Signs Your Phone Has Been Hacked

Pop-ups

If you’re seeing a lot of unusual pop-up ads, your phone could have an adware infection. Steer clear from these pop-ups — don’t click or open them because it could make the problem worse.

Unrecognized texts or calls

Receiving communications from unrecognized numbers could indicate you’ve been the victim of a random data breach. Don’t answer calls from unrecognized numbers, unless you’re expecting them or can verify their authenticity. A hacked iPhone or Android phone can send text messages to all its contacts. If the phone of someone you know has been hacked, your number could be next. Check your call logs for any unusual activity, and if you see a number you don’t recognize, consider blocking the contact and reporting it as spam.

High data usage

If your online activities haven’t changed much but your data usage has shot up, it could be a sign of a phone hacker. A malicious app running in the background can cause unusually high data usage. Review your apps and delete anything suspicious.

Battery drains quicker than usual

Are you charging your phone more often? Does your battery seem to last a fraction of the time it used to? Your phone might simply be getting old, or you could have more than just a battery issue. Unwanted apps installed on your phone via hacking can take over your phone’s resources and drain your battery quickly.

Hot phone

Is your iPhone or Android getting hot and staying hot, even when you’re not using it? Like all devices, phones get hot with continued use, especially if you’re streaming or gaming for long periods of time. But if that’s not happening and your phone still feels unnaturally hot, something else might be causing it to overheat.

Reduced performance

Is your phone dropping calls? Are you not receiving texts or are texts you’ve sent not getting through? Is your phone freezing, crashing, or unexpectedly rebooting all the time? The culprit may be malware or unwanted background apps draining your phone’s processing power.

Websites look strange

A hacked iPhone or Android phone can be infected with malware that redirects you to sites other than those you want to visit. If websites look odd to you, they might have undergone a redesign recently, or it might mean your phone was hacked and you’re being sent to unsafe websites.

Unexpected charges on your phone bill

If your phone bill is higher than usual, you could be incurring unexpected charges from unwanted apps running on your phone and spiking your data use. Fleeceware apps stuff your bill with excess charges, and if someone has remote access to your phone, they might take advantage of your subscriptions and other services. If you have unwanted subscription fees on your phone bill, consider canceling those subscriptions, and delete infected apps immediately.

Apps you don’t recognize

Strange apps that you didn't install shouldn’t end up on your phone. If you notice an app on your phone that you didn’t put there, a phone hacker might be responsible. Of course, some unnecessary apps come pre-installed on new phones (these are called bloatware). So, if you don’t recognize an app, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s malicious.