Part 1: How Do I Know If I’ve Been Hacked?

When something feels off, but no one's sounding the alarm

It always starts small.

For one of our clients — a founder with two homes, three assistants, and a calendar that runs weeks ahead — it started with a missed delivery. An online order she never placed, confirmed by an email she never sent. Her assistant swore they didn’t do it either. They brushed it off.

Then came the password reset for her personal banking app. She assumed she’d fat-fingered it. Another brush off.

Two weeks later, we found out someone had been in her inbox, quietly forwarding specific types of messages to an external account. It wasn’t random. It was methodical. And it had been happening for nearly a month.

This happens more often than you’d think. Not just to companies, but to people — to households, to families, to high-trust environments where multiple people touch the same systems and no one’s quite sure who clicked what.

So the question is: How do you know if you’ve been hacked — before it turns into something bigger?

That’s what this guide is for.

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Know Something’s Wrong

You know how your life works.
How your calendar usually syncs.
How your inbox feels when it’s quiet.
What your banking app normally does when you log in.
You know the tone of your assistant’s texts. The rhythm of your team’s email habits. The way your Wi-Fi usually behaves at the house in Aspen.

When something shifts — even slightly — your brain catches it before your logic does.

You might not say it out loud. But you feel it.

That instinct is your first line of defense.

Signs You’ve Been Hacked (That Most People Miss)

These early signals are easy to ignore. But they’re often the first signs of a data breach in progress:

You’re suddenly logged out of an account or an app — and can’t get back in

Your phone or laptop slows down, despite no updates or heavy use

You get a “reset your password” email for something you didn’t touch

Pop-ups or new apps appear that you didn’t install

Friends, colleagues, or staff get strange messages that “came from you”

Your inbox feels… out of order. Old emails missing. A new rule appears

Your antivirus shuts off — and you didn’t turn it off

Wi-Fi slows to a crawl — even with no one home

Smart home features glitch — lights, blinds, cameras, locks behaving oddly

You start seeing charges or activity in your financial accounts that don’t line up

On their own, these might seem like small tech hiccups.
But together, they form a pattern.
And that pattern means it’s time to look deeper.

Why This Hits Closer to Home Than Most Realize

Here’s the thing: if you run a company, manage a family office, or live a lifestyle that blends digital and physical systems, your exposure is personal.

It’s your team. Your home network. Your calendar. Your money.
You’re not just protecting a business. You’re protecting peace of mind.
Trust. Time. Privacy. Reputation.

And often, you’ve entrusted others to manage the systems that protect those things. Executive assistants, accountants, IT vendors, private security teams, even AV integrators.

If one person slips — or one credential is reused — your entire digital world can be compromised.

Not Sure Where You Stand? Start Here.

You don’t need to overhaul your life today. But if you’re wondering whether your systems are vulnerable, ask yourself:

Who has admin access to my devices, accounts, and Wi-Fi?
When was the last time we changed our passwords — really changed them?
Am I using unique, secure passwords across the board?
Do I have a separate Wi-Fi network for guests? For staff?
If my EA’s email gets compromised, what would that give someone access to?
Am I getting alerts for new logins or suspicious activity?
Have any of my vendors — especially outside of finance — been vetted for security practices?
Does anything feel “off” that I’ve ignored?
When was the last time someone looked at our setup — not just remotely, but in person?

These aren’t IT questions. They’re the kinds of things you ask when you want to make sure nothing’s slipping through the cracks.

Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now (Without Needing a Tech Degree)

Here’s how to start protecting your world — no jargon, no tools you don’t already have:

You don’t need a security overhaul. You just need to stop assuming everything’s fine. These simple cybersecurity habits can help you spot signs of a potential breach early — and prevent a small compromise from turning into a full-blown data breach.

Review your forwarding rules and security settings in email (Search for "rules" or "filters" — look for anything that forwards mail without your knowledge.)

Update your passwords to something long, unique, and stored in a manager you trust (Even better? Add multi-factor authentication.)

Update your passwords to something long, unique, and stored in a manager you trust (Even better? Add multi-factor authentication.)

Schedule a conversation with your assistant or staff (Ask what tools they’re using, what they’ve noticed lately, and what they wish you’d ask about security.)

If you haven’t already, start by asking:
How secure is your personal assistant?

You Don’t Need to Guess

You don’t need to guess.
You don’t need to panic.
You just need a clearer view of what’s going on beneath the surface.

Whether you're looking to prevent a breach or respond to one, the first step is visibility — into your systems, your people, and the way they connect.

And when you're ready for a deeper look — digital, physical, or both — we're one call away.
Visit decyphertech.com or schedule a confidential consultation to take the next step.

Because at the end of the day, you don’t need to know everything.
But you do need someone you trust — someone who’s seen behind the scenes of hundreds of private networks, homes, and businesses like yours.
Someone who knows what to look for when everything seems fine on the surface.

We’re here when you’re ready.

Coming Soon: Part 2 – I’ve Been Hacked. Now What?

What to do in the first 10 minutes, 10 hours, and 10 days after something goes wrong — without panic.

Save this. Share it with your inner circle.
Or print it and stick it in your desk drawer — next to the watch you don’t wear but still trust.