6 Signs to Know If Your Phone Is Hacked

Jun. 17, 2024

Your smartphone is quite vulnerable to getting hacked, given there are several security flaws that can be easily exploited. Hackers nowadays use advanced tactics and sophisticated methods, so even if your phone is compromised, you won’t even know. That’s not to say that there aren’t signs to know if your phone is hacked. In this read, we will go over these signs and discuss them briefly. On that note, let’s get started.

1. Drastic Shift in Phone’s Performance

The first sign to know if your phone has been hacked is the sudden shift in performance. If your phone starts running slower than usual, and apps take a while to open or perform certain actions, you can be sure that it’s hacked. They might crash or run quite sluggishly, even though this was not the issue a few moments ago.

Let’s say you are out, haven’t texted anyone, or using social media, but your data plan is still exhausted. Given most apps and mobile services rely on the internet, this could happen due to a multitude of reasons.

If you suspect your device has been hacked, and your data plan has expired prematurely, it’s something to look into. We recommend that you contact your network provider and inquire regarding this problem.

While the things we have mentioned above are strange on their own, these things can be caused by other apps and services as well. But if you notice something truly suspicious like your phone making calls or texting to a number that you don’t recognize, apps automatically getting deleted, files or media missing or disappearing, your phone refusing to turn off, or not recognizing your biometrics then this could be a major cause for concern.

If you encounter any of these things, you should switch off your phone. Then take it to your nearest authorized service center to get some help.

This is quite an obvious one, but still something worth knowing about. Let’s say you recently downloaded an app or clicked on a link and started seeing a bunch of pop-ups and ads soon after. This is a sign that your phone is infected with malware and has probably been hacked.

In this sort of attack, you will see repeated popups, and you won’t be able to close them. In this scenario, your best bet is to reset your device, which will also clear internal storage, leading to all your media files getting deleted.

This one is pretty serious. If you for any reason find yourself locked out of your account and can’t log back in even after entering the correct credentials, then it means your device is compromised. In such hacks, the infiltrator locks you out of your account, taking over your data and then using it later to blackmail you or sell it for nefarious purposes.

In such cases, try to use two-factor authentication and then change your password immediately. Make sure to kick out any other system linked to your account while you’re at it.

These are the six ways that can give you a clear idea that someone has hacked your smartphone. There are more ways to know if your phone is hacked. But these signs will help you get a general understanding and are the things that you don’t usually expect to happen with your phone. Just make sure to always be careful with your device when outside and don’t use any open network Wi-Fi.

If you found this guide helpful then do let us know and if you have more suggestions for this article then do reach out to us.

As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.