytes. Then log in to your e-mail account and change the password for all your accounts.
The computer does things on its own
If your computer has been hacked, it is possible for the hacker to control your computer remotely as if they were sitting at your desk. For example, a mouse cursor could be moved or your PC is typing letters on its own.
If you see the computer doing actions on its own, it indicates that it is being exploited by a hacker. Unfortunately, your PC has become a Zombie PC (botnet).
Some smart guys offer rental services for these machines to carry out DDOS attacks. It is an attack which consists in saturating a site with requests. So, your machine may be part of this botnet network.
Here are other signs that you should not overlook:
- The fan starts at full speed when the computer is idle.
- Your computer is taking a long time to shut down.
- Opening of ad pop-ups even when your web browser is closed.
- Your computer shuts down and restarts on its own.
- Your PC is slow.
If you notice these signs then it is time to download a software suite and do a full scan of your system. I recommend that you follow the instructions in this article: how do i remove all viruses from my windows pc?.
Once your computer is clean again, all you have to do is adopt a new digital lifestyle. Do not forget to update your operating system, your antivirus and the software installed on your PC. That way you avoid getting hacked again.