Here's What You Should Do If Your Phone Is Hacked

Because scammers are constantly evolving and improving their hacking methods, it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect that your phone has been compromised. Simply put, the average user may not be able to detect any cyberattacks in advance. Especially for new users, a lot of information is at stake, from access to photos, private data, text messages, and even bank account information, making the phone a perfect target for hackers.

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Here are the signs that your phone is hacked

Whether you like it or not, the entire hacking process can happen in seconds. It could be from an app you downloaded that installed malware, or you could have clicked on a malicious link, or even used an unsecured public Wi-Fi network.

There are many signs that your phone may be hacked, however, some of the more prominent signs that someone has illegally accessed your phone include higher than normal data usage, your phone draining battery quickly, strange apps appearing, messages or calls that you didn't make, or even strange activity on some of your online accounts.

There are many reasons for high data usage, such as watching high-quality videos, uploading high-quality photos, automatic app updates, or faster network speeds. However, if you are sure that your phone is performing the same but your data usage doesn’t match, it’s time to take a look. A compromised phone can also slow down, so keep an eye out for things like apps crashing (freezing), crashes, and unexpected reboots.

Cybersecurity experts, including those from the world's largest and most popular security software maker and distributor Kaspersky, have also shared that malware and fraudulent apps sometimes use malicious code that consumes a lot of energy. If you notice that your phone's battery is draining at an excessive rate, it could be a sign that your device has been compromised.

Experts recommend checking your device's battery usage menu to see if any apps with strange names are draining your battery. One of the most obvious signs that your phone has been hacked is if you notice your phone sending messages to unknown numbers. Experts say unauthorized activity of any kind is a serious warning sign.

How to prevent hackers from hacking your phone?

While Apple has strong built-in security features, hackers are using increasingly creative and sophisticated ways to access your iPhone, iCloud, and Apple ID accounts. If you notice the signs mentioned above on your iPhone, Samsung, or other smartphone, you can download and run a scan with quality security software that will be able to tell you whether your phone has actually been hacked.

Some security software made for iOS and Android can also assess any issues on your smartphone and offer quick fixes. If you have any suspicious, previously unseen apps on your phone, remove them as apps are still a very common way for hackers to gain access to your phone. These apps may have been secretly added when you connected to unsecured Wi-Fi networks or clicked on phishing links.

It's best to avoid the temptation of free Wi-Fi networks. It's a well-known fact that public Wi-Fi poses a major security risk. Connecting to an unsecured public Wi-Fi network also exposes your cell phone information to anyone else on that wireless network.

Kaspersky also advises never to tamper with the system to bypass the security barriers set up by the manufacturer on your phone, because while it allows you to download from unofficial app stores, this increases the risk of you being accidentally hacked. In addition to malware or spyware, this means you will miss out on security patches in the latest operating system updates.

Finally, most malware infestations can be removed by resetting your phone to its factory settings. While doing this will erase all the data on your phone, it is a last resort to ensure your phone is as good as new.