Always clever, hackers are ready to do anything to hack your accounts or your personal data. Nobody is safe from being hacked. It's therefore important to take the right steps to get out of these situations.
In fact, the hacking of your account occurs when a malicious individual takes over your account to your detriment. It can be email accounts or applications, social networks, administration sites, e-commerce platforms.
On the other hand, these attacks often come from several sources: too simple of a password, phishing, malicious sites.
To avoid having your account hacked, be sure to :
- Use complex passwords every time;
- Enable dual authentication when necessary;
- Update your software or system security on your machines;
- Avoiding unsafe or illegal sites.
Nevertheless, if you doubt that you have been hacked, here are some steps to follow:
1. Check if you've been hacked
Haveibeenpwned allows you to check if your data is hacked. The site lists the latest hacks or thefts and its main purpose is to let you know if the hackers know your passwords. The verification process is simple.
When you enter the email address of the account you want to check, the site will tell you if a hacker has come into possession or not.
If you see the message "Good news - no pwnage found!" then it means that your account is not found in any hacking databases. Unlike this message, if your account is found in these databases; you will see "Oh no - pwned!"
2. Change your passwords immediately
When you notice that you are hacked, the first thing you should do is change your password. Strong passwords are the most recommended.
Indeed, while your credentials can be recovered by phishing, some hackers use a simpler method. They test the most logical passwords possible for your account: name, date of birth, address, network nickname. They try dozens of combinations until they find the right one. To avoid this, choose a complex password.
At the same time, you can manage password complexity with Lastpass. This tool will allow you to save your logins and passwords. With Lastpass you can centralize your complex passwords in one place.
3. Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication provides a more secure way to guarantee the user's identity. As a result, it significantly reduces the risk of fraud. Two-factor authentication can prevent nearly 99/100 of all hacking attacks.
If you think you're going to be hacked, and if the two-factor activation option is on your device or the service in question; don't hesitate to activate it. This will protect you from being hacked by requiring you to log into your account again. You will receive a confirmation code by sms or email.
4. Check for suspicious activity on your credit card
Check from time to time to see if your credit card has been affected by a hacker. According to standards, the ideal thing to do to find out who has come into possession of your card is to check the recipient of each payment. Or just ask for the origin of the debits.
For an eve, the 3-D Secure protocol is used to justify the legitimacy of transactions. In this case, your bank sends you a code by sms that you must enter before confirming your transaction. And it is after that your transaction is approved.
In case of uncontrollable fraud you can make a report or file a complaint to the law enforcement. Or you can report it directly online.
5. Scan your computer
Scanning your computer ensures whether it contains viruses or not. This check is recommended especially if the account that was hacked is accessible to your computer.
This scan with an antivirus software allows to check your computer and to detect harmful software attacks. When starting the scan, the antivirus checks all files on your computer to see if it can infect other files or if some files are already infected.
To conclude,
The consequences of the hack can be in various forms. Ideally, you should protect yourself against such risks. Be aware that there is no such thing as zero risk. We can only recommend solutions that minimize the risks. So be careful about sharing your information and take the necessary precautions to keep your accounts safe.
If you find yourself faced with getting one of your accounts hacked or faced with some kind of hack that requires help, please do not hesitate to contact us for possible guidance.