It follows another Microsoft outage caused by a cyber attack. Look for strange activity such as random words being typed whilst you’re using your device
Cybersecurity experts are warning Brits of ‘creepy’ warning signs that could indicate you’re being targeted in a cyber attack. The advice follows a steep rise in cyber attacks in recent years, which experts claim are only set to worsen.
This week, Microsoft said a cyber attack was the cause for its latest outage, which lasted almost 10 hours. The attack caused issues for Microsoft’s email service, Outlook, and popular video game Minecraft.
The King’s Speech recently set out Labour’s new plans to introduce a Cybersecurity and Resilience Bill. The government says it aims to strengthen the UK’s defences and protect digital services.
Luke Stevenson, Cyber Security Specialist at IT and cybersecurity service provider, Redcentric, says such malicious attacks don’t just impact businesses, they inevitably affect consumers, too. Explaining why we’re seeing an increase in cyber attacks, he added: “As a society, we are becoming increasingly more digitised.
“Many of us work from home with a remote digital infrastructure and live much of our social lives in the virtual domain. Most of our transactions are now digital and criminals have developed their tactics in line with this; this is why they go hunting for our credentials.
“One of the most obvious signs that your data has been compromised is unauthorised transactions on your bank account. If you notice a suspicious transaction, you should act immediately and inform your bank.”
Below, Luke shares some of the most unusual signs – and one particularly creepy sign – that indicate that your data may have been compromised.
Noticing strange activity on your laptop
The expert explains: “In some cases, hackers can remotely control your laptop, in which case you may see random mouse movements on your screen while you’re working or words appearing when you’re not typing. It extreme cases, hackers can gain access to your camera and control it remotely. For example, you may notice that your webcam light is on whilst you’re not on a video call.
“If you’re witnessing something unusual whilst personally engaged online, or if something generally doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t and needs checking out.”
Finding unusual apps on your phone
Be aware of any unusual or suspicious looking apps appearing on your phone as hackers may install malicious apps in the hopes that they will go unnoticed. It’s easy not to notice this kind of activity, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t keep their apps updated and organised.
Luke added: “Similarly, if you keep seeing apps opening even when you’ve closed them down, it could be worth checking out.”
Family and friends reporting odd messages from you
Luke says it’s possible for hackers to manipulate the sender ID of a text message so that it appears like the message was sent from a different phone and hackers can use this method to send phishing messages to people you know. These messages may seek the person’s help, usually by asking for money, and may include malicious links or downloadable files.
He commented: “Similarly, if your friends or family members mention any out-of-character posts on social media, you should report this and immediately change your login details as a precaution.”
An increased number of reported login failures
Noticing a recent increase in login failures on your email or social media’s activity or security page could be a sign that you’re being targeted by hackers who are trying to access your account. Also, take note of a sudden increase in irrelevant advertising spam messages or emails.
Redirected internet searches
A ‘browser hijacker’ as it is often referred to, is a malware that fraudulently redirects the user to a website that they weren’t intending to visit. “These websites are often malicious and contain suspicious links, downloads or pop-ups that aim to steal personal data,” Luke warns.
Never reuse passwords for multiple accounts
Luke says you shouldn’t ever reuse passwords as this risks the security across multiple accounts. This includes passwords that are largely similar, such as anything with a number or symbol added to the end.
Many people will use patterns that are memorable as this allows them to easily create and remember different variations of passwords for each site. However, scammers may be able to decipher this pattern after observing one or more compromised passwords.
The expert said: “The NCSC provides useful advice on how to secure your personal accounts and adopt a more robust approach to managing passwords. Consider using multi-factor methods to authenticate access to your account too, don’t just rely on passwords for regular access.”
Regularly check to see if your accounts are compromised
“Stay vigilant and be aware of any data breaches that your accounts may be involved in,” Luke warns. “This will indicate that you need to change your password and also highlight any other information that could be easily accessible to attackers, such as addresses and credit card information.”
Have I Been Pwned is a useful free tool that helps you to identify any data breaches you may have been involved in by entering your email address.
Use a password manager to create complex passwords
According to a recent study by Redcentric, 77% of people in the UK don’t use a password manager and 23% save their passwords in their browser. Luke says it’s extremely important that all passwords are stored safely, either in a secure password manager or a document that requires two-factor authentication in order to be accessed.
“Storing your passwords in any insecure place that doesn’t itself require a password to access could result in them being stolen very easily,” he said.
