Signs Your Computer is Compromised

Malware is often installed from:

• Visiting malicious websites

• Visiting legitimate but compromised websites; “watering hole attack”

• Downloading attachments or files

• Clicking links in phishing emails

• Software supply chain breaches - software company is breached and pushes malware via updates

• Downloading malicious software “trojan horse”

These are the key indicators to help you detect potential breaches and take swift action to respond to the cybersecurity incident:

Unexplained Sluggishness or Performance Issues:

One of the first signs of a compromised computer is a sudden and unexplained slowdown in performance. If your computer, which used to run smoothly, becomes sluggish, takes longer to boot, or experiences delays in executing tasks, it could indicate the presence of malware or unauthorized processes consuming system resources; RAM, CPU, Storage.

Unexpected Pop-ups and Advertisements:

If you notice an influx of intrusive pop-up ads, even when you're not browsing the internet, it's a red flag. Malicious software, often bundled with adware, can flood your screen with unwanted advertisements, indicating a potential breach.

Unusual Network Activity:

Monitor your network activity for any unusual patterns. If your internet connection suddenly becomes sluggish or data usage spikes significantly without a clear reason, it might be a sign of unauthorized data transfers or a malware infection.

Changed Browser Settings:

If your browser's homepage, default search engine, or new tab settings have been altered without your permission, it's a strong indication that unwanted software has infiltrated your system. Browser hijackers can redirect you to malicious websites or compromise your online privacy.

Unauthorized Access to Accounts:

Receive notifications about unauthorized access attempts to your online accounts? This could mean that hackers have gained access to your login credentials through phishing or malware, and they're attempting to compromise your digital identity. Keylogger malware can steal credentials and other malware can steal session cookies and access your accounts.

Unexplained Data Loss or File Changes:

Files mysteriously disappearing, being moved, or becoming corrupted can signify a breach. 

Unfamiliar Programs or Processes Running:

Check your computer's task manager for unfamiliar processes or programs running in the background. Malware often disguises itself as legitimate software, so if you spot something unfamiliar, investigate further.

Increased Disk or Network Activity When Idle:

If your computer's disk or network activity is abnormally high when you're not actively using it, it could indicate that malicious software is working in the background, potentially stealing your data.

Suspicious Emails and Messages Sent from Your Accounts:

Friends or contacts reporting that you've sent them strange or suspicious emails, messages, or links from your accounts? It's a sign that hackers might have gained control of your email or social media accounts.

Disabled or Altered Security Software:

If your antivirus or security software is suddenly disabled, modified, or cannot be updated, it might be due to an attack attempting to bypass your protective measures.

Suspicious Files:

Malware often has its own files. You may see a new suspicious file such as a .DLL file on your desktop or in one of the folders.

Software Applications not Working:

Often malware will hide by hijacking legitimate software applications causing them to malfunction.

Windows Security Alerts:

If you’re getting Windows Security Alerts like: “Protected Memory Access Blocked”, “Remediation Incomplete”, “Quarantine Failed”, “Unauthorized Changes Blocked”, or other notifications from Windows Defender or Windows Firewall, that is a bad sign.

Get Professional Help:

There’s a ton of statistics showing that shorter the incident lifecycle, the less costly it’ll be.

We can help you reduce the breach lifecycle and avoid costly mistakes. Often the threat actors move laterally in the network and engineer persistence before their “action and objective” phase which is often when the intrusion is detected. So without taking the right action they can persist in the environment and the security response turns into a game of “whack a mole”.

CyberSecurity Emergency Team

Phoenix, AZ Based - Nationwide Reach