Getting hacked on

I recommend that you click here and do that right now. This means it will be impossible for someone else to log in to your Facebook account from a device that you do not own unless they also have physical access to your cell phone. Bottom line: Your Facebook account should now be about as safe from hackers as it could possibly be.

I wish you the best of luck! Bonus tip: Now that you have your account locked down tight on a technical level, I recommend that you read this post for tips on protecting yourself and your account from social engineering i. And better yet if the option is available, boot your device up without networking and then run the scan. You can follow the last resort of wiping your device completely and reinstalling its operating system.

Wiping your device will scrub it clean of everything installed the virus and your files included and leave it like new. If you need any help with this process a computer repair company should be able to assist no problem, and if your device is company-owned then your IT department will be the one to contact.

And that means keeping the computer powered up. If you're unable to shut down your computer through normal means, it's possible that a miscreant is trying to keep you from shutting them out. Taking an extra long time to shut down could also be a potential warning sign. Again, an attacker will do what they can to make sure that their control isn't disrupted by a shut down. Are your friends asking why you sent them weird emails, IMs, or text messages?

It's possible that your computer could be sending them as a result of a hack. Sending bad links en masse is one way hackers try to spread the infection, and your email client could be sending hundreds or thousands of them with you knowing. You might even get an email from yourself that you didn't send. And that's definitely a bad sign. If someone mentions to you something that sounds a little weird, ask them more about it. And if you find out that you've been sending things, look into the situation promptly.

Depending on your security settings, apps may need to request access permissions. Sometimes they need access through your firewall. Other times they'll need permission to run. Or maybe they need to be granted permission to use information from other apps. Whatever they're asking for, if it's something you're not familiar with, treat that as a warning sign. It's easy to get into the habit of just hitting Allow or OK whenever these requests come up, but take at least a few seconds to check them out.

If they're coming from apps that you've never heard of, be wary. This should be an immediate and significant warning sign. If you're seeing strange things come up on your financial statements, there's a chance someone has stolen your financial information.

It might not be from your computer. Maybe your bank account got hacked. Consider what kind of information the hacker might have seen. Hackers look for information that can help them find usernames and passwords to important sites, like online banking or retirement accounts. Consider changing the usernames and passwords for accounts that may be at risk.

In your email account, review the Sent, Trash, or Deleted folders. You might be able to uncover clues about what the hacker did. Search for emails that the hacker sent from your account, or that the hacker may have viewed and then deleted.