Your smartphone holds a lot of private things. These include your messages, passwords, pictures, and even your bank information. If a bad person gets into your phone without asking, it can cause big problems. It does not matter if you have an Android phone or an iPhone; any phone can be hacked. If you learn the warning signs early, you can help keep your information safe before it is too late.
This guide will tell you about 8 common signs that show your phone might be hacked. It will also tell you what you should do if you see these signs.
1. Battery Drains Very Fast, Even When You Don’t Use It Much
Does your phone’s battery die much faster than it used to? Does this happen even when your phone is just sitting there and you are not using it? This can be a sign of a problem.
Sometimes, bad software like malware or spyware runs in the background on your phone. This software uses up your phone’s power all the time. It does this even when you are not actively using your phone. Many hacking tools work by always doing things in the background. For example, they might track where you are or listen through your phone’s microphone.
If your battery suddenly starts running low very quickly, it is often the first warning sign that something is wrong.
2. Using a Lot More Mobile Data Than Usual
Hackers do not just steal your information; they also have to send it somewhere. If your phone is infected, you might see a sudden jump in how much mobile data it uses. This can happen even when you are not doing things that use a lot of data, like watching videos or updating apps.
You should check how much data each app on your phone is using. You can find this in your phone’s settings.
- Look out for any apps you do not know that are using large amounts of data.
- On an Android phone, you can go to Settings, then Network & Internet, and then Data usage.
- If you have an iPhone, you can find this under Settings, then Cellular.
If you notice that your data plan is running out faster than it normally does, do not ignore this sign.
3. Seeing Apps You Do Not Know or Did Not Install
Sometimes, bad software hides on your phone but looks like a normal app. It might pretend to be a system tool or a game. Other times, these bad apps might look like real apps you know, but they actually do harmful things.
Scroll through the list of apps on your phone. If you see any app that you did not install yourself, you should check it out. Some bad apps even try to hide their icons or change their names to trick you.
Also, check the permissions these apps have. If an app you do not know can read your text messages, use your camera, or change important phone settings, that is a big problem.
4. Your Phone Gets Very Hot for No Clear Reason
Phones can get warm when you are playing games or watching videos for a long time. But if your phone feels very hot when it is just sitting idle, that is not normal.
Bad software running in the background can make your phone’s processor work too hard. When this happens, the phone heats up. Sometimes it can get so hot that it is uncomfortable to hold. A very hot phone can also make the battery drain fast.
This is one of the signs of hacking that people often miss.
5. Seeing Pop-Up Ads or Your Browser Goes to Strange Websites by Itself
Adware is a type of bad software. It forces your phone to show you ads you do not want. It can also make your internet browser go to shady websites without you doing anything. This might happen when you open your browser. It can even happen when you are not using your browser at all.
For example, imagine you unlock your phone and see a new tab open in your browser that you did not open. Or, a strange ad might pop up on your phone’s home screen. These are likely signs that your phone has a problem.
These kinds of infections often come from things you download for free from unsafe places or from app stores that are not official.
6. Texts or Calls on Your Phone That You Did Not Make
Check your text messages. Do you see messages in your sent folder that you did not write or send? Or do you have missed calls from numbers you do not recognize?
Hackers can use a hacked phone to do several bad things:
- Send out spam messages to other people.
- Spread links to more bad software.
- Try to reset passwords for your accounts using text message codes.
- Make calls to expensive international numbers to make money.
You might not notice these things right away. Sometimes, your friends or family might tell you they got a strange message from you. Or, you might see unusual charges on your phone bill.
7. Security Features Stop Working or Settings Change by Themselves
Some hacking tools try to turn off your phone’s security settings. If your Face ID or fingerprint scanner suddenly stops working, this is a serious concern. Another warning is if your phone tells you an app was given special admin access, but you did not approve it.
You should also check a few other things. See if any antivirus apps you had were removed. Check if settings that stop apps from being installed were turned off. Also, look to see if any unknown devices were added to your Google or Apple ID.
One small change might not seem like a big deal. But it could be a sign of a bigger problem with your phone.
8. You Cannot Log Into Your Accounts or You See Strange Logins
If you suddenly cannot get into your email, social media, or banking apps, it is a bad sign. The hacker might have gotten your login information through your phone.
Even worse, you might see emails about password resets for your accounts that you did not ask for. Or, you might notice changes to your accounts that you did not make. If security features like 2-step verification get turned off, or if your recovery email address gets changed, you need to act very fast.
In these cases, it is not just your phone that has a problem. Your entire online identity could be at risk.
What to Do If You Think Your Phone Is Hacked
If you notice any of the signs we talked about, here are some steps you should take:
- Run a security scan. Use a trusted antivirus app to check your phone for bad software.
- Change all your important passwords. Use a different, safe device (like another computer) to change them.
- Remove any apps you do not recognize.
- Back up your important data. Then, if needed, you can do a factory reset on your phone. A factory reset erases everything and can remove bad software.
- Turn on 2-step verification for all your important accounts like email, banking, and social media.
It is also a good idea to avoid logging into sensitive apps on your phone until you are sure it is secure.
Protect Your Phone in the Future
It is easier to prevent your phone from being hacked than to fix it after it happens. To help keep your phone safe:
- Always update your phone’s software when new updates are available.
- Avoid downloading apps from unofficial app stores. Also, be careful about clicking on suspicious links in emails or messages.
- Use strong, different passwords for your accounts and turn on 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) when you can.
- Be careful when you use public Wi-Fi networks.
- Check the permissions that your apps have regularly. Make sure they only have access to what they really need.
If your phone starts acting strangely, do not just ignore it. Seeing even one or two of these warning signs could mean it is time for you to take action to protect your information.
Do you know someone who might need this information? Please share this guide with them. And, if you have ever dealt with a hacked phone yourself, please leave a comment below and tell us what helped you fix the problem. Your experience could help other readers!