Assuring your Wi-Fi network hasn’t been hacked

Check for intruders on your Wi-Fi network. 

Both Windows and Mac computers come with built-in ways to determine whether or not your Wi-Fi network is entertaining extra guests:

• Windows
  • Open Start
  • Type in view network computers and devices
  • Click View network computers and devices^[3]
  • Look for unusual items (the "ROUTER" item is your Wi-Fi router).
• Mac
  • Open Finder or click the desktop.
  • Click Go
  • Click Network
  • Look for unusual items.

Stop the hacking. If you determine that your computer or smartphone has been hacked, there are a few things that you can do to prevent the hacking from continuing and minimize the fallout from the hacking itself:

• Disconnect from the Internet immediately.
• Turn off your Internet by unplugging the router and/or the modem from the wall.
• Restart your computer into Safe Mode (skip this step on mobile):
  • Windows
  • Mac
• Remove any recently installed programs.
• Restart your computer.

Prevent future hacking

 You can revoke a hacker's access to future data by doing the following:

• The obvious - Run an antivirus check and reinstall your operating system if necessary.
• Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
• Change all of your account passwords.