Scribd
Upload
39 views3 pages

Hacked Device Action To Take

Uploaded by

Daphne Dunne
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
39 views3 pages

Hacked Device Action To Take

Uploaded by

Daphne Dunne
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

5/12/2022 How to recover an infected device - NCSC.GOV.

UK

G UI DANC E

How to recover an infected device


Advice for those concerned a device has been infected.

If you suspect your PC, tablet or phone has been infected with a virus or some
other form of malware, follow these three steps to remove the infection and
restore your device.

1. Conf irm your device is inf ected

You may already know for sure because your antivirus product is


telling you it has found an infection, or your device is
showing ransomware asking you to pay money. 

If you suspect an infection but aren't sure. The easiest way to confirm


an infection on a PC or laptop is to run an antivirus scan and see if it
detects anything.

If you don't have antivirus, signs of infection include:

Your device is running slowly, rebooting by itself, frequently closes


programs or apps you are using, or opens those you are not.
You have pop-up boxes from programs/apps you don't recognise,
asking you to do unexpected things.
Someone you know tells you that they've received unexpected
emails from you, advertising unlikely products, or perhaps asking for
money.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/hacked-device-action-to-take 1/3
5/12/2022 How to recover an infected device - NCSC.GOV.UK

Some apps on mobile devices try to check if your device has been
'rooted' or 'jailbroken'. These aren't a guarantee that your device
has been hacked, but if you haven't actively done either of these to
your device then it can be a good indication.

If you have received a phone call telling you your device is infected and
you need their help to clear it up. This is a common scam, the caller often
claiming to be from a trusted company such as Microsoft, or your
internet service provider. Hang up immediately and report the call
to Action Fraud. If such a caller has persuaded you to pay them money,
report the call to Action Fraud and your bank or credit card provider.

2. Try and f ix the inf ection

If you are on a phone or tablet:

These can't usually be fixed by an antivirus product in the same way


as PCs and laptops. The safest solution is to do a factory reset - you
can usually find this option in the Settings. The exact name of the
feature will depend on which type of device you have. The NCSC has
published advice where you can learn more about erasing the data
on your device 

If this doesn't fix the problem, you'll need expert help.

If you are using a PC or laptop:

Update your device and programs


Open your antivirus product and run a scan, then follow its advice

If your AV can’t clean your device up – you’ll have to wipe it entirely


and re-install everything, starting with your operating system. You
may need to get expert help to do this.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/hacked-device-action-to-take 2/3
5/12/2022 How to recover an infected device - NCSC.GOV.UK

If you cannot download and install an antivirus product because


your web browser (eg Chrome, Edge, Firefox) is infected, you will
probably need to get expert help.

Restore your backed-up data from the 'last known' good


backup. You will lose any data that wasn't backed up, but trying to
rescue data while your device is still infected runs the risk of carrying the
infection through after wiping and re-installing.

3. Af ter you've f ixed the inf ection

Follow our advice for setting up your devices securely and keeping them
safe

Keep your device and programs/apps up to date

Back up your data


Check your device is encrypted

For PCs and laptops, make sure you have antivirus and that it's updating
regularly

PUBLISHED

17 December 2018

REVIEWED

9 August 2021

VERSION

1.0

WRIT T EN FOR

Individuals & f amilies

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/hacked-device-action-to-take 3/3

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy