Signs you’ve been hacked usually show up as unexplained account activity, locked logins, or devices behaving in ways you did not cause. Attackers prefer stealth so they can keep using your email, banking, or network so treat sudden password failures, strange sent mail, and unknown programs as urgent until proven otherwise.
What are the most common signs you’ve been hacked?
- Unexpected credit or banking activity — charges you did not make, new accounts, or alerts you never set. That can mean account takeover or stolen card data; see our identity theft guide if personal details were exposed.
- Odd emails from “you” — contacts report spam or requests you did not send, or your Sent folder shows messages you never wrote.
- Passwords that suddenly stop working — especially email, cloud, or banking after a phishing attempt or reused password leak.
- Unknown apps or browser extensions — software you did not install, or a browser homepage/search engine that changed on its own.
- Browser or remote-control behaviour you did not initiate — new history, tabs opening alone, or the cursor moving without you.
- Blocked updates, antivirus disabled, or a locked-down machine — ransomware and some malware prevent patches so they stay on the device.
- Sudden Wi‑Fi or network slowdowns — especially on a home network with a weak or shared password, which can signal unauthorized use of your connection.
What should you do if you think you’ve been hacked?
- From a clean device (or after a trusted scan), change passwords for email first, then banking and other critical accounts; turn on multi-factor authentication.
- Sign out of other sessions where the platform allows it; revoke unknown app access.
- Call your bank or card issuer from a number on your card not from a suspicious email or text.
- Document screenshots, dates, and sender addresses.
- Report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and local police if money moved.
Many compromises start with phishing scams. Broader prevention habits are in how to protect yourself from scammers, hackers, and thieves.
When should you get professional help?
Call in help when business email is compromised, ransomware is involved, a company network may be affected, or you need evidence preserved for counsel or insurers. A structured digital investigation can document what changed, which accounts were touched, and what to secure next.
Need help after a hack in Ontario?
Investigation Hotline supports individuals and businesses across Toronto and Ontario with fraud and cyber-related inquiries. Call (416) 205-9114 for a confidential consultation.
To learn more, contact Investigation Hotline at
