What to do in the first 24 hours after a hack: mobile, PC and online accounts

You've been hacked! These can be the most distressing moments you've ever experienced. But it's imperative that Stay calm and make good use of your timeLet's see what to do in the first 24 hours after a hack: mobile, PC and online accounts.

The first 24 hours after a hack: Immediate measures (first hour)

The first 24 hours after a hack are critical to minimizing the damage caused by the attacker. Therefore, it's important to stay calm and take action to contain the breach. immediate measures The steps you should take are the following:

• Breathe and confirm the intrusionBefore making any drastic changes, look for clear evidence. Did you receive a security alert about suspicious access? Is there unusual activity on your accounts (emails sent, purchases, etc.)? Is your device running very slowly, behaving strangely, or has apps you didn't install? It's important to confirm your suspicions before proceeding.
• Disconnect the compromised device from the InternetThis is very important, since the internet connection is the channel the attacker uses to steal data and gain control. Disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, or disconnecting the Ethernet cable, is the first step.
• Change your passwords… but never from the compromised deviceMalware can contain a keylogger, a type of program that records the keys you press. Therefore, use a device you know is clean (another computer, a family member's phone) to change your passwords and perform the following steps.
• Warn your family and friends that you have been hackedThis way, you won't fall for scams if the attacker tries to impersonate you. On the other hand, don't waste time giving detailed explanations; there will be time for that later.

Regain access to your digital profiles (hours 1-4)

Using a safe and clean device as your base of operations, it's time to start regaining control. Start with the most critical accounts: email, online banking, and social media.Remember that your email is the master key, as it allows you to restore access to almost everything else. Keep your email address and password handy.

• Change your passwords from a secure deviceMake sure they are strong and unique.
• If you hadn't already, Enable two-step authentication (2FA)This adds a valuable extra layer of security.
• Sign out of all other devicesFor example, if you use Google, you can sign in with your email and password on a secure computer. Once you're signed in, click on your account icon and select the Devices option. From there, you can see all the times you've signed in to your Google account and, more importantly, sign out.
• If you suspect that any financial information has been exposed, contact your bank immediatelyAnd do the same if you don't have access to your bank account. Explain the situation and request that they block all transactions until further notice.
• Notify any other entities that need to know about the hack and requests their help to block accounts or interrupt unauthorized access.

First 24 hours after a hack: Analyze the infected device (hours 4-12)

Within the first 24 hours after a hack, it's also advisable to scan the infected device. The method for doing so will depend on whether it's a mobile phone or a computer. In both cases, It is important that the equipment remains disconnected from the internet. until it's safe to connect. Let's start with the mobile phone.

For your mobile (Android / iOS)

The first is uninstall any suspicious apps that you see in the list of applications. Other options include updating the operating system or downloading a mobile antivirus and running a scan. But both require you to connect your phone to the internet to download. If you're unsure about the latter and believe the threat hasn't disappeared, the best thing to do is restore factory settings.

For your computer (Windows/macOS)

If your PC was the victim, take advantage of the first 24 hours after a hack to clean it of any viruses or malware. To do this, You'll need a USB drive and the portable version of a powerful antivirus program.as the Kaspersky Rescue Disk o Emsisoft Emergency KitDownload it on another PC that is risk-free and save it to the USB drive.

Next, go to the infected computer and boot in Safe ModeNext, insert the USB drive containing the portable antivirus software and run a system scan. In most cases, this will identify and remove any latent threats on your computer. Otherwise, if the infection is severe or persistent, there is no other option but to perform a complete system restore (format).

First 24 hours after a hack: Recovery and prevention (12-24 hours and beyond)

Now, at the end of the first 24 hours after a hack, it's time to assess the extent of the damageIt's also important that you dedicate time to strengthening your digital defenses so that this situation doesn't happen again. Regarding the first point, you can do the following to understand the impact of the attack:

• Check if there has been data leaks on the networkTo do this, you can use sites like Have I Been Pwned, which show if your accounts have been exposed.
• Over the next few weeks, carefully review the bank statements and cards Check for unauthorized charges. Report any suspicious activity to your bank.
• Confirm that your devices have robust protection measures, and stay alert for unusual behavior.

On the other hand, what can you do to avoid getting hacked again? It's very important that you adopt better digital hygiene habitsYou'll find some great tips in the article. A complete guide to digital hygiene: the best habits to avoid getting hacked.

In conclusion, you now know how to use the first 24 hours after a hack to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Undoubtedly, you've been through a very distressing situation. But you can always recover, and what's more, strengthen your digital defenses so that experiences like these are not repeated.