Typical Chilling Signs Your Smartphone Has Been Hacked

Why is identity theft escalating in smartphones? Hackers want to capture all the data on your phone.

They want your email addresses, phone numbers from your list of contacts, documents, pictures and texts.

Worse, a criminal who uses a keylogger will be able to monitor all your personal information – every keystroke leading to your passwords, bank and credit card information, every site you visit and the information you enter into sites.

Typical signs your smartphone has been hacked:

Your smartphone’s battery drains too quickly

Phone spyware uses a lot of power, so your smartphone’s battery drains fast.

Your smartphone is hot

If your device is feeling hot even after not being used, it’s a possible red flag that Internet data is being used rather quickly unknowingly to you.

It can also mean a hacker is piggybacking on your sessions, which is how you might discover you’re being surcharged for data you’re not consuming.

Strange messages appear on your device

You receive disturbing or otherwise unwanted messages.

You’ve clicked on a creepy link in a text or email

Never click on a link in a text or email from someone you don’t know.

Beware, if you click on a questionable link in a text claiming it’s from someone you know, you could have opened a Trojan that’s embedded in the file that will immediately corrupt your device.

Or, you’ve given a hacker access to your files.

You’ve used a public charging station

Some public charging stations are dangerous. They hijack the data on your phone via your USB that you typically use to charge your phone and transfer files.

Your device’s screen shows new apps

You’ve possibly been hacked if new apps appear on your screen – the menus or within the settings.

So, check for apps that are running. If it’s a new unwanted app, it’s likely draining the battery and contains dangerous malware.

Your phone is live streaming

If your device is unknowingly live streaming, a hacker can monitor and snoop on you.

Red flags are if your battery drains too quickly, your phone is hot or if it has a surprise in high bandwidth usage.

Your device isn’t performing well

Consider if your phone is consistently slow in dialing, checking voice mails, or receiving and sending texts.

You notice an abnormal increase in data usage

If you notice a spike in data usage, look for the periods with big increases in uploading data when you know your haven’t used your phone. If that’s true, you have been hacked.

You’ve made calls or sent texts that you didn’t actually originate

Look for calls and texts that you didn’t send. Often, it’s because malware has performed the functions to premium-rate telephone numbers which means you’re getting hit with phony charges.

Junky popups or screensavers are installed on your device

You could be suffering from adware that forces your phone to visit sites that drive revenue via clicks.

Security warnings appear on your device

Beware, you’ve been hacked if you see security messages such as your social-media accounts or email have been accessed on a wrong device; your passwords have been changed; or verifications that you’ve signed up for new accounts that you didn’t do.

You’ve left your device unattended

Obviously, a criminal could pick up your phone to seize your information.

Turn off your “phone visibility” option to prevent a nearby hacker to monitor your phone and steal or insert data on it.

Don’t save login information or passwords for sensitive accounts such as banking apps. If you do, you’ll intentionally allow hackers to automatically log in to your accounts.

You’ve added bad apps

Google Play does not rigorously vet apps. The problem stems from criminals inserting malware into these apps that appear to be legitimate.

Your signal has been lost from a porting attack

If you receive a text notifying you about an account change you didn’t initiate but your signal is lost – then, you’re not able to email or text and you’re prevented from accessing your bank account.

This means you’re an identity-theft victim of a number porting attack because a hacker has obtained your date of birth and account number to your bank account.

Immediately notify your mobile provider and police. A police report will be needed to verify your identity-theft claim. Obtain copies of your credit report from the credit bureaus. Then, freeze your credit with the bureaus.

Change all your passwords used on your smartphone and for reimbursement discuss the identity-theft issue with your bank and credit-card companies. Note: Unless you buy cyber insurance, business bank accounts are not insured for hacking.

You hear background noise on your phone

Static or humming noises on your phone could indicate a criminal has hacked your phone. That’s especially true if you hear the noises when your phone is not in use.

Your phone won’t shut down

Whenever your phone seems to be dysfunctional, shut it down. If it won’t shut down, you could be having a hacking problem.

Your iCloud or Gmail accounts are acting in a bizarre fashion

It’s often an invitation to danger. Bothe iCloud and Gmail store tons of data about you – passwords, pictures, your current location, calls and messages.

They’re very vulnerable to identity theft. You’ll know for sure after you start receiving password reset emails.

Therefore, replace your email passwords with complicated, strong passwords with enabling login notifications and two-factor notification. In this way, you’ll prevent hackers from easily accessing your information.

You’ve used free public WIFI

Unless, you have a VPN (virtual private network) never use public WIFI.

Only visit sites that show “https://” instead of “http://.”

Your emails get blocked

If your emails are blocked by the recipient’s postmaster spam filters, it might mean your phone has been hacked.

From the Coach’s Corner, for related technology and security tips, see this portal’s Tech section.

“In the age of cybercrime, the greater danger is not defense imperfection, but to protect first what not really matters.” 

-Stephane Nappo

__________

Author Terry Corbell has written innumerable online business-enhancement articles and is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. Click here to see his management services. For a complimentary chat about your business situation or to schedule him as a speaker, consultant or author, please contact Terry.