I’m a professional hacker – these are the subtle signs someone like me has access to your email and social media accounts

Cybercriminals try to leave no trace when hacking into bank accounts, phones and computers, but if someone has broken into your social media and email accounts, it could be a warning sign.

White Hat hacker Ash Chatrier uses techniques similar to real-life cybercriminals to “test” cyber defenses and warn people that they are at risk.

Chatrier, who works as a threat intelligence researcher at F-Secure, told DailyMail.com about the subtle but telltale signs that you’ve been hacked.

These include seeing different content on your feed than you’re used to, or not receiving notifications on your phone like you used to.

He said: “In response to any suspicious account activity, you should contact your service provider and reset your password to something strong, ideally random letters, numbers and symbols.”

“In some cases, your device (such as a PC) may even be infected with information-stealing malware, in which case it is important to run an antivirus scan on your computer.”

Here are its signs that you should pay attention to:

The content you see on social media is changing

If you suddenly start seeing unfamiliar content on social media or content in new languages, it could be a sign that someone is on your account.

Chatrier said: “Be alert to changes in the content you see on social media.

“Sudden changes, such as an influx of messages in unfamiliar languages ​​or offers from accounts you have not interacted with, may indicate suspicious activity.

“Social media algorithms are tailored to your preferences, and unexpected changes could mean unauthorized access.”

You receive messages but no notifications

If you see messages appearing in your account but aren’t receiving regular notifications on your phone, it could be a warning sign that someone else is seeing them first.

A hacker could have set rules in your inbox to redirect certain messages so they could compromise other accounts, including banking accounts, Chatrier warned.

Chatrier said: “Be cautious if you notice new, unread emails without receiving appropriate notifications and delays in delivery.”

“This could be a sign that hackers have set rules that may redirect or hide emails from your inbox, suggesting the hacker may be selectively publishing some messages while hiding others.”

Shatri added: “Check your inbox settings to see if there are rules that redirect emails to addresses you don’t recognize.”

Very small transactions appear in your online banking

The goal of most hackers is simple – they want money, and once it is in an email account, they will try to perform actions including compromising bank accounts.

Even small, unnoticed expenses (like a few cents) can be a warning sign.

Chatrier said: “Regularly check your bank or credit card statements for unauthorized transactions. Hackers may initiate small transactions as a test before attempting larger transactions.

“Remain vigilant, even if the amounts seem small, and report any suspicious transactions to your bank immediately. If you see attempts to spend money on your card, call your bank and cancel the card.”

A new “trusted device” will appear

Most online services have a list of “trusted devices” – if you see someone else’s device there, it’s a warning sign that something fishy is going on.

Chatrier said, “Keep an eye on the list of “trusted devices” or “signed-in devices” provided by service providers. Unfamiliar devices, especially from remote locations, can signal unauthorized access.

“This information can help identify the potential source of the breach. Again, in Gmail, you can do this by checking your activity logs.

“Please note that one account being compromised does not mean others are compromised; This could be an isolated incident.”

A yellow banner will appear under your email.

In Gmail, you’ll see a yellow banner on your desktop indicating that someone has signed in from an unfamiliar location – it’s located under the email window.

Most online services offer activity logs that track logins and help identify hackers.

Chatrier said: “Regularly check the activity logs provided by services to track login timestamps and IP addresses.

“For example, in Gmail, an unfamiliar location may cause a yellow banner to appear at the bottom. Investigate unusual activity, cancel unknown sessions (you can also ask to sign out on all signed-in devices), and immediately secure your account by resetting your sign-in credentials. Please remember that jailbroken devices may result in account compromise.”

Your account is blocked

According to Chatrier, a key warning sign of malicious activity is when your account is suddenly suspended or canceled.

Shatrich said: “Beware of unexpected account closures. If you receive notifications about account suspension or termination, this may indicate malicious activity.

“Contact service providers immediately to investigate and resolve the issue.

If you suddenly log out, that could also be a warning sign, Chatrier said.

“If you find that you have repeatedly logged out without initiating a login, investigate suspicious login attempts.

“Check your active sessions, trusted devices, and login device list, and if anything looks suspicious, revoke access, change your password, and make sure multi-factor authentication is configured and working correctly.”