Four Signs Your Computer Network Has Been Hacked

Cyber attacks take place with increasing frequency every year and business networks are, more and more, becoming the prime targets of these insidious attacks. It’s important for businesses to become aware of signals that their networks have been compromised. It’s common for some cyber attacks to lay in wait after deployment within a network and record activity, snagging account credentials and other sensitive information for both the business and employees. Here are four common symptoms that your business network has been compromised, and quite possibly under cyber attack: 1) Random Re-directs: When a browser starts automatically redirecting to a URL other than its normal homepage, or perhaps visits strange places when you use the internet, it’s quite possible you’ve been hacked. Typically, when these symptoms occur, it’s due to a redirect virus. Some of the pages the browser visits may look legitimate, even a carbon copy of the sites they purport to be, but often these pages are clones of original, trusted sites mean to trick the user into adding their personal credentials to the tally of information hackers can walk away with. 2) Ransomware Messages: Ransomware messages are a sure sign of cyber attack that should not go ignored. They typically appear on the home page of sites restricting use until the victim succumbs to demands for ransom via untraceable only payment. Ransomware attacks can occur when we visit malicious sites and unknowingly download malware or when opening a link via email by what purports to be a trusted and legitimate sender.

3) Computer Controlled by Outside Input: When your courser begins moving without your input or it seems the computer is being controlled by an external entity, that is typically a sign that the computer has been compromised. Called a remote desktop hack, control of your computer has been seeded to an outside force due to what is likely a malware intrusion. Immediate action is necessary to thwart damage or further breach of data on your network and device once a remote desktop hack has been detected.

4) Suddenly Encrypted Files: Another result of a ransomware attack is the possible encryption of network files. Unfortunately, it’s virtually impossible for anyone to know if their files have been encrypted until they actually attempt to open them, so it’s important to take steps to defend your network in advance from the kind of malware that can leave your network and device vulnerable to such attacks.

If you have questions about maintaining network security or computer support for your business, contact the industry leaders at dotQ4 in Mokena, just outside of Chicago. You can reach us at 708 261 1844.