That’s up 2% from last year. The result? Billions in losses to fight fake traffic and bot attacks. That’s one thing I love about writing this newsletter — I’m writing for real people!
8 signs that your computer has been hacked
If your device is connected to the internet, it’s vulnerable to hacks. It’s as simple as that. Cybercriminals are always coming up with new tricks to get into your gadgets and you should be aware of that.
Fortunately, there are usually signs that your device has been compromised. When it comes to smartphones, this can include spikes in data usage, battery drainage and changes to your home screen, among other indicators. Tap or click here for information on diagnosing and solving phone hacks.
Like your phone, your computer is vulnerable to cyberattacks. Read on for telltale signs that your computer has been hacked and what you can do about it.
1. Hot and slow
If your computer is running at a snail’s pace suddenly, it could be a sign of malware. Malware slows down a computer because it uses resources such as your CPU and memory.
The harder your computer works, the hotter it gets. You’ll notice that your computer is producing more heat than usual or you’ll hear the fans working overtime to cool things down.
If you’re using a PC, open the Processes tab in Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete. Do you see a program using far too many resources? See any programs you don’t recognize? Stop those processes and run a virus scan (more on that below).
If you’re on a Mac, open Activity Monitor by clicking the magnifying glass on the right side of the menu bar at the top of your screen or pressing Command + Spacebar to open a Spotlight window and searching for “activity monitor.” If you see something using excessive resources, reset it and run a scan.
2. Ransomware message
This is an obvious one. You’ll get an alarming message that your computer has been locked, your files and passwords have been stolen and you won’t get anything back unless you pay. You’ve become a victim of ransomware. Paying the ransom is no guarantee that you’ll get anything back.
We hope you have a backup of all your files. Use a backup company that you can trust, like our sponsor IDrive.
IDrive protects all of your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android devices with just one account. Its versatile and user-friendly platform has made saving and recovering data simple for small businesses and individual use. Tap or click here to save 50% on 5 TB of cloud storage today with IDrive!
Facebook, Instagram back after 6-hour outage
Many people live their lives on social media. Everything from instant messages to life achievements occurs through applications like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Tap or click here for 10 Facebook privacy and security settings you need to change right now.