Mobile phones today are more than just a simple communication device. They do not just connect us to the rest of the world, but are also a lifeline for a lot of us, as our lives cannot properly function without them, so how to know if your phone is hacked?
This is what we will find out today in this article. Let us get started!
How to know if your phone is hacked?
How to know if a phone is hacked can be determined in several different ways, and some of them are as follows.
1. Unusual Battery Drain
If all of a sudden, your phone starts experiencing unexplained battery drain, then this means a malware or spyware is active in the background and this software is consuming a large portion of the power, so keep an eye out for unusual battery drain in the phone.
2. Increased Data Usage
Similarly to battery drain, spyware can also increase data usage, as it sends data from your phone to external servers. So, keep an eye out for any unexpected data usage spikes.
3. Slow Performance
Another way to answer how to know if my phone is hacked is to monitor the phone’s performance. While phones do slow down with time, if your device starts freezing or crashing all of a sudden or is unusually slow, then it is time to get it checked.
4. Strange Apps You Didn’t Install
This one goes without saying, but if you find strange apps on your phone that you don’t remember installing, then it is a major sign that malware has been installed on your phone and have it removed immediately.
5. Overheating
Overheating can be another sign of how to know if your phone is hacked, as the malware on your phone will run continuously in most cases and will lead to overheating of your phone.
6. Suspicious Texts or Calls
While less common as a sign of your phone getting hacked, receiving strange texts or calls, especially texts with strange links, is a sign that your phone is actively being targeted.
7. Pop-Ups and Strange Ads
While pop ads are a common sight on the internet, especially if you visit less than reputable websites, if you start seeing them on your phone, when not even browsing, then it means your phone is hacked.
8. Unauthorized Access to Your Accounts
Another very clear-cut sign of your phone getting hacked is your accounts being accessed from unknown places, and if that happens, immediately change all your passwords and get your phone checked.
9. Background Noise During Calls
While less common and less known, especially nowadays, if you hear background noises or echoes while on the call, it means that you are being recorded or someone is listening to the conversation.
10. Your Phone Behaves on Its Own
If your phone starts performing actions on its own, like opening apps or sending messages, then no, it is not haunted, but hacked. If this happens, it will definitely answer the question, how to know if your phone is hacked.
What to Do If You Suspect Your Phone Is Hacked
Now that we have explained how to know if your phone is hacked, let us learn what to do if this happens.
1. Remove Suspicious Apps
You start by deleting any unfamiliar or suspicious apps from the phone and reducing the permissions of others.
2. Install a Reliable Security App
Having an antivirus or malware security app that can run full scans and protect your phone is an absolute given.
3. Update Your Operating System
Regularly update your phone’s operating system, as hackers often find exploits in the system, and manufacturers patch those exploits by updating the system.
4. Change Your Passwords
Never use the same password for all your accounts, and make a habit of changing them every few weeks, and always enable two-factor authentication.
5. Perform a Factory Reset
If all else fails, do a full factory reset as a last resort. It may not be ideal, and you will lose data, but it’s better than a hacked phone.
How to Prevent Future Hacks
Now that we know how to know if your phone is hacked and what to do about it, let us also learn how you can prevent this from happening.
- You start by installing apps from trusted sources, like Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi, and if you have to, never log into sensitive accounts while on it.
- Always use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your phone.
- Regularly update your phone’s operating system as well as other apps, especially social media apps.
- Never click on suspicious links and never download unknown files, even if sent by someone you know.
- Always use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when browsing on a public network.
