Why was my HP privacy setting open when i unlocked my computer?

[TravelingModel]

I have an HP Pavilion laptop. sometimes when I'm gone and come home (I live alone/nobody is entering my domicile); I find the computer trying to unlock. In this case I came back from a short trip and the screen showed HP privacy settings OPENED when I know I did not do that when I left.

How can I figure out if someone is getting into my laptop remotely, using my HP credentials? what is going on? anyone else have this happen?

[Raj_05]

Hi @TravelingModel,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like a potentially concerning situation, and it's understandable that you'd want to investigate. There are a few possibilities for why your HP privacy settings screen could have been open when you unlocked your HP Pavilion laptop, as well as steps you can take to check if someone might be accessing your device remotely.

Possible Reasons:

• Automatic or Background Updates: Sometimes, updates related to system settings, including privacy options, can trigger notifications or windows to open, even if you didn't initiate them. HP Support Assistant or Windows updates may also be responsible for opening these settings.
• Accidental Keystrokes: If you leave your laptop on, and it comes out of sleep mode or a screensaver is triggered, an accidental keyboard or mouse movement might open applications like HP privacy settings.
• Remote Access Concerns: If someone has gained access to your laptop through remote means (e.g., using your HP credentials or other remote access tools), they could be accessing your system while you're away. Even though you live alone, remote access can still occur via malware or software if the device is compromised.

Steps to Investigate:

Check for Remote Access Software:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and look for any unfamiliar remote access programs such as TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or Chrome Remote Desktop.
• Disable or uninstall anything you didn’t install or recognize.

Review Your Security Logs:

• Event Viewer: In Windows, open "Event Viewer" (Windows key + X > Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Security). Check for any unusual login activity, especially during times when you weren't using the laptop.
• Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to the Performance tab, and check if there's any network activity happening when you're not using the laptop.

Check Account Activity:

• If your laptop is tied to an HP account, check your account login history. Log into the HP portal (account.hp.com), and see if there are any unfamiliar devices or locations that have accessed your account.
• Similarly, if you use a Microsoft account to log in to your laptop, check the security section of your Microsoft account for any recent or unfamiliar login attempts.

Change Your Passwords:

• Change both your HP account and Microsoft account passwords, especially if you're concerned someone could be accessing your credentials.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security on both accounts, if not already enabled.

[Raj_05]

Run a Malware Scan:

• Run a full scan using Windows Defender or another trusted antivirus program to check for any malware or remote access tools that might have been installed without your knowledge.

Check Privacy Settings History:

• Open the Settings > Privacy section in Windows and see if anything seems changed from the default settings. Review access permissions for apps, especially for camera, microphone, and location.

Check Startup Programs:

• Go to Task Manager > Startup and review programs that start when your computer boots. Look for anything unusual that might point to a background process or software you didn’t install.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support