How Long Does it Take to Find Out You Have Been Hacked?
Cybersecurity has become one of the most important issues of our time. Unfortunately, hacking is on the rise. The Washington Post reported that global cybercrime losses skyrocketed to nearly $1 trillion in 2020. If you or your business is hacked, it can cause significant losses. The sooner you identify the breach, the better position you will be in to stop the damage.
This raises an important question: How long does it take to find out you have been hacked? The short answer is ‘it depends’—it can take a few minutes, several days, months, or even years to identify a data breach. In this article, you will find an overview of the challenges associated with noticing hacking and some key things to watch out for to help you identify data breaches.
Hacking Often Goes Unnoticed for Months (or Longer)
While it is used frequently in common parlance, the term hacking means many different things. As simply defined by Techopedia, hacking is “catch-all term for any type of misuse of a computer.” In the modern world, computer hackers have a lot of techniques and they have a wide range of different goals. One thing that most hackers share in common: They are not exactly eager to let their victim(s) know that hacking has occurred. Indeed, hackers may try to cover their tracks.
It can take a shockingly long amount of time for hacking to be discovered. For example, a study from IBM Security found that it takes that average U.S. company 197 days to identify a data breach. Although individuals might be able to identify hacking more quickly on their personal accounts, there is no guarantee. Businesses, organizations, and individuals should take proactive measures so that they can try to prevent hacking and so that they are ready to respond to a breach if one occurs.
Six Signs that Suggest You Have Been Hacked
As hacking comes in a wide range of different forms, there is no one correct way to find out if you have been hacked. Instead, you need comprehensive cybersecurity practices. It is also useful to know what to watch out for. Here are six of the most common signs that suggest that you or your company was hacked:
You receive a ransomware message or fake cybersecurity software;
Unwanted toolbars or software has been downloaded onto your computer system;
The passwords for certain accounts have been changed;
You receive notice that an account as been accessed from an inappropriate location;
Confidential personal or business data has been leaked; and
Money is missing from an account.
With cybersecurity, it is always best to take a proactive approach. The best way to deal with hacking is to stop it before it happens. A well-crafted cybersecurity system and sensible computer/internet practices can go a long way toward protecting you from hacking. If you do notice the signs of a data breach, you should always take immediate action to address the issue.