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What type of Data do Hackers Steal? Many websites ask you for your full name, address, and credit card number. They use software to collect the data, almost like a thief would use a lock pick to unlock a padlock to get into a place where they are not meant to be or is someone else’s property. You may be using the internet to make a Skype call or conferencing over video. Are you sure that no one is listening in? You are probably wondering why hackers would want your information, and there are multiple reasons why. The first reason is that, once your information is in their hands, they can then sell it to masses of other hackers that are like them through the dark web, where they buy and sell millions of records of stolen information and data. Another reason is identity theft. Hackers use a victims’ personal information, such as full name, address, and credit card number. They get it by hacking online accounts, as many ask for this information when you sign into a webpage or account. Hackers can use this information to steal data from your online accounts or to even steal your identity. Another reason is account takeover, as hackers can use login details to break into the victims’ accounts that can specifically be shopping accounts with payment details. They can then change your password and make sure you don’t have access to your account. This can cost you quite badly if the account that the hacker gets into is an account that included payment details. Account takeover can, and often does, lead to identity theft. Another reason for hackers wanting your information is Phishing attacks. Phishing is not when you catch fish on a rod, but it is when a victim receives a fake phone call, email, or text message from someone who is posing as a legitimate person or company to try and make you give up your bank details or specific information so that the hackers can access your bank account. How do I know if I got hacked? There are a few signs to show that you have been hacked. - Internet searches are redirected to unfamiliar pages - You get spammed with pop-ups frequently, even if you have an ad blocker - Ransomware messages are coming through, specifically asking for money - Passwords are invalid – not working - Software that you don’t know about has been installed on your computer without you installing it - Fake antivirus messages and ads frequently come up - Money missing from your bank account - Personal data about you or your business has been leaked Things you can do If you know you have been hacked Step 1 – Reset All of your passwords – If you used the same password across multiple accounts, make sure that they are all different and unique! If you are worried about forgetting your passwords, use a password manager to help you remember them. Step 2 – Contact your bank or financial provider – This can help you to find out if your bank account has had any recent transactions, and if money has been stolen, follow where it leads. Step 3 – Scan your computer system and remove any devious programs – Use an antivirus program to sweep your computer It should automatically flag any malicious activity and remove software that should not be there. Step 4 – Recover your Accounts – If the hacker changed your passwords, and you can no longer access your accounts, then you will need to use the account-recovery-option, as most services have them. You may need to answer some personal questions for security reasons such as ‘What is your mother’s maiden name’. Hopefully you can remember the answers you first gave. Step 5 – Let your friends and family know – If you were hacked, you may want to warn your friends and family about it, and tell them to be on their guard, and be prepared. You should definitely tell them to not click on any email sent through by you, even text messages and other types of communication, as the hacker that intruded can use your information, and send out phishing attacks to your contacts. Step 6 – Back up data and reinstall/reset your OS (operating system – this is a system software that manages computer hardware and provides you with common services for computer programs, and it also manages software resources) – The hacker may have gone too far for you to recover your computer with just a few steps, so a hard reset would be another option. It would be a good idea to first transfer all the data that is important to an external hard drive or to the cloud before you reset your OS. When you have done that, you can then completely remove everything, and wipe the hard drive on the device clean. You can then reinstall Windows or iOS or whatever operating system you use. Things you can do before you get hacked. Now, after me telling you all this, you are probably wondering what you can do to stop this happening to you. The first thing you can do is use a firewall. Windows and macOS (Apple) already have built-in firewalls, and they help to prevent unauthorised access to your network and alert you of intrusion or any attempts at intrusion. You can also purchase a hardware firewall from some companies such as Cisco, Sophos, or Fortinet, depending on your broadband router which also has a built-in firewall that protects your internet. The second thing you can do is install an antivirus software such as Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, Avast, and Panda Free Antivirus. These programs can help to protect your computer against unauthorised code or software that may threaten your operating system. Viruses can have effects that are easy to spot, for example they may slow down your computer or delete key files, or they can be not so easy to spot. Antivirus software helps to protect your system and detecting threats to ensure that your data is safe. Some antivirus programs that are advanced provide automatic updates, protecting your machine further from new viruses that appear every day. If you do install an antivirus program, do not forget to use it, and run or schedule regular virus scans to keep your computer virus-free. Another thing you can do is install an anti-spyware package. Spyware is a kind or software that secretly monitors and collects personal or organizational information. It is designed so that it is hard to detect and difficult to remove and it tends to deliver ads that are unwanted ads or search results that are intended to send or direct you to websites that are often malicious. Antispyware packages scan all incoming information, and they also block threats. Another thing you can do to protect your computer from hacking threats is to use complex passwords. If you use a secure password that is secure, the harder it is for the hacker to invade your system. Secure passwords are the most important thing to preventing network intrusions. More secure means more complex. Make sure to always use a password that has a minimum of eight character and a combination of numbers, uppercase letters, lowercase letters and symbols. Hackers have many tools to help them crack easy passwords in minutes, so make sure that you make your password as complex as you can, but also some kind of password that you can easily remember. Using two-factor authentication is also a good idea, as even through passwords are a barrier, they will not always hold or be the best option. A second layer boosts the protection, as a numerical code is required, being sent to your phone or email address when logging in. There are many other ways to protect your devices from hackers, and these are just a few.