How to check if your computer has been tampered with

Protecting your laptop from prying eyes, whether in a shared office or dorm, is crucial. This guide offers preventative measures and detective work to identify unauthorized access.

Prevent Unauthorized Access:

The best defense is proactive security. Always lock your computer when you leave it unattended. On macOS, use the Apple menu > Lock Screen or Ctrl Cmd Q. On Windows, click your avatar in the Start menu > Lock, or use Win L.

To automate locking, configure your system to lock after a period of inactivity.

• macOS: System Settings > Lock Screen > "Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off." Adjust screen saver and display timeout settings as needed.
• Windows 11: Start menu > cog icon (Settings) > Accounts > Sign-in options > Additional settings. Choose "When PC wakes up from sleep" in the dropdown menu. Set sleep/screen timeout in System > Power & battery > Screen and sleep.
• Windows 10: Start menu > cog icon (Settings) > Accounts > Sign-in options. Set "Require sign-in" to "When PC wakes up from sleep." Adjust idle time in System > Power & sleep.

Aim for a 5-minute lock timeout—adjust as needed. Shorter times enhance security but may lock your computer while you're still using it.

Detecting Unauthorized Activity:

If you suspect unauthorized access, investigate recent activity within commonly used applications.

Check browsing history:

• Chrome: Three vertical dots > History > History
• Firefox: Three lines > History > Manage history
• Microsoft Edge: Three dots > History > All or three dots > Open history page
• Safari (macOS): History > Show All History

Review recent files in individual applications (e.g., Microsoft Word's "Recent" files, Adobe Photoshop's "Open Recent").

Examine your file system: Check the desktop and Downloads folder.

• macOS: Use Finder's "Recents" tab.
• Windows: File Explorer > Quick Access. (Windows 10 users can also check the Timeline via the Task View icon—two stacked rectangles.)

While detailed system logs (macOS Console, Windows Event Viewer) offer comprehensive activity records, interpreting them requires technical understanding. Activity doesn't automatically indicate unauthorized access; system tasks can also trigger log entries.

Third-Party Monitoring Software:

For robust monitoring, consider third-party applications like Spytech Realtime-Spy (Windows/macOS, web interface, ~$80/year) or Refog (Windows/macOS, keystroke logging, web usage monitoring, ~$30/month). These tools provide detailed activity reports, including screenshots and keystrokes, but ethical use is paramount.

This information is updated from a previous version published July 20, 2019.

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