How to Tell if Your Phone Has Been Hacked | 12 Signs

Smartphones’ enormous storage capacity, which contains contacts, financial information, emails, and photos, has made them a severe security risk. Hackers are increasingly focusing on these devices for various illicit activities, including identity theft, data theft, tracking internet use, and blackmail. Both operating systems are equally susceptible, despite the widespread belief among consumers that iOS devices are protected from hackers.

Pegasus intrusions have attacked iOS users, and mobile malware, which is included in 99% of third-party apps, frequently targets Android users. Since mobile devices contain many personal data, protecting them from hackers is essential. Sustaining a secure mobile environment requires knowing the warning signs of hacking and safeguarding critical information.

 How to Know If You Have Been Hacked?

Cybercriminals are constantly improving their techniques so they can breach the security of your phone for a variety of malicious purposes:

• To get your information for identity theft
• To extort
• To install malware on phones
• To monitor and surveil users
• To get payment details and breach their accounts

1. Seeing too Many Pop-Ups Ads

An indication that adware may be on your phone is if you notice an excessive number of pop-up advertisements on every page you visit or at odd times on your screen. These annoying pop-ups are usually caused by spyware that modifies your home screen or reroutes you to dubious websites.

2. Fake Apps and Software

Since hackers may make fake applications to deceive users into installing them, fake software and apps are frequently an indicator of phone hacking. Phishing applications, including malware that tracks activity and reduces phone performance, cause one in five attacks.

Use caution if you download software or programs from unapproved sites or third-party app stores, as this might indicate that the software is fraudulent.

3. Fake Messages

Hackers increasingly use text messages to deceive consumers into entering their phones and performing fraudulent transactions. Typically, hackers send texts to a large number of phone numbers. These communications urge recipients to download codes or dangerous software by posing as trustworthy sources.

They also include links that frequently take users to a page the hacker owns, where they are asked to download software or make a purchase. Be cautious if you get similar texts on your phones; this is a big red flag for hackers.

4. High Data Usage

Excessive data use might be a sign of phone hacking, in which monitoring software, mining applications, or malware use mobile data in the background.

To stop malware from sending files to unidentified parties, it’s critical to check for hidden file transfers and remove programs that increase monthly data consumption.

5. Shorter Battery Life

The battery life of a hacked phone gradually gets shorter, but it does so more quickly because of the infected device’s higher consumption. Even when the phone is not in use, users might not notice it until it becomes too hot.

Spyware and malware can operate in the background, tracking activities and depleting battery life. When a phone’s battery drains more quickly than usual, even with constant usage patterns, it’s obvious that the device has been compromised.

6. Abnormal Browsing Experience

Additionally, a hacker on your phone will interfere with your browsing. For example, even if you input the right address, the browser may reroute you to strange websites. Furthermore, you may be inundated with offensive advertisements. Such experiences are indicative of phone hacking.

7. Fake calls and Text Messages

Unusual activity, such as not getting back to you on calls or messages, suggests that someone else has accessed your phone remotely. If your relatives and friends are complaining about these calls, it’s possible that hackers obtained access to your contacts by using the SIM-swapping technique. You must tell everyone you know not to answer these calls or texts.

8. Changes Phone Settings

A proficient cybercriminal can take over your phone, modify its settings, place calls, and make purchases. Look out for odd activity on your smartphone, such as apps obtaining access to your contacts or photo gallery or the Bluetooth connection being on while it’s not in use, to safeguard it. These indicators indicate that a third party may install harmful software or data on your device.

9. Strange Activities On Your Online Accounts

Social media, emails, and other connected applications are all easily accessible to hackers, which raises the possibility of identity theft. Unusual activity on your phone, such as emails, downloaded applications, password resets, or new login accounts, indicates that someone else is using it.

Increase account security by adding verification steps and not answering emails requesting a password reset or unknown login sites.

10. High Billing Charges

Another clue that something is amiss with your phone is high billing expenses. Premium monitoring software, such as keyloggers or spyware, is used by cybercriminals to monitor your online activity.

Put differently, spying programs that send data to a malicious server covertly while operating in the background may cost heftily. Request that your phone provider terminate any unused subscriptions or services.

11- Apps Stop to Function

While app crashes on mobile devices are common, paying attention to this indication if several apps are failing at once is important. Hackers may use the applications to install malicious malware that will allow them to access your phone remotely.

Spyware or other tracking technologies operate in the background, slowing the device’s performance and battery life. Programs frequently crash and freeze.

12. Deactivating Security Tools

Disabling your usual security apps is another clue that your phone has been compromised. For example, if you discover that your antivirus program has been turned off, this might indicate a hostile breach.

Hackers turn off security measures to remain undetected and collect user data from phones in the background.

What Do You Do If Your Phone Is Hacked?

To lessen the risks associated with a hacked phone, you must act immediately if you have been the victim of phone hacking. If your phone has been hacked, follow these recommendations:

Uninstall Suspicious Apps

Hackers can swiftly gain access to your phones by using malicious applications. Examine every program installed on your phone and remove any you cannot identify. By connecting to an unprotected Wi-Fi network and clicking on a phishing link, you run the risk of installing such programs on your phone. Apps downloaded outside the official app store or from a third party should also be deleted.

Launch an Anti-malware Program

Using the best anti-malware software to scan your phone will help prevent future phone hacking instances. This program is the first line of protection against viruses and malware for mobile devices.

It looks for unusual activity, possible security holes, and apps downloaded from unapproved sources on the phone. It then compares those findings to a list of apps known to be hacked. If the program finds malware on your phone, it securely erases and ensures everything functions properly.

Change Your Passwords

If hackers manage to breach your phone, they could steal your credentials. Changing the passwords for all your associated accounts on your phone is advisable, as using the same old ones might be dangerous. Ensure your passwords are strong and distinct, and utilize the finest password managers if you find it impossible to generate and remember too many passwords.

Reset Your Device

By restarting it, you may eliminate any spyware or tracking software that hackers may have put on your phone. However, if they do this, they could lose all their data, including files, contacts, images, and notes. For this reason, backing up the data on your smartphone is crucial.

Users of iPhones and Android smartphones must follow distinct procedures to reset their gadgets. The methods that assist a user in resetting their phone are listed below.

Users of Android

You may do hard or factory resets on your Android phone to erase all data. A factory reset restores your phone to its original configuration and erases all saved data and content. To perform a factory reset, follow these steps:

1. Select the Settings tab.
2. On General & Backup Reset, click.
3. Press and hold the Factory Data reset button.
4. After selecting Restart the device, select Erase Everything.

For Android smartphones running version 5 or later, follow these instructions. The instructions listed below are for Android versions 5 and lower:

1. Select the Settings tab.
2. Select General & Backup.
3. Tap Factory Data Reset to reset.
4. Select “Reset the Device.”
5. Click or tap Delete All.

If you wish to factory reset your Android phone without losing it, you must back up your data and restore it once the factory reset is finished. Most Android users may also soft reset, eliminating the possibility of data loss.

This may be accomplished by turning off and back on the phone while holding the volume and power buttons down. Your phone will restart its applications and processes when they have finished executing.

Users of iPhone

1. Select the Settings tab.
2. Press and hold your Apple ID. Select “iCloud Backup.”
3. Now, choose Backup and return to the Settings menu.
4. Choose General.
5. Click on Reset or Transfer iPhone.
6. Select the “Erase all content and settings” option.
7. Press the Continue button.
8. Configure your iPhone starting from the home screen.
9. After selecting Apps and Data
10. Select Restore from iCloud Backup.

Typical Techniques Hackers Use to Gain Access to Target Phones

Phishing attacks	Switching SIM Cards	Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	Monitoring Programs
The most popular method hackers use to access your phones is phishing. You swiftly divulge your private information and data by deceiving the targets into clicking on a link or downloading an attachment. These assaults may come in the form of emails, voice calls, texts, etc. Email is the most common kind of phishing, so be careful to educate yourself on how to defend against it.	Hackers frequently employ this strategy to access and steal data from your phone. In 2019, this hoax affected Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter. In addition, nine members of a hacker organization were prosecuted for utilizing this method to steal $2.4 million in cryptocurrencies. Using this technique, cybercriminals assume your identity, contact your SIM provider, and request a replacement SIM card.	One easy option to save mobile data is using public Wi-Fi networks in public spaces like coffee shops, airports, and cafés. Nevertheless, fraudsters may also use these networks to infiltrate phones using packet sniffing, phony Wi-Fi connections, and MITM assaults. Hackers may spy and steal more easily with unencrypted data.	Cybercriminals can also secretly access your phone by downloading other monitoring programs, such as keyloggers, which log all your keystrokes and everything you tap, search, and input. Another example of how hackers remotely install software to spy on and track users’ actions and personal data is the use of Pegasus spyware against politicians and journalists.

Are There Any Ways to Stop Your Phone from Being Hacked?

It is crucial to follow the finest security procedures and practice excellent cyber hygiene to stop phone hacking. Regular updates address exploitable flaws, making them the most straightforward method of safeguarding your phone from prospective hackers. Encryption on your Android and iPhone devices is another good data protection method.

A trustworthy VPN provider like ExtremeVPN can encrypt data transmission and shield your online activity and personal information from prying eyes. By limiting access from third parties, using the finest encryption applications for Android and iPhone guarantees safe file storage and the security of documents, photos, files, and passwords.

Two-factor authentication enhances device security by asking users to authenticate themselves with a second factor besides their password. Because hackers may find value in digital data, it is important to remove cookies and erase browser history at the end of each session. To ensure your phone and personal information are safe, monitoring it and installing thorough security software is critical.

Conclusion

Sensitive data is seriously threatened by hackers who become more skilled and inventive in breaking into phones. They can employ various techniques, including tracking software, phishing assaults, and exploiting weaknesses in unprotected Wi-Fi networks. People who want to safeguard their phones and data from hacking should look for indications that a hacker may be around and develop a defensive cyber plan.