The title of this blog post is one of the most critical questions we can ask ourselves in the context of cyber security. There might be something going on that you may need to be made aware of!
Hackers are always looking to break into your computer and access your valuable data. You need to protect your computer from these malicious intruders. We collected some basic methods to check if your computer is safe and included suggestions about preventing these intrusions.
How to Check?
Who’s Logging into Your computer?
Most used operating systems track login activities and keep logs of them. Check login logs on Windows, MacOS, or Linux with the following methods
On Windows
You can use Event Viewer:
- Press the “Windows+R” keys to run a new process
- type “eventvwr.msc” and press enter
- Navigate to “Windows Logs” on the left side
- Click on “Security” to check security-related logs
- Look for the logs that have 4624 event ID, which means successful logon
On MacOS
You can use Terminal
- Open Terminal
- type “last” and press enter
- First column will show the username and last column will show the login times
On Linux
The same as on MacOS you can use Terminal
- Open Terminal
- type “last” and press enter
- First column will show the username and last column will show the login times
Observe how your computer behaves
Some malware may cause your computer to act strangely. Your computer might run very slow; some applications may crash unexpectedly. Sometimes, you get warned when you try to open a folder you own. You may find meaningless files on your Desktop randomly. If you notice these things, it could mean someone is messing with your computer.
If there are suspicious files that you want to check if it’s malicious or not, you can use our Virus checker module below:
Virtustotal API’si kullanarak yapacağımız virus checker buraya koyabilriz
Observe your internet usage
Keep an eye on how your internet is working. If you see too much data usage unexpectedly, it might be a sign of hacking.
Check the internet traffic from your computer to the internet; you can use wireshark or similar tools. If there is unknown traffic to unknown domains of IP addresses, it might be a sign of hacking.
If there are suspicious IP addresses or domains that you want to check if they are malicious or not, you can use our Domain Checker module below:
Domain Checker module buraya koyabiliriz
Check for security software events
If you are suspicious of strange behaviors you see on your computer, check your security software’s logs. On the Windows operating system, there is a built-in endpoint security solution named “Defender.” follow the steps below to check if Windows Defender blocks any malware:
- Click on the Windows Start button, type, and open Windows Security
- Click on “Virus & threat protection” in the left sidebar
- Click on “Protection history” to view a list of recent scan results and detected threats
Check Your Installed Programs
Some malware might mimic itself as a valid program. Go to the installed programs menu or tool on your computer to check if any third-party tool is installed without your knowledge. Delete unknown programs and scan your computer with an endpoint security solution.
How to Prevent?
Make your internet browsing safer
There are many ways to make your internet browsing safer. Here are some tips you can follow:
- Use secure DNS servers instead of the default DNS server
- Some internet service providers serve “secure internet” services. Ask your ISP if they provide such a service and start using it.
- You can use well-known browser extensions to make your browsing safer.
Use an Endpoint Security Solution
On Windows OS, there is a built-in endpoint security solution called “Widows Defender.” if you are not using any other third-party antivirus or EDR, make sure Defender is enabled. If you can not use Defender for some reason, or if you use MacOS, get a good Endpoint security solution that has antivirus and antimalware capabilities at a minimum. Do regular updates of these endpoint security solutions.
Be careful with emails
Watch out for suspicious emails. Hackers often send emails that look real but are meant to trick you. Check for spelling mistakes on sender address and domain; be careful about weird links in the mail. Never trust an email sender who asks for a password or personal information.
Don’t click links you don’t trust
While browsing randomly on the internet, be careful about the links you click. Do not click on the URLs that are not from a trusted source.
Keep up to date
The best thing you can do for your computer and yourself is to keep up to date! In that way, you will have the gaps filled, which hackers might use to compromise your computer.
Backup your computer
Just in case something terrible happens, backup your important files regularly.
In conclusion, checking if your computer is safe and keeping it safe is important. Pay attention to how your computer acts, who’s logging in, and what’s happening on your network. Use good security software and be careful with emails. Learning about computer safety and keeping things updated can help you avoid trouble. And don’t forget to back up your important files!