What to do if your computer gets hacked

It can happen to anyone, from Scarlett Johansson to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg — even multi-million dollar corporations like Yahoo and Netflix are not safe from cyber attacks. There are some precautions you can take to help protect your computer from getting hacked like installing a good antivirus and firewall. But there is a different approach if someone has managed to crack your computer’s encryption and is snooping around your personal data.

First and foremost, don’t panic — assess the situation calmly. Look for clues that the hacker may have left behind. Signs can include an accessible Use a good antivirus program and scan your computer several times for potential threats. This comes in handy if a hacker has left malware like a virus or a trojan. After you have finished scanning your computer, note down the type of malware and its location. It is a good idea to read up on malware that is infecting your computer. Using the antivirus, perform multiple clean sweeps until all threats are removed. If your antivirus is unable to remove a particular type of malware, it is recommended that to format your computer and reinstall the operating system.email account or a random file that you don’t remember downloading.

It is also recommended that you get a good antispyware to detect any keylogging application — an application that monitors a user’s keyboard inputs. Do not use the infected computer to access any banking sites or log into sensitive website, as these key presses (containing your username and password) could be accessible by a hacker. If you have backed up your data before the invasion, a better option would be formatting your hard drive and starting afresh.

[sOURCE:-DNA]