How To Tell if Your Phone Is Hacked and What To Do

If you’ve noticed your phone acting strangely–apps crashing, battery draining faster than usual, or unfamiliar pop-ups–it’s natural to wonder "is my phone hacked?"

Of course, hackers can hack your phone if it's not properly secured. While modern smartphones come with built-in security features, they still have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

With how much personal information we store on our smartphones, from photos and messages to passwords and financial details, the idea of someone gaining access to all of it can be unsettling. If you think your phone might be hacked, read on. 

If you rely on your phone for business or other confidential activities, it may be a good idea to consider looking into mobile data security software. This software helps identify threats and secures your data with authentication and third-party app limitations.

In this article, we’ll help you identify the signs that your phone may have been hacked, what those odd behaviors could really mean, and how you can protect yourself from hackers. 

How do you know if your phone is hacked?

As you saw earlier, a number of signs could point to a hacked phone. While these aren’t foolproof signals or exclusive to hacking, you can monitor your device for suspicious or unusual behavior in several ways. Let's look at each of them in detail: 

1. Review your phone bill

Unusually high phone bills, particularly with high data usage, can indicate hacking. This could mean that your phone has been sending unauthorized communications outside of normal usage for your device. Mysterious calls or texts in your log history might be a warning sign, too.

2. Check your installed apps

If your phone has been hacked, you may notice new apps showing up on your device that you didn’t install yourself. This can be especially problematic if hackers have done this, as these apps are able to install malware on your device. 

If apps you normally use start misbehaving or regularly freeze, it’s worth investigating whether your phone has been hacked. You should also look at the settings of your current apps. Long loading, opening, or closing times could signal that preferences have been updated without your knowing.

3. Looks for suspicious notifications or settings

Unexpected, uncommon notifications or pop ups that appear on your device could also be a sign of hacking. Look for unusual password resets or account signups that use your phone to verify them, such as two-factor authentication texts being sent to your phone.

4. Check your accounts

If you find yourself unable to login to accounts that you can usually access easily via your phone, you may have been hacked and your credentials may have been changed. For instance, being locked out of social media or email accounts could suggest that hackers have managed to get to these accounts via your phone and then updated the password to keep you out.

5. Unusual battery drain or overheating

A sudden or rapid battery drain, or if your phone gets unusually hot, could signal a compromised phone. Hidden apps or malicious software (such as cryptojacking, where hackers use your phone to mine cryptocurrency) may be running in the background, consuming resources and draining the battery. 

Phones that overheat without heavy usage could also indicate hacking. If your phone gets unusually hot, even when you're not using it much, hackers may be running demanding processes like cryptomining, overworking your phone’s CPU and causing it to overheat.

6. Sluggish performance

If your phone suddenly feels much slower than usual, it could be a result of malicious software running covertly. Hacked phones often have programs running in the background that consume system resources, slowing down performance. If apps are lagging, or your phone is freezing often, it’s a sign that something isn’t quite right.

7. Strange texts or calls

Receiving strange or unfamiliar text messages or calls that you didn’t initiate can also suggest that your phone has been hacked. Hackers may use your device to send phishing messages to your contacts or make calls without your knowledge.

What to do if your phone is hacked

If you’re concerned that you’ve become a victim of phone hacking and want to remove hacker from your phone, take these steps.

• Run antivirus software. Installing and running antivirus software on your device adds another layer of defense against potential hackers and determines if you have unsafe materials on your phone. 
• Change passwords on a different device. Reset all of the passwords for accounts that you have connected to your phone, like email, online banking and social media. Don’t use them on your phone until you’re sure you have removed all hacker access. Create unique passwords for each account so that if one becomes compromised in the future, other accounts aren’t affected.
• Enable 2FA. After changing your passwords, enable 2FA on all important accounts. 2FA adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for hackers to access your accounts even if they know your password. 
• Delete suspicious apps. If you believe that your phone has been hacked via a new, suspicious app, remove it from your device as soon as possible. Check to see what your app settings are and what access it has to other parts of your phone, such as the camera or microphone.
• Perform a Factory Reset. A factory reset of your phone can help get rid of malware and hacker access on your device, but it will also remove all data that’s been added to your phone since your most recent backup. Before you reset your phone, export any images, notes, or text messages that you need to save. Do not back up any apps that you’re suspicious of.
• Update your phone’s software. Make sure your phone’s operating system and all apps are up-to-date. Updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. Set your phone to automatically update to stay ahead of potential threats.
• Notify your contacts. If your phone or any account has been used to send phishing messages, scam calls, or other malicious activities, notify your contacts. Let them know not to trust any strange messages or calls they received from your number while your phone was compromised.

How to protect your phone from hacking 

Whether you’ve experienced phone hacking or not, you should know how to protect yourself.Taking proactive steps ahead of time can save you from all the stress of getting hacked. Here are some tips to stop someone from hacking your phone again. 

Update your phone frequently

Security patches are often released in phone updates, so verify that you’re running the latest operating system for your smartphone and install all updates as they come up. This prevents malware attacks.

Use a password manager

With so many logins to remember these days, it’s easy to fall back to using the same credentials at several different places online. But this stands as one of the easiest ways for hackers to gain access to your most important accounts. Instead, consider using a password manager that generates strong, unique passwords for each of your logins, while also keeping them safe without you having to remember them.

Turn Bluetooth off when not in use

Particularly when you’re working on your phone in public, try to keep your Bluetooth usage to a minimum. Hackers may try to access your device by connecting via Bluetooth when you’re in a coffee shop, restaurant, or subway station. Disable it on your phone when you’re not using it, or update your settings to only allow authorized devices to connect.

Avoid public charging points

Charging at a public charging point seems simple and easy, hackers have been known to perform “juice jacking.” They install destructive software onto the charging point itself in order to steal your information when you plug in your device. 

Instead, purchase your own portable chargers that you can power up ahead of time or use batteries to boost your phone on the road.

Only download trusted apps

When you need to download a new app, stick with trusted and legitimate sources like the app stores for your device. They have measures in place to monitor for malware to keep users safe.

Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient but can also be unsecured, leaving your device vulnerable to hackers. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) whenever you connect to public Wi-Fi to protect your data from being intercepted. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it much harder for hackers to spy on your activity, even on an open or unsecured network.

How do phones get hacked?

Now, if you are wondering how did you get hacked in thhe first place, there are numerous ways it can happen. Even devices that claim to keep you safe from outside threats have vulnerabilities at their core that hackers can peel away to bypass built-in security settings. 

Some of the most common techniques that hackers use are:

• Text or email links. Phishing remains one of the biggest causes of cybercrime. Phishing links can come with text or email messages containing malware that automatically installs on your device when clicked. From there, hackers can access your phone’s data and apps. 
  
  An example of this would be receiving a message asking you to visit a link to update your online banking account. It appears to come from your bank, so you click. The link then directs you to a site that downloads malware or asks you to log in so it can steal your username and password.  
 Look for generic greetings like "Dear Customer" instead of your name. Be cautious of urgent or threatening language such as "Immediate action required!" or "Your account has been compromised.

• Public Wi-Fi. Although public wi-fi is convenient for accessing the internet when you’re away from home, those networks are also some of the most unsafe options for web browsing. Without proper protections, your phone could be susceptible to hacking attempts. Use precautions like VPN as mentioned earlier to avoid getting hacked. Turning off file sharing when using public Wi-Fi.Avoiding accessing sensitive information, like online banking, while connected to unsecured networks, even with a VPN.
• QR codes. Especially since 2020, many restaurants and entertainment venues have replaced menus, check-ins, and news alerts with QR codes. However, these codes could be linked to any website and hackers can easily print fake QR codes and stick them over legitimate ones in public places like restaurant or bar tables. 
  
  Also be vigilant about using QR codes in public and try to avoid ones that could have stickers over them. Use ones that are printed on checks or receipts, or those on menus and advertising that is clearly the original printed code.
• False advertising. Like with QR codes, advertising in public may contain links that the advertiser is hoping you’ll click on or type into your browser. Before clicking any link, especially from public advertisements, it's safer to search for the website directly through a trusted search engine.
• Fake apps. Both the Apple app store and Google app store monitor for applications that might contain malware, but there’s still a risk of downloading unsafe apps. These apps could mimic legitimate ones, or even seem harmless, but may secretly steal your data or track your activity.
  
  Always try to download apps directly from the official stores, and avoid sideloading apps from third-party app store or untrusted websites.  Make sure the app isn’t asking for unnecessary access to your camera, contacts, or microphone.
• Social media scams. Your social media profiles can also become targets. If they gain access to your accounts, which are often connected to your phone, they can send you dangerous links that install malware. Avoid accepting friend requests from unknown people and be wary of messages with links from friends. Always verify the link’s legitimacy before clicking on it.
• SIM card swapping. This is  a technique where hackers impersonate you to your mobile carrier, requesting that your phone number be transferred to a new SIM card. Once they have access to your number, they can intercept calls and text messages, including two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. This allows them to gain access to your accounts, even if you have 2FA enabled.
  
  Be cautious of phishing attempts from anyone asking for personal information related to your mobile account. Contact your mobile provider and set up extra security for your account, such as a PIN or password.

Hack, line, and sinker

The results of having your phone hacked can range from simple annoyance to financial and identity loss. It’s a serious problem that we all need to be aware of, but taking steps now to protect your mobile data will save you the nightmare of dealing with hacking in the future.

Keep your mobile data safe with the best practices for mobile security.