A phone is no longer just a device for texting and making calls.
We access online services and social media accounts with those tiny devices.
We also store a lot of personal stuff in them such as photos and videos.
Sadly, hackers are aware of this.
But let's outsmart them!
In this video, we will explain how to know if your phone is hacked and how to mitigate
such threats.
So what are the signs that your phone has been hacked?
Let’s look at them one by one.
Number one.
You notice stuff you don’t recognize on your phone.
For example, if you see suspicious apps you don’t remember downloading, strange text
messages, purchases you didn’t make, or suspicious phone calls, there is a high chance
that your phone got infected with malware.
Number two.
Your phone works slowly.
Also, you notice that it uses more battery power and becomes hot quicker than usual.
It could be due to malware running in the background and draining your phone’s power.
Number three.
You notice mysterious data usage spikes.
Malicious software can use your mobile data while running its background processes.
Number four.
Your phone acts weird — apps don’t run, or it switches off or crashes unexpectedly.
If you notice photos or videos you don’t remember taking, it’s possible that your
phone camera has been hacked.
Number five.
Annoying ads and pop-ups appear.
If you notice suspicious pop-ups and ads appearing and cluttering your interface, it’s a serious
red flag.
Usually, malicious adware floods users with ads that can seriously compromise your device
if you click on them.
But what should you do next?
Is there a way to get rid of cybercriminals meddling with your phone?
Well, here are a few tips.
First, change your passwords immediately because there is a chance they’ve been compromised.
Furthermore, use strong passwords for proper safety.
You can use our NordPass tool to store them securely.
Also, you should run anti-malware software to detect and remove all malicious apps and
processes.
Just make sure the software you choose is reliable.
We strongly recommend NordVPN's new Threat Protection Lite feature because it will prevent
you from landing on malicious websites and will block ads.
However, this tool won’t remove malware already present in your device, but it will
lower the risk of getting your device infected in the future.
Another good thing to do is to turn off your mobile data and Wi-Fi and stop broadcasting
your personal hotspot.
Doing so can temporarily disrupt the activities of malicious apps and processes.
Of course, if you notice a suspicious app, you should also immediately delete it.
However, the removal process is not always easy, so here’s our guide on how delete
those apps.
You should also inform your contacts of all the potential suspicious activity you have
experienced and warn them not to open any suspicious links.
Cybercriminals can send these from your phone to people you know.
If your phone has become impossible to use, restoring your phone to its factory setting
could be your last resort.
This is a nuclear option, so use it only in cases when nothing else works.
Check out our guide to restoring factory settings for different operating systems.
Hopefully, these steps will help to fend off the wrongdoers.
But you should never forget the general safety precautions.
Don’t click on suspicious links and ads, don’t download apps from suspicious sources,
use proper security software and, of course, get a VPN for constant safety.
Stay safe!
And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on social media.
Liked our video?
Then check out these ones too.