What is hacking a computer?
Definition
Hacking a computer means getting into it, or into its accounts and data, without the owner's permission. Hackers often do it to steal logins or personal information, spread malware or scam other people.
- Category
- Attacks
- Also called
- computer hacking, hacked computer, Hacking
- Last updated
When someone says a computer was hacked, they usually mean a person got access they weren't supposed to have: to the device itself, or to the accounts and files on it. The FTC's consumer guidance says hackers try to take over accounts, often to steal personal information such as usernames, passwords, bank account numbers or a Social Security number for identity theft, and some want to spread malware or scam others.
How it happens
Most break-ins of ordinary people aren't movie-style. A hacker gets a password from an earlier breach and tries it on your email, or sends a phishing message that tricks you into typing it. Or you install a program that carries malware, which then lets someone watch or control the machine. Weak or reused passwords make all of these easier.
Signs your computer may be hacked
FTC guidance points to things like a computer running much slower than usual, unexpected pop-ups, or pages opening on their own. Other signs are friends getting messages you didn't send, or being locked out of an account. None of these proves a hack on its own, but several together are a reason to act.
Why it matters
A hacked email account is the worst case for most people, because password resets for other accounts go there. From a hacked computer, someone may also reach saved logins, documents and photos, and the details they find can feed identity theft or targeted scams.
Hacking vs. related terms
- Malware is harmful software. It is one tool a hacker may use, but not all hacking involves it.
- Phishing is a trick message that gets you to hand over a login. It's one common way in.
- A data breach is a company's data being exposed. Your password from one can later be used to hack your accounts.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Use a unique password for every account
Reused passwords are what turn one breach into many hacked accounts. A password manager makes unique passwords practical.
- 2
Turn on two-step verification
Add it at least to your email, banking and cloud storage, so a stolen password alone isn't enough.
- 3
Keep software updated
Install operating system and app updates, and only install programs from sources you trust.
- 4
Slow down on unexpected messages
Don't click links or open attachments you weren't expecting. Go to the site directly instead.
- 5
Make you harder to research
Hackers and scammers use details they find about you to guess security answers or write convincing messages. Serus finds where your address and phone number are listed and removes them.
- 6
If you think you were hacked
Change the passwords for your email and other important accounts from a clean device, and run a scan with security software you trust. The FTC has step-by-step guidance on recovering a hacked email or social media account.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Is hacking a computer illegal?
Getting into someone else's computer or accounts without permission is illegal in most countries. Testing your own systems, or testing with the owner's written permission, is a different matter. Laws vary, so ask a lawyer about a specific case.
How do I know if my computer has been hacked?
Warning signs include unusual slowness, unexpected pop-ups, pages opening by themselves, messages you didn't send and being locked out of accounts. Any one can have an innocent cause, so check the passwords on your key accounts.
What should I do first if my account was hacked?
Change the password, turn on two-step verification and follow the account provider's recovery steps. The FTC's guide to recovering a hacked email or social media account explains how.
Sources
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