During the last few years, our life has developed more and more within the digital environment. We make all kinds of online purchases, we do banking operations, we interact with friends and family, etc. This exposes you to possible hacker attacks that we don’t always know how to react to.
How do you know if you have been the victim of a hacker?
Computer hacking has endless varieties and the hacker is not always a criminal looking to steal your money or impersonate your identity
. However, scams through the Internet are the order of the day, and it is not always easy to know if we have suffered a hacking attack.
Without a doubt, the most obvious cases are extortion, where they demand a “ransom” in exchange for not revealing any intimate information or decrypting our hard drive. Another undoubted assumption is that of undue charges on our credit card or similar cases. You may hire a hacker here how to hire a hacker
However, there are other cases that are more difficult to detect, such as hacking of email or social network accounts, identity theft, fraudulent use of our computer remotely, etc.
In any case, there are always some signs that should make you suspicious :
If you’ve opened an email attachment and your computer starts to malfunction or malfunction.
If some of your contacts receive spam sent from your email accounts or on social networks.
If you cannot access any of your accounts with your usual password or they allow you to request a new one.
Dangers of pirated programs
When we talk about hackers or hackers, we must also refer to pirated software. This form of piracy, in addition to its intrinsic illegality, can be the entry point for other types of attacks.
If you have ever used this type of program, surely you have come across cases in which your computer suddenly slowed down, started to cause other software to close suddenly, or, directly, stopped working and you had to format the hard drive.
This is because it is not uncommon for the hacker to use pirated programs to introduce a virus or spyware on your computer.
Tips to prevent hacking
We offer you some basic tips to minimize the chances of being attacked by a hacker:
Use strong passwords. It is recommended that they be at least 8 characters long and that they combine letters, numbers, and symbols.
Don’t use the same password for all your online services. On the other hand, it is recommended that you change them from time to time and whenever you suspect a possible hack.
Antivirus and firewall programs are your best allies against malicious software. Always keep your antivirus updated and do not deactivate it while browsing the internet.
Whenever you pay with a credit card, make sure you are on a reliable page and with the proper security protocols. Verify that the payment page has an address that begins with HTTPS.
Do not reply to suspicious emails or provide personal information to strangers. If they offer you a strangely discounted product or you win a contest in which you have not participated, be suspicious.
In general, be guided by your common sense and do not lower your guard. There is no reason for you to be less cautious on the internet than in the offline world.
How to report hacking?
You may not know what to do if your computer is hacked or if they try to extort money from you online, but it is usually not a good idea to access their requests or send them money.
In any case, if you think your computer is infected, examine it with a good antivirus or, if this is not possible, keep it disconnected. If your credit cards have been used, block them immediately and try to recover the fraudulent charges.
Anyway, if you have doubts,
consult a lawyer to guide you on how to act. In addition, the Civil Guard has enabled a
Web
to easily file online complaints in cases of cybercrime.
In short, if you take some basic precautions in your online life, it is unlikely that you will fall into the hands of a criminal hacker. Without a doubt, the best protection against hacking is to avoid risky behavior. So, with a little common sense and a good antivirus, you can continue browsing in peace.
