Have you ever been worried that you are going to get hacked? Here are some of the top signs to look out for:
You Get Weird Phone Calls or Emails
Hackers often use a number of approaches to contact their victims including phone and computer. For instance, you might get a call from someone claiming to be from your bank. They might ask you to update or confirm your credentials. If you say you want to do this online, they can even give you a website that you can use…this site is fake, but it looks like it is legitimate.
Your Password is Too Weak
We all have a fear that we will forget our passwords, so often, we make them easy to remember. However, if these passwords are easy to remember, they are also easy for hackers to guess. On top of this, people also use their passwords from one site to another, and they rarely change their passwords to something new. Hackers know all of this, and they use it to their advantage.
You get Contest Info That You Were Not Expecting
Did you win a contest or raffle that you don’t remember signing up for? If so, this is a telltale sign that someone is trying to hack you. These hackers make up a contest or raffle, for instance, and then tell innocent people that they have won. The victims are usually excited, so they think nothing of giving up information like credit card info or even their Social Security number.
You Post Too Much Info on Social Media
If you are like most people, you have a social media account, but you might not realize that hackers are using these accounts to hack into other accounts. For instance, suppose they want to hack into your bank account, but your bank asks for a confirmation on your date of birth. This is a very easy thing for a hacker to find, because it’s likely posted right on your Facebook profile.
You Use the Same Password for All Accounts
Many people use the same password for all of their accounts. But, when you do that, you increase the chances that you are going to be hacked. Once they get your password one time, they can get into any account you have. So, instead of using the same password over and over, create a password that is unique for each account or start using a password manager.
You Give Personal Information to an Unencrypted Website
When you put in sensitive information, such as a credit card number, on a website that is not encrypted, you could be giving this directly to the bad guys. So, before you do this, make sure that you are only entering your information into a site that has https:// and look for an icon on your address bar that looks like a closed lock. It is much safer that way.
You Fall for a Deal that is Unbelievable
If you stumble upon a deal that is too good to be true, it probably is. Hackers will create a deal that you can’t say no to, and then when you take the bait, they get your credit card information and other data.
You Left Your Computer Unattended at a Coffee Shop
If you have left your computer unattended at a coffee shop or similar, a hacker could have accessed it. Once they do this, they have full access to everything that you have on your hard drive.
You Engage with a Suspicious Email
If you have received a suspicious email from your friend or someone else you know, don’t engage. Don’t reply and don’t call any number that is contained within it. Instead, if you want to get in touch with the sender, use the contact information you have.
You Don’t Think It Would Happen to You
You should always assume that you will be hacked, because the odds are highly against you. In fact, it would be rare for you to get through life without getting hacked. Keep your eyes open.
You Don’t Used a Passcode on Your Device
We all know that it is smart to put a passcode on our devices, but a lot of people simply don’t do it. In fact, a recent survey shows that about 28 percent of people with a smartphone do not put any type of passcode on it. Even if you think you don’t have anything to hide, your smartphone carries an exorbitant amount of information on it that a hacker would love to have.
You Don’t Update Your OS nor Apps
When you see an update for your operating system or apps, you should definitely install them. When you neglect these updates, you could just be opening the door for hackers to get into your device and information.
You are Banking on a Public Wi-Fi Connection
You could also be opening up yourself to a hack if you start banking, or doing other sensitive actions, on a public Wi-Fi connection. Though it is really convenient to connect to these hotspots, it is also very convenient for hackers to steal data from you. They set up these fake hotspots called “evil twins”, which look extremely similar to real hotspots, but when you connect to them, the hackers can take your information.
You are Impatient with Security
Generally, you access your accounts with a username and a password. So, if a hacker gets access to your password via a data breach, they have all they need to get your accounts if you use the same password everywhere. However, when you use multi-factor authentication on your email or banking accounts, you can minimize the risk. Now, they need the password and some other type of information, such as an SMS code or similar usually delivered via your phone.
You Don’t Back Your Info Up
Since getting hacked is so commonplace, it’s very important that you backup your data. You should try to do this at least once a week, but it’s best if you do it even more often, like every hour automatically.
You Ignore Alerts for Your Accounts
Finally, don’t ignore any account alerts that come in. Most people don’t pay attention to these alerts concerning any changes to their accounts, including password changes. If you get an alert that your password has changed, you have to pay attention. It could be someone trying to hack into your account.
