Five signs your device has been hacked and what Google recommends

It's every technology goer's worst nightmare - hackers gaining access to our personal devices and putting our privacy and security at risk. These days, we use smartphones, computers and tablets for many things, from banking to emails, health checks and storing our photos and messages.

But malware can infect our devices, causing a big security risk and invasion of privacy. It could also prove costly if hackers can gain access to our banking information and payment accounts.

Malware is often utilised by hackers to steal data. This is a malicious code that can track devices secretly, without smartphone users even knowing. Alongside stealing information, hackers can also monitor and record a device user's activity.

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However Google has shared five signs to see if you have been hacked - and how to react. Here are the signs and tips, as reported by The Sun:

1. You are finding new tabs and pop-up ads that won't go away

2. Your search engine or Google Chrome homepage changes without your permission

3. You're experiencing unwanted Google Chrome extensions

4. If you're directed to unfamiliar pages or ads whilst browsing

5. Alerts about an infected device or virus are a massive sign, as Google distributes pop-up warnings if it detects malware activity

It's important to take immediate steps if you suspect your device has been hacked and is infected with malware. Thankfully, there a number of things you can do to get your browser functioning as normal.

One of them is to reset your browser settings. You can do this on your computer by opening Chrome, selecting More from the top right corner, clicking Settings followed by Reset, then click on Restore settings. Finally, click Reset and the tools in your browser mode should go back to the original settings.

It's also important to keep your device updated. And never install apps from unofficial Android stores and stay away from downloading items from strange pop-ups.