Hacked Issues?

Yes, We have several techniques that we do for different devices. Please give us a call to discuss options you have. 

Every year, billions of login details from hundreds of websites are taken in hacker attacks. These stolen email addresses, passwords, and other account details are then exposed on the dark web or sold on the black market, where criminals pay to gain access to your sensitive data. Companies or organizations you do business with can also leak or publish their users’ sensitive information by accident.

If criminals get a hold of one of your accounts, they can potentially impersonate you, message your contacts, access your cloud storage, steal your money, and even jump to your other accounts. That’s why we take password safety so seriously.

Our main lab is in San Diego, Califorinia.  However we have a large team that supports us in almost every city / state in the USA.  We also have some partners in Canada, UK, and Austraila.

The short answer is yes. Damage from hacking can be stopped when companies utilize detection methods in their cybersecurity plan, not just prevention methods. The only successful detection technology on the market today we utilize with our clients is CyberDNA.  

If you have a feeling that your device(s) have been compromised, please give us a call to check.  We can stop the hack.  If we find evidence of who the hacker is, a signed notarized affidavit of our findings can really go a long way.  You can bring our findings to any law enforcement, DA, or legal case to prove your findings. We offer expert witnesses testimonials if needed.  

Behold, when details like this are leaked, the lost data is almost always encrypted: which means that hackers have to un-encrypt the data for it to be useful. This is why it’s often faster and more profitable to sell the encrypted data for a quick paycheck rather than steal anything themselves. Even if they decide to decrypt the data, any strong passwords could take years — or even decades — to be decrypted. So if you’ve got a strong password, you could actually get “hacked” and be fine for a long time.

That said: if you have a weak password, things get bad. A simple password — or worse, a common password like “123456”, can be decrypted in seconds. With this and your email, they can access any account that uses that email/password combination, pilfering your data, stealing your identity, and ransacking your digital life. Just another reason to make sure every account has a unique password.

Don’t panic. You have everything you need to come to grips with the situation.  Give Octo Digital Forensics a call.  We can evaluate what is going on.  

It never hurts to file a Cybersecurity complement with ICW https://www.ic3.gov/.  It will at least start your process of trying to take action when you figure out who the hacker is.  

If you think you have spyware on a device, we can remove it for you. Finding out who the hacker is maybe hard and sometimes impossible, but it never hurts to ask.

1. Make your passwords secure—use a password app. (Free and paid)
It’s hard to think up truly random passwords. It’s even harder to remember them. A password app makes both those tasks a breeze.

LastPass and Dashlane offer free and paid versions for both MacOS and Windows. Both apps protect your passwords and make it easy to access your account from devices you trust.

2. Have all employees encrypt their hard drives with built-in programs.  Hacking isn’t just about illicitly accessing your data through the web—it can also be more immediate. Someone can simply steal one of your office computers and have access to a trove of valuable data.

That’s why all your employees should encrypt their data so that it’s only accessible with a password. Both Mac and Windows have built-in functions that accomplish this. Mac users should turn on File Vault in “System Preferences.” Windows users should use “BitLocker.”

3. Don’t use text messages—use a messaging app. (Free)
Messages you send over text are vulnerable to hacking. Instant messaging apps provide end-to-end encryption to make sure conversations about financial information or intellectual property are truly private.

4. Set your operating system to auto-update. (Free)
Companies are constantly offering updates that enhance the security of apps and operating systems they build. Have your employees set all company devices to update automatically to ensure you are never unnecessarily vulnerable to attacks.

5. Secure your internet with a VPN (Virtual Private Network). 

When you use the internet in public places, you are exposed to other people on the same wireless network. Using a VPN on your laptop and phone encrypts your internet data and protects you from data thieves. With a VPN you are assured of secure communication.

Bottom line: You do not have to spend a lot of money to make sure your startup or your small or medium-sized business is protected against constant hacking threats!

Sometimes it’s knowing where and when you and your employees are in the highest danger, and then taking simple steps and creating good habits to prevent the worst from happening.  

Call Octo Digital Forensics today.