Spying is a common cyber threat. If you connect your computer to a public network, such as the internet, your activities could be monitored. There are certain types of malware that can monitor your activities. They’ll record data about your activities while sending it to a remote server. Alternatively, a hacker may manually monitor your activities. So, how do you know if your computer is being monitored?
Look for Suspicious Processes
Suspicious processes may indicate that your computer is being monitored. Malware-driven monitoring often has one or more processes that run in the background. Because these processes run in the background, though, they are often overlooked.
You can find suspicious processes by opening the Windows Task Manager. After booting up your computer and loading Windows, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and select “Task Manager.” From the “Processes” tab, scroll through the list of active running while looking for any that are out of the ordinary. If you discover any suspicious processes, you can stop them by right-clicking the process and selecting “End task.”
Run Antivirus Software
Antivirus software can reveal whether or not your computer is being monitored. Most instances of monitoring are driven by malware. After making its way on your computer, malware may record your activities. Antivirus software, of course, can detect malware. If there’s malware on your computer, it will offer solutions to remove or quarantine it.
Antivirus software can even detect the presence of spyware, which can also lead to monitoring if left unchecked. Spyware isn’t necessarily malicious. Nonetheless, it can still monitor your activities. Some types of spyware can also cause performance issues like slow speeds and frozen web browsers. With antivirus software, you can find and remove spyware so that it doesn’t pose a risk.
Evaluate Ports
Another tip is to evaluate your network’s ports. Ports are essentially what connects computers and other devices to a network. The problem, however, is that too many open ports can increase the risk of cyber threats, including monitoring. Hackers may be able to connect your network via an open port, after which they may be able to spy on your activities.
You can evaluate your network for open ports by using a port scanner. A port scanner will reveal how many ports are open on your network. You can then close any unnecessary ports to achieve a higher level of cybersecurity.
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