Hacked? What to Do in the First Hour
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Hacked? What to Do in the First Hour By Pieter van Rensburg, Cybertaries You try to log in and your password doesn't work. Or a client calls to say they just got a strange message from your WhatsApp. Or your bank sends an alert for a payment you never made. Your stomach drops. That's normal. What you do in the next 60 minutes matters more than anything else, because most of the damage from a hack happens while the attacker still has access. This is a calm, step-by-step guide for South African freelancers, solopreneurs and small business owners. Bookmark it, or share it with the next person who panics in a Facebook group. Minute 0 to 10: Stop the bleeding 1. Don't panic-delete anything. Deleting emails, chats or files can destroy evidence you may need later, and it rarely helps. 2. Cut off the attacker's access. Use a device you trust (your phone, if the laptop is the problem) and change the password on the hacked account right now. Pick a long, unique password you hav...