Are you worried your mobile phone could be hacked? I am planning to illustrate how to check by identifying some obvious signs. It is really simple if you know what to look out for.
Whenever your mobile phone is exhibiting one of the following unusual behaviors,and even more so if it’s exhibiting more than one,there is a likelihood that it might be hacked.
Unusual or inappropriate pop ups: Colorful,flashing ads or X-rated content popping up on a mobile phone might indicate malware.
Messages or calls not made by you: If you detect text or calls from your mobile phone that you didn’t make,your mobile phone might be hacked.
Greater than usual data use: There are undoubtedly many causes for very high data use (for example,increased use of a new app). But when your mobile phone activity has remained the same but your data use has skyrocketed,it should be time to investigate.
Apps you do not remember on your mobile phone: Keep in mind that brand new cell phone often come with pre-downloaded apps. But if you detect new apps popping up once you already have the mobile phone,there might be malware at work.
Battery decreasing quickly: If your mobile phone use habits have been the same,but your battery is decreasing more quickly than normal,hacking can be responsible.
How could my mobile phone be hacked?
Hackers may access to your mobile phone in several ways,but they almost all need action on your part. Just by leaving your mobile phone unlocked you can allow easy access for somebody to setup a spy app – you need to read more about these apps and what they can do over at this article about online security.
As an example,your mobile phone can be hacked when you have:
1. Downloaded a malicious app
To avoid downloading an app that might be infected with malware,only choose apps from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
You need to also confirm that the web developer listed for the app is right. As an example,the developer for the Gmail app must only be listed as Google LLC. And last but not least,read the app reviews. Most of the reviews should be positive.
2. Visited a malicious hyperlink
If you get an email or text message from a sender you don’t recognize,avoid clicking any included hyperlinks or downloading any attachments. There’s a chance they could include things like malware.
If you’re searching the internet and encounter a hyperlink you think might be suspicious,plug it into an online site scanner like Norton Safe Web before selecting it.
3. Used unsecured public Wi-Fi
Using your mobile phone to browse on public Wi-Fi will raise the chances of your mobile phone being at risk to hacking. To keep your connections secure,work with a VPN (virtual private network) for encryption and privacy.
What can I do if my mobile phone is really hacked or tapped?
If you’ve found out that your mobile phone has been hacked,right now there are several steps you can take in order to fix it. Right before you start,I strongly recommend letting your contacts know that your mobile phone might have been hacked,and that they shouldn’t click on any suspicious looking hyperlinks they might have received from you. Below are more measures you can take.
Get rid of suspicious apps
As you’re aware,getting a suspicious app is a common way to invite malware onto your mobile phone. If you discover that your mobile phone has been hacked,take a list of your apps and remove any item that came from a 3rd party provider (to put it simply,not the Apple App Store or the Google Play store). Confirm that any newly downloaded apps came from trustworthy developers and have reliable reviews. If they don’t,remove them from your mobile phone.
Use anti-malware software
Anti-malware software can really help you detect and target malware hiding on your mobile phone Anyone should perform this on a regular basis,but if you haven’t done so before,now is a good time to start.
Factory reset your mobile phone.
Most malware will be removed with a factory reset of your mobile phone. This will,however,wipe any information held on your cell phone,such as photos,notes,and contacts,and so it is important to backup this kind of files before resetting your cell phone.
Switch your pass words
It’s possible that your login information was compromised whenever your mobile phone was hacked. Once you’ve removed the malware,reset each one of your passwords and generate strong passwords for each and every account.
How can I keep my smartphone safe and secure?
We’ve previously gone over some of the ways you can download malware on your mobile phone,and so help prevent those by vigilantly vetting apps,evaluating suspicious hyperlinks before clicking on them,and avoiding unrestricted Wi-Fi. For more web based security tips go to – useboomerang.com as well as this article about spy apps.
Below are some additional ways you might keep your mobile phone safe.
- Avoid storing confidential information (like credit card numbers) on your mobile phone. Or maybe,keep them in a secure app.
- Shut off Bluetooth when not using it.
- Create a custom-made passcode for accessing your mobile phone.
- Help protect your mobile phone by installing the current software updates right after they are launched.
- Frequently check your mobile phone for indications of abnormal behaviour,like unfamiliar pop ups or very high battery use.
The idea of a tapped mobile phone is certainly frightening,but the good part is that you can easily take measures to protect against mobile phone hacking or to deal with this,if it ‘s just happened. Monitor your mobile phone activity constantly and be wise about what you click on,install and save.