How To Know if Your Phone is Hacked? 10 Signs To Check

Mobile networks are essential in this fast-paced world of communication because they allow us to stay connected wherever we go.

” Globally, an estimated 30,000 websites are hacked each day.”

Zippia

Every day, a lot of information is shared via our mobile phones, whether Android or iPhone, some of it sensitive and confidential.

This sensitive information attracts hackers to hack your phone, and they could keep a record of you without your knowledge.

Their cunning methods allow them to enter your private life. 

In this post, I have shared the tips I used to investigate my phone being hacked. You can also explore and keep your data safe from hackers. 

However, there are 10 steps that help you to know if your phone is hacked.

1. Unexpected Behavior

First of all, you have to check your phone behavior.

Your phone may have been compromised if it starts acting abnormally, such as by freezing, crashing, or working more slowly than usual.

Due to malicious processes that hackers run in the background, the device frequently behaves improperly.

2. Modified Settings

The second step is to check your phone settings. Suppose you find that your smartphone’s settings have been altered without your knowledge or permission and frequently switch between different settings.

It can be a sign that your phone has been hacked. Hackers alter settings to gain access to various features on your device.

3. Rapid Battery Drain

A rapid drop in battery life is another red flag. Malicious software and applications that consume more energy can speed up the battery’s discharge.

Potential Causes of Battery Depletion

Here are some potential causes of battery depletion:

Running malware or malicious apps in the background can use a lot of system resources, accelerating battery loss.

These illegal apps may carry out a range of prohibited actions, including data theft, spam sending, cryptocurrency mining, etc.

Some malware strains engage in excessive network activity, frequently connecting to distant servers or secretly transmitting data.

The battery becomes strained from this constant network activity, which is rapidly depleting it.

Check your battery usage using these steps

For Android

• Open Settings
• Navigate to Battery
• Tap on Battery Usage
• Analyze and remove the unwanted apps that are using too much battery.

For iPhone 

• Open Settings 
• Navigate to Battery
• Tap on Last 24 Hours OR Last 10 Days battery power consumption data.

4. High Data Usage

Malicious applications frequently operated secretly in the background, downloading and uploading data to maintain a connection to the server of the hackers.

This continuous data exchange leads to a significant amount of data usage.

Check your data usage using these steps

For Android

• Open Settings
• Navigate to Network & Internet.
• Click on Data Usage and analyze data consumption

For iPhone

• Open Settings
• Navigate to Cellular or Settings
• Click on Mobile Data

5. Calls and Messages that You Didn’t Send

If your friends or contacts claim they received calls and texts from you that you were unaware of, it is concerning.

Hackers may have access to your messaging and calling app, which they use to send them phishing and spam calls and messages.

6. Strange Background Noises in Calls (Call forwarding)

If you have noticed strange noises during your call conversations. This is one more sign to know if your phone is hacked.

Such noises are due to eavesdropping techniques employed by hackers using tapping software and devices to intercept phone calls or private conversations.

7. Strange Notifications and Messages

If you get strange notifications from unknown apps which you haven’t installed or messages from unknown sources containing random suspicious links.

And the links redirect you to unknown websites or ask for your personal information.

These notifications and messages signify the presence of malware on your device, attempting to steal or harm your data.

8. Codes To Check if Your Phone is Hacked or Tapped

Some cell phones allow users to dial specific USSD code numbers to look for signs of tapping.

Dial these numbers to check if your phone is tapped or compromised.

9. Suspicious Transaction

Always keep your eye open on your invoices and transactions.

Unexpected modification or dd transactions may indicate that your phone has been compromised for fraud.

What tactics do Hackers use to get your bank information?

Phishing Scam: In the digital world, phishing scams continue to be a common concern.

Cybercriminals pretend to represent trusted organizations like banks to trick the victims into disclosing their personal information through misleading emails and calls.

Unaware people share this information and run in danger. Hackers also try to get other sensitive information and use it to transfer malware into your system.

SIM Swapping: Cybercriminals use SIM swapping which is a more advanced technique to obtain unauthorized access to personal data.

Tricking the victim’s phone provider into moving their phone number to a new SIM card under the hacker’s control is the typical step involved. 

With access to the victim’s phone number, the attacker can listen in on private phone calls and text messages, including those with password reset links, etc from financial institutions. 

SMS Phishing (Smishing): Smishing is the type of phishing that targets mobile users using text messages and forces recipients to click on harmful links or share sensitive information.

They use urgent language and ask for urgent identity verification and assert unusual activity on your bank account and steal your data by directing you to malicious websites.

Voice phishing (Vishing): Vishing is also a type of phishing attack that takes place through phone calls.

Scammers pose as bank agents and use psychological tricks to instill a sense of urgency or anxiety in their victims, pressuring them to reveal sensitive and private account information.

10. Delayed Shutdown

If your phone is taking a long time to shut down or restart, The root cause of this is background monitoring software.

This software often goes unnoticed and operates in the background to track our device’s activities.

This tapping software takes a longer time to deactivate because of the long waiting times.

Conclusion

If some of these signs are true in your device. Your phone might be compromised. But no need to worry, every problem has a solution.

You can remove a hacker from your phone using different security measures. And make your phone secure and hackproof.

Frequently Asked Questions