How to Know Your Computer Has Been Hacked

By Annette Palmer, eHow Member

Viral infections do not cause your computer to crash anymore. They keep you computer busy in the background while your computer is working so you do not realize anything is wrong. A key logger program attaches to your system, so they can log your keystrokes when you type your password or credit card numbers when purchasing or paying bills online. They also will use your computer for a server to mail out spam, which you may not know unless your Internet service disables your service until you call in.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:

Computer
Anti-virus
Spy-ware

1
Do you have pop-up ads that won't stop or go away? If you say, yes, then you may have been hacked.
2
Is your computer continually slowing down? If you say, yes, then you may have been hacked.
3
Are you being redirected to other websites unintentionally? Or are search results showing things you didn't type into the search bar? If you say, yes, then you may have been hacked.
4
Does that sound like you are part of a joke? Well, it is not a very funny one! But it could be you've been hacked with programs sneaking into your system in the background. At this point, if you said, yes, to any or all of them, then you have been hacked.
5
Now what to do about it? Fight back! It is your computer not a hackers paradise, so take it back.

* Make sure your anti-virus program is installed and up-to-date. AVG has a free edition online or you can get their trial version. There are many other programs online and you can get them at download.com for a trial period. Run the virus program and spybot if you have it.
6
How do I know what information has been taken?

1 It is very hard to tell what has been taken. Not every infection steals your data. Some just serve unwanted ads.
2. Others reroute your search result to alternate Web sites you don't want to see. Others log your every keystroke.
3. The anti-virus vendors have extensive databases about what the known infections do and don't do. Check with them to see what kind of damage may have been done to your machine.

Posted in:

2/19/11