Finding out you’ve been hacked can be a scary and stressful experience. Your personal information may have been compromised, and you probably have a lot of questions about what to do next. The most important thing is not to panic. There are steps you can take to address the hack, protect yourself going forward, and potentially catch the perpetrators. This article provides a walkthrough of what to do upon discovering you’ve been hacked, with tips on damage control, prevention, and pursuing legal action.
How do you know if you’ve been hacked?
There are various signs that may indicate your online accounts or devices have been compromised by hackers:
Unusual activity in your accounts
– Password changes you didn’t make
– Unfamiliar devices logged into your accounts
– Purchases or transactions you didn’t authorize
– Social media posts you didn’t create
– Emails being sent from your accounts without your knowledge
Suspicious files, programs, or hardware
– New files, programs, or software you’re unfamiliar with on your devices
– Unexpected pop-ups, toolbars, or extensions on your web browser
– Unfamiliar USB or other devices plugged into your computer
– Hard drive noises indicating unauthorized access to your files
Security alerts
– Notifications from online services or security software about unauthorized access
– Multi-factor authentication or recovery email requests you didn’t initiate
– Warnings that your credentials have been detected on suspicious sites
Other unusual activity
– Spike in advertisements related to things you’ve privately searched or discussed
– Logins from unfamiliar locations
– Strange charges on phone, cable, or other bills
– Unexpected password reset requests from online services
If you observe any of these red flags, it’s time to take action to deal with the breach.
Step 1: Contain the damage
Once you suspect you’ve been hacked, act quickly to limit the extent of the breach:
Change your passwords
Immediately change passwords on any affected accounts as well as any other accounts that use the same or similar passwords. Make the new passwords strong and unique. Enable two-factor authentication if available.
Remove unauthorized access
Check devices for any unfamiliar programs or hardware and remove anything suspicious. Scan devices for malware or viruses. Go through account settings and revoke access privileges for any unknown apps or suspicious sessions.
Alert relevant institutions
Notify your bank and credit card companies if financial accounts may be impacted. Report identity theft to the FTC if personal information was accessed. Inform your employer if any work devices or accounts are involved.
Monitor for further suspicious activity
Keep an eye out for any additional signs of unauthorized access and take action right away if anything seems amiss. Enable account activity notifications if possible.
Step 2: Investigate the breach
Once you’ve contained the initial damage, start investigating to determine the source and scope of the hack:
Review account and security logs
Check security logs and account activity records for information about access times, locations, devices, and IP addresses. Look for any other clues about the origin of the attack.
Document evidence
Take screenshots and photos capturing any signs of unauthorized activity. Copy down any error messages and make note of exactly what happened and when.
Run security scans
Perform comprehensive malware, virus, and spyware scans on your devices to identify and remove anything malicious. Scan routers and networks as well.
Engage a specialist (if needed)
For major hacks, contact a security professional to thoroughly inspect your systems and identify the vulnerabilities exploited by hackers.
Determine what was compromised
Figure out exactly which accounts and data were breached. This helps assess the extent of damage and identify appropriate next steps.
Step 3: Prevent future attacks
With details from the investigation in hand, take measures to better protect yourself moving forward:
Strengthen passwords and enable two-factor authentication
For all important accounts, create secure passwords following best practices. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible for an extra layer of security.
Be wary of phishing scams
Exercise caution around unsolicited emails and links which hackers use to steal credentials and spread malware.
Keep software updated
Maintain current versions of operating systems, applications, antivirus tools, and security software to minimize vulnerabilities.
Review privacy and security settings
Adjust account permissions, sharing options, and privacy settings to lock down access. Tighten security controls to detect unauthorized changes.
Set up activity alerts
Use account features and third-party services to receive immediate notifications about logins, transactions, and other activities.
Back up your data
Keep secure backups of important files offline to preventpermanent data loss in the event of an intrusion or ransomware attack.
Step 4: Restore accounts and services
Once you’ve fully contained the hack and prevented additional infiltration, take steps to restore security:
Retrieve lost or stolen data
Work to recover compromised files or documents from backups and replace stolen data like credit card numbers.
Fix affected systems and accounts
If any devices, programs, or online accounts were damaged or corrupted, take corrective action to fix the issues.
Reset all account passwords
To be safe, change credentials not just for breached accounts but any accounts that share passwords or are otherwise connected.
Notify contacts
If any of your contacts are affected, like email recipients impacted by a hijacked account, let them know about the situation.
Remove unauthorized charges
If fraudulent transactions were made, report the unauthorized charges and work with banks and providers to dispute them.
Restore surveillance measures
Replace or strengthen any security systems, monitoring tools, or hardware that were tampered with.
Step 5: Investigate legal options
Depending on the circumstances, you may want to pursue legal action against the perpetrators:
File a police report
For significant breaches, file a formal cybercrime complaint with details about the incident timeline and supporting evidence.
Determine if it’s worth prosecuting
Evaluate the time, costs and odds of identifying and prosecuting the hackers to see if legal action makes sense for you.
Gather all relevant evidence
Collect and preserve any details that can help identify and prove guilt of the hackers, including security logs, digital footprints, and compromised files.
Consult an attorney
Discuss your legal rights and options with an attorney experienced in cybercrime and privacy laws. They can provide guidance specific to your case.
Contact hacker’s ISP or hosting providers
If you have details about where the attack originated, contact the associated internet service or hosting providers who may be able to intervene.
Report crimes to the FBI
For severe hacks from domestic or foreign entities, report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center for possible investigation.
Protecting yourself going forward
Here are some general tips to boost your online security beyond just the immediate response if you get hacked:
| Security Measure | Steps to Take |
|---|---|
| Strong passwords | – Use long, complex, unique passwords for each account – Consider a password manager app to track them – Change passwords periodically |
| Two-factor authentication | – Add a second step like biometrics, security keys, authentication apps – Use two-factor for email, banking, social media, and work accounts |
| Antivirus and anti-malware tools | – Install and run reputable antivirus software – Perform regular scans to detect threats |
| Firewall protection | – Use a firewall to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic – Make sure your router has a firewall enabled |
| Software updates | – Keep devices, browsers, apps, and security tools fully updated – Enable auto-updates when possible |
| Email caution | – Avoid clicking links or attachments in suspicious emails – Check email sender addresses for spoofing |
| Secure web browsing | – Use HTTPS websites and check for certificate validity – Avoid entering sensitive data on public networks |
| Physical security | – Password protect computers and mobile devices – Secure your home WiFi network |
| Data backups | – Maintain recent backups of critical files and data – Keep some backups offline and physically secure |
| Activity monitoring | – Review account settings, transactions and notifications – Use security tools to monitor networks |
No one ever expects to get hacked, but being prepared to respond at the first sign of trouble can greatly reduce the damage. Follow the steps outlined here to address current breaches and implement long-term solutions to keep hackers at bay. With vigilance and good cyber hygiene, you can protect your data, accounts and devices from the vast majority of attacks.
Conclusion
Discovering you’ve been the victim of a cyber attack can be a scary and frustrating experience. Fortunately, there are concrete actions you can take to respond to the hack, prevent future breaches, and potentially hold the attackers legally accountable. Documenting evidence, containing the damage, investigating the source of intrusion, restoring impacted accounts, and pursuing legal options gives you the best chance of recovering when your online security is compromised. Coupled with vigilant security habits and protective measures going forward, you will be well equipped to handle any digital threats that come your way.