I was hacked. What are my next steps?

[concerned510]

I am certain I was hacked as the person who hacked me took photos on my computer and posted them to my account on a website. I'm not sure how they hacked into my computer since my only contact with this person was through Skype. I never clicked any links they sent me nor did I send them any files. What do people suggest I do?

I have backed up all files on my computer and deleted them off my computer. I did not realize my firewall was turned off, so I turned that on immediately and I also encrypted all files on my computer. Do I need to go ahead and restore my macbook air now? I would like to stay away from doing this but I am prepared to do this if needed.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[satcomer]

First do a reinstall by erasing your internal drive and doing a Fresh install. Don't use any of your previous passwords for ANYTHING. Also go to Apple -my Apple ID and change the password to something you never use.

Then change the passwords to every web site you use, every email, etc. Consider using a password organizer like 1Password. This will help if you let the program to generate passwords for web sites.

 

[Macman45]

First do a reinstall by erasing your internal drive and doing a Fresh install. Don't use any of your previous passwords for ANYTHING. Also go to Apple -my Apple ID and change the password to something you never use.

Then change the passwords to every web site you use, every email, etc. Consider using a password organizer like 1Password. This will help if you let the program to generate passwords for web sites.

Solid advice. 1pass is good, but make sure you tell your bank etc too. I know it's a hassle, but it's got to be done.

 

[concerned510]

First do a reinstall by erasing your internal drive and doing a Fresh install. Don't use any of your previous passwords for ANYTHING. Also go to Apple -my Apple ID and change the password to something you never use.

Then change the passwords to every web site you use, every email, etc. Consider using a password organizer like 1Password. This will help if you let the program to generate passwords for web sites.

Thank you. Could you explain how to erase my internal drive? I have the newer macbook air with a SSD drive.

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First do a reinstall by erasing your internal drive and doing a Fresh install. Don't use any of your previous passwords for ANYTHING. Also go to Apple -my Apple ID and change the password to something you never use.

Then change the passwords to every web site you use, every email, etc. Consider using a password organizer like 1Password. This will help if you let the program to generate passwords for web sites.

Also, how does this prevent me from getting hacked by the same person in the future?

 

[satcomer]

Thank you. Could you explain how to erase?

Also, how does this prevent me from getting hacked by the same person in the future?

Erase: Do a reboot and boot into recovery mode and use the menu items to run "Disk Utility" to erase your main drive and then do reinstall (after the erase).

The 1Password generated password is very complex and is portable to many portable devices.

Also if you use Safari go to it's Preferences and uncheck the box for 'Open Safe Files after downloading' because most OS X Trojans exploit this feature. Plus always check your SystemPreferences->Network pane, Advanced, DNS tab and make sure their is ant a strange DNS server sitting in there because some Trojans have taken advantage of this, you might would want to lock you Network pane to help protect. Lastly use some common sense on using your password on files you get from emails, etc.

 

[concerned510]

Thank you again. Is it safe to assume this person will not do this again given that I know their full name and their skype name?

Also, my contact with this person was only through a chat site. I also added them to my Skype but never talked to them on that. How was this person able to hack into my computer and take pictures off my computer?

 

[satcomer]

Thank you again. Is it safe to assume this person will not do this again given that I know their full name and their skype name?

Also, my contact with this person was only through a chat site. I also added them to my Skype but never talked to them on that. How was this person able to hack into my computer and take pictures off my computer?

You let them in when you authorized a Trojan install or used the same password on a site they also hacked.

 

[concerned510]

Erase: Do a reboot and boot into recovery mode and use the menu items to run "Disk Utility" to erase your main drive and then do reinstall (after the erase).

The 1Password generated password is very complex and is portable to many portable devices.

Also if you use Safari go to it's Preferences and uncheck the box for 'Open Safe Files after downloading' because most OS X Trojans exploit this feature. Plus always check your SystemPreferences->Network pane, Advanced, DNS tab and make sure their is ant a strange DNS server sitting in there because some Trojans have taken advantage of this, you might would want to lock you Network pane to help protect. Lastly use some common sense on using your password on files you get from emails, etc.

Okay I am an idiot. I erased the HD from the disk utility in the recover mode. However, while there, I tried to reinstall mavericks and it took too long to verify my apple account. I shut my laptop down and now I can get it to start. I get the flashing question folder. Am I screwed now?

 

[concerned510]

Okay I am an idiot. I erased the HD from the disk utility in the recover mode. However, while there, I tried to reinstall mavericks and it took too long to verify my apple account. I shut my laptop down and now I can get it to start. I get the flashing question folder. Am I screwed now?

Never mind. Figured it out.

 

[Carlanga]

Thank you again. Is it safe to assume this person will not do this again given that I know their full name and their skype name?

Also, my contact with this person was only through a chat site. I also added them to my Skype but never talked to them on that. How was this person able to hack into my computer and take pictures off my computer?

Social hack and possibly screensharing while skype .