Online business is the new trend in today’s market. As personal and sensitive information increasingly resides online, cyber attacks are on the rise. Hacking can result in identity theft, financial losses, and harm to your online reputation. To mitigate the risk of falling victim to hacking, it’s crucial to recognize the signs and promptly secure your online accounts. While you’re aware of the dangers in the cyber world, you may need a reference guide to identify the signs of a network under a cyber attack or hack. Knowing these signs and how to respond immediately is crucial to avoiding any potential losses.

Like most organizations, you have many questions about cyber attacks.

• What is a cyber attack?
• How do I know when I’m being attacked?
• Am I even at the risk of a cyber attack?

The good news is that, with the proper training and tools, you can defend yourself against most, if not all, cyber attacks, and it’s simpler than you might imagine. One of the most effective methods to secure your network is by learning to identify the signs of an attack, enabling you to prevent it before it escalates into a serious problem.

Common signs of a network under a cyber attack

When you’re running a business, your network is like the roof over your head—it provides essential protection. Therefore, if there’s a leak in that roof, it’s crucial to address it immediately. The problem is, many people don’t realize they are under a cyber attack until it’s too late and their data has already been compromised.

You might believe your network is secure because you haven’t encountered any hacking attempts, but this is a misconception. Hackers continuously seek out vulnerabilities in networks, and without awareness of potential threats, you risk becoming their next target.Here are some of the signs of a network under a cyber attack.

• A significant drop in network performance.

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack aims to render a network resource inaccessible by inundating it with traffic or connections, thereby blocking legitimate access. This overload can significantly degrade network performance. A DDoS attack overwhelms a network with traffic or connections, hindering legitimate access and causing a drop in performance. The attack’s volume and type impact the server’s ability to respond, potentially frustrating users and leading to abandoned connections.

• Your computers are running unbearably slowly.

This encompasses various issues, ranging from fake antivirus messages and unwanted toolbars to frequent, random pop-ups and unexpected software installations. A virus can slow down your computer for various reasons as it might be replicating itself and infecting other parts of your system, diverting resources from normal operations or it could be running resource-intensive malicious programs, such as cryptocurrency mining software.The virus might be injecting code into the operating system, causing components to function slower than usual.Any such occurrences require investigation since it s a sign of a network under a cyber attack.

• Unusable Computer Programs on the network

When your system is infected with a virus, it can damage or delete files crucial to the functioning of Windows or other frequently used programs. Consequently, these programs may become unusable until the damaged or deleted files are repaired or replaced. This is one of the signs of a network under a cyber attack.

• Exponential Increase in pop-up ads on computer screens in the network

The presence or increase in ad pop-ups on a computer could be a sign of a network under a cyber attack. An increase in pop-ups and ads on your device may indicate an adware infection. Adware is a type of malware that displays ads to generate revenue for the attacker. If you see an increase in pop-ups and ads, run a virus scan to check for any infections and remove malicious software. This could indicate the presence of malware on your phone or device. Malware is a form of software installed on your device without your consent, leading to problems such as pop-up ads and other disruptions.

• Your computers restart themselves on their own, or crash and then restart again.

Cyber attacks can induce a computer restart through methods like “remote code execution” or “DLL injection.” In remote code execution, the attacker commands your computer to execute malicious software, accessing its memory and potentially triggering a restart. This malware typically exploits vulnerabilities in your computer’s software or firmware.

DLL injection involves the attacker injecting malicious code via an exploit, altering the Windows operating system’s functioning, and potentially leading to a restart. Certain cyber attacks may prompt a computer crash followed by a restart. For instance, malware introduced through an application exploit could swiftly consume all system resources, causing the application (and potentially others) to crash.

• Strange files on your desktop or in your computer’s system files

If files suddenly appear on your desktop or within your computer’s system folders, and you didn’t download or create them, it’s possible your computer has been infiltrated by malware. This malware could have been acquired by clicking on a link, executing an executable file (.exe), or opening an email attachment. Malware can have various detrimental effects, such as removing or encrypting files to restrict access, utilizing your system to distribute spam emails, or impairing your computer’s performance, potentially leading to crashes

• Website redirections when browsing

Currently, redirection hacks are among the most prevalent types of hacks. When your website URL or web page directs users to a spammy or malicious domain, it’s termed a “redirection hack,” indicating a potential infection of your website. These hacks have evolved significantly over time. Presently, hackers can infect your website in a manner where only your customers are redirected, while the website appears to function normally for you as the owner. This represents one of the most cunning strategies employed by hackers to conceal the hack from website owners.

• Friends receive strange messages from your account

If your friends begin receiving peculiar messages or emails from your accounts, it could indicate that your network and accounts have been compromised. Hackers frequently exploit compromised accounts to disseminate spam or phishing scams to the contacts of the victim. If you receive reports from friends regarding unusual messages, it’s crucial to promptly secure your accounts.

• Network Account Passwords don’t work

Discovering that your passwords no longer grant access to your accounts could indicate a hack. Hackers frequently alter a victim’s password to prevent them from accessing their accounts. If your passwords fail to work, reset them immediately and enhance security by enabling two-factor authentication.

• Antivirus & Anti malware is disabled

The sudden cessation or disabling of your antivirus or anti malware software may indicate a network under a cyber attack. Malware often attempts to disable antivirus software to evade detection and removal. If you observe that your antivirus software is inactive, reinstall it and conduct a comprehensive virus scan.

How to Respond to a network under a Cyber Attack?

• Shut down the suspected infected computer on the network and restart it using the safe mode referenced in the computer’s operating manual.
• Remove the source of the connection by disconnecting from the internet and unplug your router.
• Run an anti-virus/spyware scan before its next scheduled time to clean up and found concerns. Restore your files using a previously backed update before the suspected hack.
• Warn e-mail contacts not to open e-mails or click on links from that period as they may be compromised.
• Access your programs and features from the control panel to determine if any new files were added and uninstall them immediately.

In the event of a network attack, the consequences for your organization can be severe. Customer data may be compromised, and sensitive internal documents could be lost. Without managed cyber security measures in place, your company’s reputation could suffer long-term damage, with repercussions felt for years to come.

THE ICT WEB stands as a prominent figure in the realm of network security. Through our proactive methodology, we aim to shield you from potential threats both today and in the future by Identifying deficiencies in your existing security protocols, Crafting a cyber security strategy adaptable to your company’s growth, Offering continuous support and upkeep for your network’s defense. Our proactive stance enables you to anticipate and thwart cyber attacks before they occur. Feel free to reach out to us today at + (256) 781 353987 or drop us an email at [email protected].  Let’s embark on a journey towards innovation and excellence together!