Getting hacked happens more often than people realize. When it happens to you, you must take care of the problem immediately. After being hacked you can take care of the problem yourself, or you can hire IT support experts in Brisbane to fix the situation. You can also take these five steps to protect your accounts, data, and identity.
- Change Your Passwords
Before doing anything else, you’ll need to quickly change your passwords. Start with the most sensitive accounts, like your email, bank accounts, and credit cards. If you have a Google account, the hacker could have access to more than your email, which can create major problems if you’ve ever photographed your driver’s license or credit cards. They could also have access to your Docs with addresses, phone numbers, and more.
- Evaluate Your Situation
Once you’ve changed your passwords, you can take a moment to evaluate the situation. Think about where you’ve used passwords, especially if you are someone who uses the same password for multiple accounts.
You’ll also want to think about the type of information that the hacker may have accessed, especially things you’ve sent via email. If the hacker received your tax ID number, you could have complicated troubles, as opposed to a hacker getting access to a credit card.
- Alert Your Banks and Credit Cards
Being hacked is frightening because you don’t know what accounts the hacker can access. The best way to protect your accounts and data is to alert your banks and credit card companies with a fraud alert.
You should also contact the three major credit bureaus to arrange a credit ban. This means that anyone who tries to open new accounts in your name will have to go through extra steps to prove their identity. The process protects your credit, but it also creates a hassle when you need to get new credit.
- Set-Up Two-factor Authentication
After you’ve set up new passwords, change the security settings on your accounts – all of them. You can protect yourself by setting up multi-factor and two-factor authentication protocols. The easiest one to arrange is two-factor authentication via text message or email. After you enter your password, you’ll have to enter a passcode from your text messages or email account.
The latest two-factor authentication technology involves a secure key which is a small device you keep near your computer. If your computer or phone recognizes the device, then it knows you are the user who is trying to access your accounts.
- Watch Your Accounts Closely
After you’ve resecured your accounts, spend time every day monitoring them. Set up log-in alerts so you know if someone tries to access your account from an unexpected location. You can watch your credit by getting a free credit report to see if anything unusual has happened.
If you’ve been hacked, there’s a chance the hacker knows your close contacts. They could be the next victims, so let them know what has happened.
