This Tool Can Show You If Your Home Network Has Been Hacked.
There are warning signs that your home network may have been compromised, such as unusual traffic patterns and system slowdowns, but now there’s a simple tool that can help you determine whether your router or connected devices are being used for malicious activity . IP Check, from threat monitoring company GreyNoise, will alert you if your IP address has been detected as part of a botnet or residential proxy network during internet scanning.
As GreyNoise notes , a compromised home IP address is often not obvious to the user, as they continue to conduct their normal activities, such as streaming video, sending email, and browsing the web. However, attackers redirect malicious activity through your home IP address and can potentially exploit your network for everything from account takeovers to malware distribution.
Check your IP address for suspicious activity.
To use IP Check, simply open the tool in a browser window, and you’ll see one of several results. If your IP address is clean, it means your network wasn’t detected during internet scanning (and isn’t part of any known business service infrastructure).
Your IP address may also be flagged as being in the GreyNoise database, which isn’t a sign of compromise. This is likely due to the fact that you’re using a VPN, corporate network, or cloud provider, and the tool can distinguish between an IP address belonging to a data center and one used by attackers. (Note that Apple users browsing in Safari with Private Relay enabled will likely see the message “Possible spoofed traffic detected,” which isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. Try checking your real IP address in another browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, to confirm.)
If your IP address is identified as malicious or suspicious, further investigation is warranted. By opening the “Observed Activity” section of the scanner, you can see when the first and last scan occurred, what types of activity were detected, and any further actions you should take.
As BleepingComputer notes , you can drill down into the details of detecting malicious activity by looking at device logs, network traffic, and activity patterns, but checking your IP address is the easiest way to get started.