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[Can't Miss] 8 Ways to Know Someone is Remotely Viewing Your Computer

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Annie Brooks

Updated: Feb 28, 2023 06:08 pm

6 min read

Question:

"Can someone access my computer remotely without me knowing?"

The answer is "Yes!".

This could happen when you are connected to the internet on your device. If you have a slight doubt that someone is spying on your computer remotely and want to know the ways about how to tell if your PC is being remotely accessed, then this post is for you.

We will guide you top 8 ways about how to tell if someone is viewing your computer remotely in no time. The methods we provide cover both Windows and Mac computers.

know someone is monitor your computer

Bonus Tip: Software to Access Someone's Computer Remotely

If you want to access others' computers remotely and check what they are doing on the computer, you can turn to a third-party tool for help.

MoniVisor for Windows, running in the background without getting noticed, is a recommended third-party tool that helps remotely track other PCS remotely.

The main features of MoniVisor for Win are:

  • Catch who the target user is communicating with by checking social media chats.

  • Monitor all the emails sent or received via web-based email programs such as logging into Gmail account.

  • Access all browsing/download history of targeted users.

  • Take automatic screenshots of the target user's screen.

  • Track each keystroke that typed on the target PC's keyboard.

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This software is safe to use and very easy to get started with. It also offers clear guide for you to follow. Or you can check the free demo below first to get more details about its features.

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Surprise: Get 30% discount of the product to access someone's computer remotely.

How to Know If Someone is Accessing My Computer Remotely?

How to tell if someone is remotely viewing your computer is not a tough job, but you need to be a little cautious and clear your doubts right away.

Here are the 8 best methods of finding out if someone hacks into your computer and remotely monitor your computer. You can try any of these for confirmation.

Way 1: Disconnect Your Computer From the Internet

Everything is possible because of the internet. No internet means no one can remotely view your PC; if you doubt that someone is using your PC the same as you, immediately disconnect your internet.

Disconnecting the internet from the taskbar might not be enough because it can easily connect on its own. You need to do something more.

Steps to disconnect your computer from the internet

  1. Turn off the router/wifi.

  2. Remove ethernet cables.

  3. Forget network from wifi settings.

Way 2. Check the List of Recently Accessed Files

We all remember the last accessed file on our computer unless it's been ages or someone has used our computer. If you feel any unusual activity on your PC or Mac, your immediate step should be to check the recently accessed files. It will clarify whether or not if someone is accessing your computer.

Steps to check the list of recently accessed files on Windows PC

  1. Click on the taskbar shortcut.

  2. Open the file explorer window, and open the document folder.

  3. Select "quick access" from the left side of the file explorer window. Or you can also press Windows key + E. Then a list of recently accessed/viewed files will pop up. If any of the files in this list were not accessed by you, someone must be remotely monitoring your PC.

check recently accessed files on windows

Steps to check the list of recently accessed files on Mac

Check recent items:

  1. Go to the menu bar on your Mac.

  2. Then click on the Apple Logo.

  3. Move your cursor to "Recent Items" and a list of the last 10 accessed items will appear on the screen, and they are divided into three categories - Applications, Documents and Servers. If you viewed all these items, relax; if not, it means someone is spying on you.

check recently accessed items on mac

Check recent files:

  1. Open a Finder window on your Mac.

  2. Then click "Go" on the menu bar.

  3. Move your cursor to "Recent Files" and then you'll see the 10 folders that were most recently accessed on your Mac. If any of the files in these 10 folders were not accessed by you, then you need to pay attention.

check recently accessed files on mac

Way 3: Check Your Browser History on The Computer

Checking your browser history is also a way to tell if someone is spying on your computer. Regardless of what browser you use, you can check it's brsowing history. Below we will guide you the detailed steps to do that on some mainstream browsers on a computer.

Steps to check your browsing history on Google Chrome

  1. Go to Google Chrome.

  2. Click on the three dots on the upper right corner, and click history.

  3. Your entire search history will open. Now analyze carefully and see whether or not you have made all the searches. If there are unusual searches, someone might be remotely monitoring your PC.

check safari browsing history on computer

Steps to check your browsing history on Mozilla Firefox

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox on your computer.

  2. Click the icon that looks like a row of books and says "View history, saved bookmarks and more" on the menu bar.

  3. Click on "History" and check the browsing activities on this browser.

check firefox browsing history on computer

Steps to check your browsing history on Safari

  1. Go to Safari on your Mac device.

  2. Click on "History", and then "Show All History". Any search not made by you can be a sign of someone remotely viewing your device.

check safari browsing history on computer

Steps to check your browsing history on Internet Explorer

  1. Launch Internet Explorer.

  2. Then select the "Explorer bars" from the scroll-down menu.

  3. Click on "History".

check internet explorer browsing history on computer

Steps to check your browsing history on Microsoft Edge

  1. Launch Microsoft Edge on your computer.

  2. Click the "Hub" icon at the menu bar.

  3. Click on "History".

check microsoft edge browsing history on computer

Way 4: Check Recently Modified Files

A remote viewer might not only be viewing your files but also making changes to them. So you can check the history of "last accessed files on your computer to confirm if someone has used your PC remotely.

Steps to Check Recently Modified Files on Windows

  1. Open "File Explorer" on your computer.

  2. To search the entire computer, select the "This PC" option.

  3. Click the "Search" tab, and choose the "Date Modified" option, and then select a time range that you want to check. You can choose Today or go back to last month.

check recently modified files on windows

Steps to Check Recently Modified Files on Mac

  1. Open the Finder on your Mac, choose File > Find.

  2. Select "Kind" then choose "Other" in the pop-up window.

  3. Choose "OK" button and then click "Kind" again. Then you will see System Files displayed in the window. Click System Files and choose "are included" option in the drop-down menu.

  4. Click the "+" sign on the far right. Then change "Kind" to "Last modified date" and choose the time range you want to check, such as "Today".

  5. After that, you will see a list of files have been modified today on your Mac. Just confirm if you have modified them today.

check recently modified files on mac

Way 5: Check Your computer's Login Events

Checking login activity is another way of finding out if someone is remotely monitoring your device. Follow the simple steps given below to figure out.

Steps to check login events on Windows computer

  1. Go to the control panel and click on "System and Security" and "Administrative Tools".

  2. Then click "Event Viewer". On the left side, an option "Security" will appear, click on it and wait for a window with all logon events to show. You will be able to detect any outsider by checking the administrative and standard logons and logoffs.

check microsoft edge browsing history on computer

Steps to check login events on Mac

  1. Press Command + Space key to Spotlight Search on your Mac.

  2. Type "Console" in the search box then press Enter.

  3. In the next window, click "All Messages".

  4. Then type "wake" to check all the login events and the time stamps.

check login events on mac

Way 6: Use the Task Manager to Detect Remote Access

Task managers can help you detect remote viewers within a few seconds. It is an ideal way to check on secret remote viewers. On Windows computer, it is called Task Manager, and On Mac computer, it is called Activity Monitor.

Below are the simple steps of using task management for detecting remote access on your computer.

Steps to use Task Manager to detect remote access on Windows

  1. Open Task Manager from the taskbar menu and search for one of the options below.

  2. Then you can check your list of running programs on your computer.

  3. Any of the programs not executed by you is a clear identification of a remote viewer.

use task manager to check remote access

Steps to use Activity Monitor to detect remote access on Mac

  1. Open the Finder and click the "Applications" option in the window.

  2. And open the "Utilities" folder.

  3. Then double-click the "Activity Monitor" application. Then you can see all the open processes on your Macbook in the "Process Name" section.

use activity monitor to check remote access

Way 7: Check Your Firewall Settings

Not everyone is comfortable with one specific method of doing anything. Hence, here we bring another simple and efficient way of detecting remote viewers - check your Firewall settings.

If you find out a program has been granted access to move past the firewall on your computer and you don't know that could be a sign that someone is spying on your computer remotely. Follow the simple steps below of reviewing your firewall settings and catch the spy.

Steps to check your firewall settings on Windows

  1. Go to your control panel and click on the "Windows Firewall" option.

  2. If you notice that a program has moved past your Firewall without asking you, this could indicate that a programmer has empowered far off access.

  3. If so, quickly eliminate any recent progressions to your firewall, restart your PC, and run the antivirus present on your PC, so no risk factors stay behind.

check firewall settings on windows

Steps to check your firewall settings on Mac

  1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu on your Mac.

  2. Then choose Security & Privacy and then the Firewall tab.

  3. Click "Advanced" to check the firewall settings on your Mac.

check firewall settings on mac

Way 8: Scan your Computer for Viruses and Malware

Scanning your computer for viruses and malware is not only an effective way of catching remote viewers but is also good for the overall health of your PC as well. It can help detect viruses etc., on your computer, and you can get rid of them in no time by running the program.

In case you are new and want to know "how can I tell if someone is spying on my computer remotely," follow the steps below to scan your computer.

Steps to scan Viruses and Malware on Your Computer

For Windows users:

If you want to use the built-in tools for scanning, go to settings and choose "Update and Security' and then click on "Windows Security" and wait for scanning programs to appear. Run one of those programs and follow the on-screen prompts.

scan viruses and malware on computer

For Mac users:

It seems like Mac itself doesnot have a build-in tool to scan for viruses and malware. So if you want to do that, you will need to use some third-party tools.

How to Stop Someone from Accessing Your Computer

How can you stop others from accessing your PC? You need to take action to protect your computer from these snoopers. There are three easy ways given below that can help you secure your computer.

Way 1: Update Your Password

If your password is old or easy to guess, it means it's super easy for anyone to get in. so change your password immediately and make sure not to tell anyone.

Way 2: Remember to Lock Your Screen

If you are sure your new password is strong enough, the second step is to develop a habit of locking your screen every time you move away from the laptop.

It is so because when you lock your screen, the snooper will log out as well, and he will need a passcode to enter again. In most devices, the "lock screen" option appears next to "shutdown" in the main menu.

Way 3: Log Out of Everything Everywhere

Another method is to log out everything everywhere. It will log you and the snoopers out. But the good part is, you can log in back with the new password, while the snooper can't. Hence it will be easier for you to keep a check on your computer's activity.

Conclusion

There are various ways to tell if someone is remotely viewing your computer, and we've discussed some of the easy ones for you to detect remote access on windows and Mac computers. Hope it can help. Or you can tell us what you think in the "Comment" section!

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By Annie Brooks

An experienced writer and blogger, very passionate about writing and curious about latest tech trends.

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  • Benjamin Arpin

    Thank you Annie Brooks, I found this article helpful! Though I don't believe that your "Bonus Tip - If You Want to Access Someone's Computer Remotely" is entirely ethical and would like to know what yourself and others think about this topic. I am specifically wanting to discuss this article, but would welcome a broader discussion of ethics and internet privacy. Thank you, Benjamin Arpin

    1 year ago

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