Has My PC Been Hacked

Question

Has My PC Been Hacked

Mike Schreiner 0

Trying to see if someone remotely hacked my PC. When I run command prompt as administrator and type in netsat -nbf one line item comes back: TCP with IP addresses and then SYN SENT with next line saying can not obtain ownership information

If there's a better way to see if hacked, please let me know.

Changed my MS password and ran security overnight on all files.

Thanks very much!

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hello,

I don't see anything that confirms your computer has been hacked.

SYN_SENT simply means your computer is trying to establish a connection with another computer or server, but the connection hasn't been completed yet. This is normal network activity.

"Cannot obtain ownership information" means Windows couldn't identify which program or process was responsible for that connection. This can happen for several reasons, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything suspicious.

Also, netstat is a network diagnostic tool, not a tool designed to detect hacking. Seeing unfamiliar IP addresses doesn't automatically mean someone has access to your computer.

One thing I'm curious about: What originally made you suspect that someone had remotely accessed your computer?

Did you notice something unusual happening, such as your mouse moving by itself, programs opening unexpectedly, or an unfamiliar sign-in? Or was it simply the result you saw in Command Prompt?

Answer 2

A single SYN_SENT entry from netstat does not by itself prove remote access. It means a connection attempt was in progress. If the entry appears only sometimes, that can be normal background activity from Windows or an app.

A better way to check is:

Review recent Microsoft account sign-ins.
Go to the Recent activity page and check sign-ins from the last 30 days. Look for devices, locations, or app activity that are not recognized.
Change security settings if anything looks suspicious.
Update the password again if needed, review security settings, and remove trusted devices if necessary.
Run a full malware scan before changing passwords again.
In Windows Security, open Virus and threat protection > Scan options > Full scan > Scan now. This is important because malware on the PC could capture a new password.
Keep the browser and Windows updated.
Compromised or malicious webpages can use software vulnerabilities to infect a PC, so keeping the browser and Windows current reduces risk.
Use TCPView for a clearer live view of connections.
TCPView shows active TCP and UDP endpoints, the local and remote addresses, connection state, and the process that owns each endpoint. It is easier to interpret than netstat for checking what is currently connected.
If the Microsoft account may have been compromised, also review account settings.
Check connected accounts, forwarding, and automatic replies, because those settings can be changed after unauthorized access.

Since the password was already changed and a security scan was already run, the next best checks are the Recent activity page and a live connection review with TCPView.