Is Your Android Phone/iPhone Hacked? Here Are 7 Warning Signs
Smartphones are mini-computers we all rely on nowadays. Phones are a daily constant in most people's lives, for work, connecting with friends, or even only just having fun. The number of smartphones across the globe is estimated to be 4.88 billion, with an annual growth of 14.9%.
Think about it, if you daily use your phone for multiple actions, it might know more about you than many of your friends.
And you are not alone on this, a lot of people are “smartphone-only” internet users who purely depend on their phones since they do not have a computer or an internet connection.
Can phones be hacked?
Of course, they can, just like computers, phones can be intercepted by hackers in many different ways. There exist many ways in which a cyber-criminal can hack your devices.
One of the most common techniques is fooling people into clicking on malicious links or downloading false apps. Once your phone has been corrupted you might not notice it right away and this is the scarier part of being hacked.
Here are some simple wake-up calls you should pay attention to if you ever wonder about your phone’s safety.
1. You Are Using More Data
Unexpectedly high phone bills can be a strong indicator that your device has been hacked. You will likely notice this very fast, but if the amount of data used is just a bit more than usual, it becomes hard to spot.
If you never check your phone bill, consider starting doing it regularly. Increased bandwidth usage often points to unauthorized activities; for example, your phone could be sending data, emails, and messages with malicious information.
2. Your battery is draining faster
Many factors can influence the battery life of a smartphone, but a sudden and significant decrease of its performance is a red flag. It doesn’t matter if you don't notice any suspicious activity; batteries usually have a long life, especially on Android phones (rugged phones have longer battery life), and any dramatic changes are something to pay attention to.
Luckily, this is easy to check, you simply have to go to your settings and search for an option to review "battery usage". Here your phone will show you which apps are draining the most battery, and you shouldn't see anything unknown.
3. You Notice Unusual Activity On Your Accounts
Be aware of alerts from your accounts; they can sometimes help you quickly avoid an attack. If you receive a message saying there has been some suspicious activity related to one of your accounts, it could be a sign that your account or device is at risk.
Four out of ten people were victims of a social media fraud attack in 2021. Hackers can use social media accounts to access your devices and send messages to your contacts to fool them.
If you ever notice that you are following someone you don’t recall following or liking something you didn’t, contact your social media platform and consider changing your password immediately.
4. You See Unwanted Ads and Pop-ups
These annoying interruptions are not normal at all. This is a classic sign of adware, a type of malware designed to display unwanted advertisements. This is not only invasive but also could mean your phone has been corrupted in other ways.
Sometimes, your screen will show signs saying you have a virus on, but it's completely fake; avoid tapping the “Remove Virus Now” button. Don’t ever submit personal information in an input field on these pop-ups.
5. Your Phone is Slower Than Usual
If your device is suddenly slowing its performance, being less responsive, and finding it hard to open apps, then it might be potentially affected.
It is normal for old phones to get slower with time, previous operating systems are not capable of supporting new versions of apps and it could cause some minor lagging. But this will only happen with old phones and in a progressive way.
When malicious programs crack your phone, they may use additional processing power, which can slow down your device. Remember also to check your storage, sometimes phones can get slow due to full storage capacity, in that case, you might just need to make a little space.
6. Your Device Is Overheating
Phones can get heated when they are in high demand for games or heavy apps. Frequent phone users can easily detect this and will know for sure if this is happening. If your phone starts heating for no apparent reason, this could indicate some kind of unauthorized control and usage over your device. Don't hesitate to contact a professional if you have doubts about your phone temperature; this can be dangerous for other reasons as well.
7. Unknown Apps or Icons
Check your phone's app drawer and home screen for any unfamiliar apps or icons recently. Hackers often install malicious applications that may appear harmless but can compromise your device's security. Remove any suspicious apps or icons that you don't remember installing or that you cannot identify.
How to Protect Your Android Phone
Now that you know the most common signs of a hacked phone, you should know how to protect it. Here are some easy essential tips you can follow to keep safe:
- Install a Reliable Anti-Virus: Use a good antivirus app to scan for and remove malware. There exist many free versions of anti-viruses but you must consider the type of use you make of your phone before choosing one. If you handle sensitive data such as bank information, consider using paid versions, which are often more complete.
- Use a VPN: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet connection, providing security for your phone. This is especially important when using public or unknown Wi-Fi networks. Click here to learn more about how VPNs work and can help you protect your phone.
- Keep Your Software Updated: Ensure your operating system and apps are always running the latest version. Most software companies include new security systems on each update, and it is in your best interest to be protected by their latest technology.
- Use a Two-Factor Authentication App: 2FA is a brand-new way of strengthening security. You can use an app for this, which is easy to install and set up. This will create a code you should sync to your app every time you try to log in.
Conclusion
These are just a few red flags you can find to spot a hacking attack and prevent further damage. Your phone doesn't need to present one of these signs to be hacked, there are many other ways cybercriminals can work. Hackers change their techniques continuously to be up to the latest trends; it’s hard to keep up, but it's not impossible.
Remember, preventing is easier than curing. Keep your software updated, use reliable security tools, and be cautious about the apps you install. Ensure your smartphone is always secure and do not hesitate to contact professionals every time you have doubts.
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