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PC PANIC

Millions of PC and Mac owners warned over 10 ‘red flags’ you’re in big danger

ALL PC users should be on alert to the key signs of spying.

Cyber-experts have revealed 10 "red flags" that suggest you may have been hacked.

Look out for the warning signs on your PC or Mac
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Look out for the warning signs on your PC or MacCredit: Microsoft

Hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated with their methods of attack.

Worse still, we're keeping more of our private info (and money) online.

So a hack attack in 2023 can be truly devastating.

Now cyber-experts at VPNOverview have issued a list of 10 warning signs that your PC or Mac may have been compromised.

Read more on cyber warnings

"According to 2022 Statista data, there were 2.8 billion malware attacks in the first half of the year worldwide," cyber-experts warned.

"As malware becomes increasingly difficult to detect, it may be difficult to determine whether your device has been compromised."

Here are the warning signs to look out for:

  • Your webcam is recording without your authorisation
  • Your computer has become slow
  • Your task manager is disabled
  • Your browser often gets redirected
  • Your computer heats up frequently
  • You have strange browser activity
  • You receive a ransomware attack message
  • You've been logged out of websites you automatically log in to
  • You have weird programs installed on your computer
  • You frequently get strange pop-ups on your desktop

It's worth noting that these are necessarily 100% guarantees that your machine is compromised by hackers.

But spotting one or several of these "red flags" is a good sign that you need to investigate further.

"Detecting a monitoring app isn’t easy, even for the most tech-savvy user," the cyber-experts warned.

"It requires a deep understanding of your operating system and how spyware behaves.

"The best course of action is to install a reputable anti-virus such as Norton 360.

"This anti-virus can perform deep PC scanning that can identify suspicious files and malicious programs, as well as providing a firewall defence against future spyware infections.

"It is also important to be wary when clicking on suspicious looking email attachments , as these often transmit spyware."

Always be careful with unsolicited emails or links – they can be very dangerous.

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And if you think you've been hacked, take immediate action.

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