VIDEO: How to Tell If Your PC Has Been Hacked
You don’t have to wait for your PC to get hacked before you check it.
Checking your PC for hacks shouldn't be something you do once in a while, if you're someone like me who shares their PC with others. Chances are, it might have been compromised without you even knowing. Now, before you say, “That’s impossible, I’ve got security and privacy measures in place”, think about how easy it is for a single sketchy link to compromise a system. And that's without even factoring in other people using your PC, clicking around, installing who-knows-what. Even if you’re the careful type, all it takes is one moment. You probably already noticed a few odd things: maybe your browser keeps redirecting you, pop-up windows are showing up more than usual, or your homepage has randomly changed. But here’s one quick way to check if someone else has been creeping around on your computer behind your back:
Oluwaseun Bamisile
Steps to Check for Unknown Users on Your PC
- Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Step 2: Type in "NETPLWIZ" and tap "OK."
- Step 3: A window will pop up showing all user accounts on the system.
If you see any account listed that you didn’t create, that’s a problem. It usually means someone gained access and set up their own account to stay in without raising alarms.
Video Script & Editing: Kelechi Edeh / Techloy.com | Content Research: David Adubiina / Techloy.com
How to Remove Unknown Users on Your PC
- Step 4. Click on the unknown account.
- Step 5. Click "Remove" and tap "Yes."
- Step 6. After that, click "Ok" to apply the changes.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
Conclusion
You don’t have to wait for your PC to get hacked before you check it. Staying ahead means making it a habit to regularly check if your laptop or desktop has been compromised to catch those warning signs early so that you can stop a full-on breach before it starts.
Like the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s way easier to catch trouble early than to deal with the headache of a full-blown hack. So don’t wait for something to go wrong—make checking your PC a regular thing. Your future self will thank you.
