Is My Computer Hacked? The Signs That Actually Matter
Most "you have a virus" warnings are the scam. Here is what a real compromise looks like and what to do first.
The warning is usually the scam
A full-screen message telling you to ring a number is not a virus alert. It is the attack.
Real security software does not ask you to call anyone, and neither Microsoft nor Apple will ever phone you about your computer. If a page has locked your browser, close the browser — the page has no more power than that.
Signs that do matter
Password resets you did not ask for
Especially on email. The mailbox is the key to everything else.
Sent mail you did not send
Or contacts telling you they had an odd message from you.
New rules in your mailbox
Forwarding rules are how an intruder keeps reading after you change the password.
You let someone connect
If you gave remote access to a cold caller, treat every saved password as exposed.
What to do first
Disconnect the computer from the internet and call us. Do not use that machine for banking until it has been checked.
Change your email password first, from a different device. Email is what everything else resets through.
We can review what was accessed, remove remote-access tools, check for mail forwarding rules and secure the accounts that matter.
Book a Canberra technician
$205/hr on site, $125/hr remote, no call-out fee and no fix, no fee.
Book OnlineService scope: we diagnose hardware faults and handle batteries, software, data, networking and setup. Physical screen, keyboard, charging-port and hinge replacement we refer to a specialist. Pricing shown is our own published rate, current as at August 2026. Any parts are quoted separately for your approval.