How to find if your smartphone is hacked

We live in a day and age where our smartphones are practically an extension of ourselves. We depend on them for work, entertainment, academics, finances, and a lot more. However, on the flip side, this also makes them, and therefore us, vulnerable to cybercrime.

What’s more, when it does happen, it happens so quickly and quietly, that we often don’t catch on it, until it’s too late. So, here’s a little list of signs to look out for, that can tell you when your device may potentially have been hacked.

Signs that your smartphone may have been hacked

Here are a few telltale signs of a hacked device.

1. Unauthorised access alerts

The first and most obvious sign that your smartphone may have been hacked, or that someone may be trying to hack it, is pop-ups on your phone informing you of access requests, to either your Google account or Apple ID, often from unknown locations.

2. Frequent pop-ups

Another classic sign that malware or spyware may have entered your smartphone, is frequent and unwanted pop-ups often in the form of what look like advertisements.

3. Data usage spikes

If malware has entered your phone, you may notice a spike in data usage, as they often consume your mobile data while extracting your personal information, and passwords and relaying the same to the perpetrator on the other end.

4. Overheating, battery drain, and general slowdown

You may notice that your device frequently and inexplicably slows down, and also heats up far more than it would, under usual circumstances. This is a classic sign of your phone potentially being hacked, as any malware frequently consumes your phone’s resources way more, as compared to normal usage. Another sign to look out for, also happens to be frequent and rapid depletion of the battery on your device.

How to protect your smartphone from being hacked

Here are a few simple tips and tricks to protect your smartphone against unwanted hacks and data security breaches.

1. Never use easy-to-guess passwords

Never use easy-to-guess passwords. By that, we mean passwords such as 1234 or maybe those which may contain information about yourself, such as your date of birth, phone number, or first or last name.

2. Look out for suspicious links and messages

Never click on links or download apps from unknown sources, whether via links embedded in text messages, or third-party websites on your browser. One almost instantly knows if a website or text message may be malicious, by looking out for a few telltale signs such as poor design in general, typos, and frequent, unwanted pop-ups.

3. Avoid public Wi-Fi networks or charging stations

Avoid connecting your device to public Wi-Fi networks or public charging stations, as far as possible. The former, also called evil twin networks, can also be used to redirect you to websites through which malware may enter your device, while the latter can steal data from your phone via the USB cable.

4. Never install pirated apps on your device

Never install pirated content on your device. Often, malware is disguised as what are seemingly harmless apps, which seem to go about their jobs just as usual, the way the authentic version would.

5. Ensure your device is always updated

Ensure you update your device frequently and regularly. Native software security updates are often all that you need to ensure your information your smartphone is well protected, and that you don’t face any breaches to the same, due to malware.

Looking out for these signs and taking these quick and easy steps can ensure your smartphone is always protected against data breaches, fraud, or identity theft of any kind.