{"id":191314,"date":"2024-02-27T15:46:34","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T15:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?page_id=191314"},"modified":"2024-02-27T15:46:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T15:46:34","slug":"what-to-do-if-youve-been-hacked","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/antivirus\/what-to-do-if-youve-been-hacked","title":{"rendered":"What to Do If You&#8217;ve Been Hacked"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/What-To-Do-If-Youve-Been-Hacked.jpg\" alt=\"A computer screen with text on it\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-191336 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/What-To-Do-If-Youve-Been-Hacked.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/What-To-Do-If-Youve-Been-Hacked-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/What-To-Do-If-Youve-Been-Hacked-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/What-To-Do-If-Youve-Been-Hacked-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/p>\n<p>In this guide, I&rsquo;ll cover exactly what to do if you&rsquo;ve been hacked. <strong>Protecting your online accounts<\/strong>, devices, and credit cards from unauthorized access is crucial. There are dozens of ways for hackers to access your accounts, from brute forcing your passwords to obtaining the information in a data breach leak.<\/p>\n<p>Given this, it&rsquo;s important to know <strong>what to do when you&rsquo;ve been hacked<\/strong>. In this guide, I&rsquo;ll cover how to tell if a hacker is trying to access your accounts, what steps to take if you&rsquo;ve already lost access, and how to secure your accounts after you regain access to them.<\/p>\n<div>\n    <section class=\"toc-sticky w-100 bg-white \">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-controls=\"multiCollapse1\" data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse1\">\n                <button class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\" type=\"button\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n                <span class=\"toc-main-title-permanent\">Table of Contents<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"collapse my-3\" id=\"multiCollapse1\">\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item current\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"warning_signs_someone_has_hacked_your_account\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"warning_signs_someone_has_hacked_your_account\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Warning Signs Someone Has Hacked Your Account<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_to_get_back_into_your_hacked_account\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_get_back_into_your_hacked_account\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How To Get Back Into Your Hacked Account<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"what_to_do_when_you_have_control_of_your_hacked_account\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"what_to_do_when_you_have_control_of_your_hacked_account\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">What To Do When You Have Control of Your Hacked Account<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_to_protect_yourself_from_future_breaches\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_protect_yourself_from_future_breaches\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How to Protect Yourself From Future Breaches<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line_what_to_do_when_youve_been_hacked\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line_what_to_do_when_youve_been_hacked\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">The Bottom Line &ndash; What To Do When You've Been Hacked<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"faqs\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"references\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"references\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">References<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__btn-top justify-content-center\">\n                    <button class=\"btn btn-link d-flex align-items-center\" onclick=\"{btnTop()}\"><p>Show Full Guide<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/table-of-contents\/assets\/images\/arrow-up-circle.svg\" alt=\"arrow-up-circle\">\n                    <\/button>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n    <div class=\"toc-sticky-list\">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-controls=\"multiCollapse2\" data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse2\">\n                <button class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\" type=\"button\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"collapse my-3\" id=\"multiCollapse2\">\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item current \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"warning_signs_someone_has_hacked_your_account\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"warning_signs_someone_has_hacked_your_account\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Warning Signs Someone Has Hacked Your Account<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_to_get_back_into_your_hacked_account\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_get_back_into_your_hacked_account\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How To Get Back Into Your Hacked Account<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"what_to_do_when_you_have_control_of_your_hacked_account\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"what_to_do_when_you_have_control_of_your_hacked_account\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">What To Do When You Have Control of Your Hacked Account<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <span class=\"show_moretoc\">Show Full Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_to_protect_yourself_from_future_breaches\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_protect_yourself_from_future_breaches\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How to Protect Yourself From Future Breaches<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line_what_to_do_when_youve_been_hacked\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line_what_to_do_when_youve_been_hacked\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">The Bottom Line &ndash; What To Do When You've Been Hacked<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"faqs\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"references\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"references\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">References<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script id=\"toc-js\">\n    window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", () => {\n        const header = document.querySelector(\".header_wrapper\");\n\n        const pageLegend = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse1');\n        const pageLegendList = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse2');\n        const pageLegendCollapse = new bootstrap.Collapse(pageLegend, {toggle: document.querySelector(\".toc-sticky\").classList.contains('sticky')});\n\n        \/**\n         * Changing current title\n         *\/\n        (function (pageLegend) {\n            const titleNodes = pageLegend.querySelectorAll('.StepProgress-item__link');\n\n            if (!titleNodes.length) return;\n\n            const titles = [...titleNodes].map((itm, i) => ({\n                id: itm.getAttribute('data-id'),\n                text: itm.textContent,\n                level: itm.getAttribute('data-level'),\n           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toggleArrowDirection);\n            })\n        })(pageLegendList);\n\n        \/**\n         * Sticky functionality\n         * Source: https:\/\/stackoverflow.com\/questions\/17893771\/javascript-sticky-div-after-scroll\n         *\/\n        (function (header, pageLegendCollapse) {\n            \/\/ set everything outside the onscroll event (less work per scroll)\n            const target = document.querySelector(\".toc-sticky\");\n            const targetListStatic = document.querySelector(\".toc-sticky-list\");\n\n            if (!target || !header) return;\n\n            const headerHeight = header.getBoundingClientRect().height;\n            const targetHeight = targetListStatic.getBoundingClientRect().height;\n\n            \/\/ -headerHeight so it won't be jumpy\n            const stop = targetListStatic.offsetTop + headerHeight + targetHeight;\n            const docBody =\n                document.documentElement || document.body.parentNode || document.body;\n            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pageLegendCollapse);\n\tjQuery('span.show_moretoc').click(function(){\n\t\tjQuery('span.show_moretoc').hide();\n\t   jQuery('.ms_hidetoc').show();\n\t});\n    });\n\n    \/\/ When the user clicks on the button, scroll to the top of the document\n    function btnTop() {\n        const pageLegend = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse1');\n        document.querySelector('html').classList.remove('overflow-hidden');\n        pageLegend.classList.remove('overflow-auto');\n        pageLegend.style.height = 'auto';\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: 0,\n            behavior: 'smooth'\n        });\n    }\n\n    const handleScrollToTitle = (id) => {\n        const el = document.getElementById(id);\n        const headerHeightDifference = window.innerWidth < 992 ? -30 : -15;\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: el.offsetTop - 60 - headerHeightDifference - 10,\n        });\n    }\n<\/script>\n\n<h2><span id=\"warning_signs_someone_has_hacked_your_account\">Warning Signs Someone Has Hacked Your Account<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The first question to ask is, <strong>how do you know if you have been hacked<\/strong>? Once hackers gain access to an account, they tend to act quickly &ndash; and hacking attempts can be subtle. However, some red flags will alert you if someone uses your online accounts, credit cards, or devices.<\/p>\n<p>You need to know <strong>how to check if you have been hacked<\/strong> &ndash; look out for the <strong>following signs of hacker activity<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You get <strong>logged out<\/strong> of your account and can&rsquo;t log in using your credentials<\/li>\n<li>Notifications about <strong>password changes<\/strong> or <strong>password resets<\/strong> appear by email or text message<\/li>\n<li>Your devices are <strong>suddenly slower<\/strong>, or their <strong>batteries drain faster<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>You notice <strong>suspicious charges<\/strong> on your credit card<\/li>\n<li>Friends and family say they&rsquo;ve received <strong>strange messages<\/strong> from your accounts, such as requests for money<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It&rsquo;s worth mentioning that fraudsters sometimes use <a href=\"https:\/\/consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>replicas of these warnings and notifications<\/strong><\/a>, so it&rsquo;s crucial to double-check that the email or text message you received comes from a legitimate website or service you have an account with &ndash; and isn&rsquo;t a fake directing you to enter your details on a bogus site.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"how_to_get_back_into_your_hacked_account\">How To Get Back Into Your Hacked Account<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Losing access to an account can be frustrating. But <strong>what is the first thing you do when you get hacked<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>First, perform a <strong>full system <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/antivirus\/how-to-check-for-viruses\">scan to check for viruses<\/a><\/strong> using your device&rsquo;s default protection or a third-party <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5416\/anti-virus-software\">antivirus program<\/a>. This can address the root of the problem and prevent further leaks.<\/p>\n<p>Next, check if you can access your account from secondary devices. If you can access it, <strong>change the password<\/strong>, and if you can&rsquo;t, you&rsquo;ll need to follow the service&rsquo;s recovery instructions.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some helpful links to popular email and social media provider <strong>recovery instructions<\/strong> that will tell you what to do if you get hacked:<\/p>\n<p>Email account recovery links:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/accounts\/answer\/6294825?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\">Google<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/account-billing\/how-to-recover-a-hacked-or-compromised-microsoft-account-24ca907d-bcdf-a44b-4656-47f0cd89c245\" target=\"_blank\">Microsoft<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/help.yahoo.com\/kb\/account\/reset-yahoo-password-sln27051.html\" target=\"_blank\">Yahoo<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Social media account recovery links:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/help\/105487009541643\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hacked\/\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/help\/linkedin\/answer\/a1340402\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/help.twitter.com\/en\/safety-and-security\/twitter-account-compromised\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter\/X<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Why It&rsquo;s Important To Protect Your Email Account<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#dddddd;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">Your email accounts serve as <strong>gateways to your online identity<\/strong>. You use them to register new accounts on platforms from social media to banking, and they&rsquo;re your first line of defense against hackers.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Losing access to a social media account while retaining access to your email means you can simply <strong>request a password change<\/strong> to regain access.<\/p>\n<p>Losing access to your email account is a much more complicated issue, as hackers can use it to <strong>hijack all the accounts you registered using it<\/strong>. The consequences can be severe, especially if you registered sensitive services, such as your banking and social media accounts, using a single email address.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"what_to_do_when_you_have_control_of_your_hacked_account\">What To Do When You Have Control of Your Hacked Account<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Regaining control of your account<\/strong> can be a great relief, but you shouldn&rsquo;t stop at that. There are several steps to take to secure your account and make sure it&rsquo;s safe.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>1. Change Your Passwords<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Changing your password<\/strong> is something you should do as soon as you regain control of your account. If the account you lost to hackers was an email account or connected to your other online accounts in any way, you should change the passwords of all accounts associated with it.<\/p>\n<p>Most services offer a security feature that lets you <strong>log out of your account on all devices<\/strong>. Use this feature to disconnect hackers from your accounts and then create a new, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4132\/strong-password\">strong password<\/a>, following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/support\/information-security\/security-for-everyone\/how-to-choose-a-strong-password\/\" target=\"_blank\">best practice advice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Once your system is fully secure, you may want to look at the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/password-manager\/best-password-managers\">best password managers<\/a><\/strong> for a platform to store and manage strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. Secure Your Accounts<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Ensuring your devices are <strong>secure and free of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4015\/malicious-software-malware\">malware<\/a><\/strong> is crucial. Make sure to update your software, including your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3515\/operating-system-os\">operating system<\/a>, web browsers, and applications, to prevent issues arising from software vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n<p>If you believe a <strong>device connected to your WiFi network<\/strong> may be infected, disconnect it from the network until you&rsquo;re sure it&rsquo;s no longer a risk.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, <strong>enable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13699\/twofactor-authentication\">two-factor authentication (2FA)<\/a><\/strong> on your accounts wherever you can. This adds a secondary step to the login process, such as inputting a code sent by text or from an authenticator app, meaning hackers can&rsquo;t get in even if they know your password.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. Scan Your Device For Malware<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>If a malware-infected device is the reason your accounts got hacked, you should <strong>use a secondary device to secure them<\/strong>. First, you&rsquo;ll need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/antivirus\/how-to-get-rid-of-a-virus-on-your-computer\">get rid of the viruses on your computer<\/a>, which requires thorough anti-malware scanning and potentially even a boot scan.<\/p>\n<p>If you still detect the telltale <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/antivirus\/how-to-tell-if-your-computer-has-a-virus\">signs of a virus infection<\/a> on your device, such as slow performance or unexpected behavior, you&rsquo;ll need to <strong>take more drastic measures<\/strong>. A clean install of your OS involves formatting your storage, which wipes all your data.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>4. Contact Your Bank<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Informing your <strong>bank of suspicious activity<\/strong> is an important step toward protecting your financial well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Most banks offer apps to help you set up alerts. For example, you can <strong>set up account alerts<\/strong> to be notified of specific activities, such as large withdrawals or online purchases.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, you can set up <strong>fraud alerts<\/strong>. These notify creditors to <strong>verify your identity<\/strong> before approving new credit applications.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, you can place a <strong>credit freeze on your reports<\/strong>, preventing credit or loans from being taken out in your name.<\/p>\n<p>With a <strong>credit freeze active<\/strong>, you&rsquo;d need to enter a unique PIN to unfreeze your credit when applying for a loan or credit card. This limits the damage you&rsquo;re exposed to in cases of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13637\/identity-theft\">identity theft<\/a>, even if hackers have your details.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>5. Let Friends and Family Know<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Informing your family and friends that your accounts have been hacked can also help prevent further damage. Hackers often use hijacked email accounts for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4049\/phishing\">phishing attacks<\/a> on <strong>their victims&rsquo; family and friends<\/strong>, either asking for money or exposing them to malware.<\/p>\n<p>To protect your contacts, <strong>inform them of the hack<\/strong> via email, text, or a social media status update, and let them know not to open links in emails or messages from you and to disregard requests to send money.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"how_to_protect_yourself_from_future_breaches\">How to Protect Yourself From Future Breaches<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_192009\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-192009\" style=\"width: 723px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Norton-Scanning.jpg\" alt=\"Norton malware detection\" width=\"723\" height=\"501\" class=\"wp-image-192009 size-full\" title=\"Norton malware detection\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Norton-Scanning.jpg 723w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Norton-Scanning-300x208.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-192009\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Norton&rsquo;s antivirus scanning options<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Going ahead, an important step is to try your best to <strong>avoid suspicious links and downloads<\/strong> and to refrain from sharing your account information with untrustworthy contacts.<\/p>\n<p>However, no amount of caution will be enough if you&rsquo;re up against hackers with enough time and skill. That&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s essential to <strong>invest in an antivirus solution<\/strong> that will keep you safe.<\/p>\n<p>Consider investing in a <strong>password manager <\/strong>to protect yourself from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/18091\/brute-force-attack\">brute-force attacks<\/a>. The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/vpn\/best-vpn\">best VPNs<\/a><\/strong>, meanwhile, will encrypt your data, block trackers and ads, and protect you from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4018\/man-in-the-middle-attack-mitm\">interception on public WiFi<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, many of these tools have <strong>dark web monitoring<\/strong> features and can inform you if your credentials have appeared in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13601\/data-breach\">data breach<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Opting for one of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/antivirus\/best-antivirus-software\">best antiviruses<\/a> may offer the most value for money<\/strong>. These solutions often incorporate antivirus tools, a firewall, password managers, identity theft protection, and VPNs in a single platform.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s a quick head-to-head comparison of some of the <strong>leading antivirus solutions<\/strong> to help you determine which provider might best suit your needs. All four of them have a <strong>password manager<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-table su-table-responsive su-table-alternate\">\n<table width=\"652\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"105\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Antivirus<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Starting Price<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"115\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Real-time Protection and Firewall<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Identity Protection Features<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"105\" style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/totalav\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TotalAV<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">$19\/yr<\/td>\n<td width=\"115\" style=\"text-align: left\">Yes, No<\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">&ndash; Credit and financial monitoring<br>\n&ndash; $1m fraud insurance<br>\n&ndash; Data breach monitoring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"105\" style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/norton\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Norton<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">$29.99\/yr<\/td>\n<td width=\"115\" style=\"text-align: left\">Yes, Yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">&ndash; Credit and SSN monitoring<br>\n&ndash; Stolen wallet protection<br>\n&ndash; $1m fraud insurance<br>\n&ndash; Dark web monitoring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"105\" style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/mcafee\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>McAfee<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">$29.99\/yr<\/td>\n<td width=\"115\" style=\"text-align: left\">Yes, Yes<\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">&ndash; Bank and credit monitoring<br>\n&ndash; Security freeze<br>\n&ndash; $2m identity theft coverage<br>\n&ndash; Dark web monitoring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"105\" style=\"text-align: left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/trendmicro\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TrendMicro<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">$19.95\/yr<\/td>\n<td width=\"115\" style=\"text-align: left\">Yes, No<\/td>\n<td width=\"102\" style=\"text-align: left\">&ndash; 24\/7\/365 fraud support<br>\n&ndash; Financial monitoring<br>\n&ndash; Lost wallet assistance<br>\n&ndash; $1m fraud insurance<br>\n&ndash; Dark web monitoring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"the_bottom_line_what_to_do_when_youve_been_hacked\">The Bottom Line &ndash; What To Do When You&rsquo;ve Been Hacked<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Calmly assessing the situation and taking action<\/strong> to regain access to your accounts are the most important steps to take if you&rsquo;ve been hacked. Thankfully, most online services offer reliable account recovery methods to help you get control back.<\/p>\n<p>However, hackers act swiftly and can often cause <strong>irreparable damage<\/strong> to your accounts or finances before you realize you&rsquo;ve been hit. This means you shouldn&rsquo;t wait but should protect yourself by acting now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Investing in a comprehensive antivirus tool<\/strong> can significantly reduce your chances of getting hacked by protecting you from malware, ransomware, and phishing and can inform you of data breaches, allowing you to react swiftly and update your details.<\/p>\n<p>Antiviruses like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/totalav\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">TotalAV<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/norton\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Norton<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/mcafee\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">McAfee<\/a> also offer <strong>comprehensive identity theft protection solutions<\/strong> to help you recover from financial losses and the costs associated with restoring your identity. Nearly all these trials offer trials or money-back guarantees, meaning you can try them risk-free today.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"man_faq_sec\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \"><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is the first thing to do when you get hacked?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">After you&rsquo;ve confirmed you can&rsquo;t access your account with its original credentials, the first step is to go through the service&rsquo;s account recovery channels. These can help you restore access as long as you can prove you&rsquo;re the original owner. Once done, change your password and set up additional protective measures, such as two-step authentication.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \"><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What are the signs that you&rsquo;ve been hacked?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Most services will notify you if someone accesses your account from an unusual device or location. If hackers access your computer, you may see the system slowing down and behaving unexpectedly, such as having the cursor moving independently. If hackers start using your credit card, you may notice suspicious changes in your transaction history.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \"><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is the first thing to do if you get hacked on Facebook?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">First, request a password change. Facebook will send a code to your registered email address or phone number, which you can use to reset the password and regain access. Next, create a strong password and log out on all connected devices. Finally, inform your friends and family of the issue to protect them.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \"><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">Can you check to see if your phone is hacked?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Besides scanning your phone using a reputable antivirus app, there are several telltale signs of hacking to look for. High data usage, rapid battery depletion, and unexplained apps appearing on your phone may all indicate a malware infection.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<div class=\"reference-content\">\n<div class=\"reference-heading reference-content-collapsible-heading\">\n<h2><span id=\"references\">References<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"reference-content-body\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams\" target=\"_blank\">How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams (FTC Consumer Advice)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/tech\/support\/information-security\/security-for-everyone\/how-to-choose-a-strong-password\/\" target=\"_blank\">How To Choose a Strong Password (BU TechWeb)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/accounts\/answer\/6294825?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Secure a hacked or compromised Google Account (Google)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/help.yahoo.com\/kb\/account\/reset-yahoo-password-sln27051.html\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Reset or change your Yahoo password (Yahoo)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/account-billing\/how-to-recover-a-hacked-or-compromised-microsoft-account-24ca907d-bcdf-a44b-4656-47f0cd89c245\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account (Microsoft)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/help.twitter.com\/en\/safety-and-security\/x-account-compromised\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Help with my compromised account (Twitter\/X)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hacked\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Request Instagram support (Instagram)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/help\/105487009541643\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Recover your Facebook account if you can&rsquo;t log in (Facebook).<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/help\/linkedin\/answer\/a1340402\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Report a compromised account (LinkedIn)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this guide, I&rsquo;ll cover exactly what to do if you&rsquo;ve been hacked. Protecting your online accounts, devices, and credit cards from unauthorized access is crucial. There are dozens of ways for hackers to access your accounts, from brute forcing your passwords to obtaining the information in a data breach leak. Given this, it&rsquo;s important [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":286453,"featured_media":191336,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/Guide-Crypto-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1533],"class_list":["post-191314","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antivirus"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What to Do If You&#039;ve Been Hacked \u2013 A Complete Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our in-depth guide covers exactly what to do if you&#039;ve been hacked and how you can secure your accounts, details, and device.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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