hacked

Hacked is the past participle of hack. In cybersecurity and technology journalism, it describes unauthorized access to a computer system, network, device, or data, or the compromise of its integrity or availability. It can also refer to intentional modifications to software or devices, sometimes leaving the system altered or controlled by an attacker.

Common contexts include data breaches where sensitive information is exposed; account takeovers where credentials are stolen; defaced websites; or malware that enables an attacker to monitor, modify, or extract information.

Indicators of compromise include unusual login activity, unexpected changes to files or settings, new or unknown accounts, unexplained data transfers, or performance issues. In hardware and Internet of Things devices, there may be persistent communications with unfamiliar servers or firmware changes.

Attack methods are varied but can be broadly categorized as social engineering (phishing and impersonation), malware infections, weaknesses in software (unpatched bugs, misconfigurations), or credential reuse. Ethical hacking, also called penetration testing, uses similar techniques with authorization to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Consequences range from privacy breaches and financial losses to service disruption and reputational harm. For organizations, hacks can trigger regulatory requirements, breach notification, and remediation costs.

Prevention emphasizes strong authentication (multi-factor authentication), timely software patching, network segmentation, encryption, regular backups, monitoring for anomalies, and well-practiced incident response plans. If a system is suspected of being hacked, immediate steps include isolating affected systems, changing credentials, preserving evidence for investigation, notifying appropriate parties, and engaging security professionals to assess scope and remediate.