In today's interconnected world, our smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives. However, with increased connectivity comes the risk of potential security breaches. It's important to be attentive and proactive in safeguarding our personal information from cyber threats.
Protecting your phone from potential hacks and security violations is a critical step in maintaining your digital privacy. By staying attentive and keeping a regular check on the performance of your phone, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your personal information.
Check out this list of various methods by which you can check if your phone is being hacked and tips on how to secure it.
1. The phone’s battery drains faster than usual
One of the first signs and likely one of the simplest methods to check if your phone’s security has been compromised to by observing its battery performance. If you find yourself needing to charge your phone more often or notice that your battery is draining a little too fast, there’s a possibility that malicious software or fraudulent apps may be using code that excessively drains power.
2. Phone excessively heating up
While it is normal for phones to heat up during long usage for activities like gaming or watching movies if it is getting heated up even when you’re not doing anything, it could be a sign that hackers might have gained control over it.
3. Unusual Activity on linked accounts
People often have various accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, and others, linked to their phones. If you come across posts on your account that you don’t remember making, it may be a sign that there is a potential breach in your security. Similarly, if you find yourself unable to send or receive mail from your phone, hackers may have gained unauthorized access to your device.
4. The phone’s performance gets slow
A sudden drop in your phone’s performance, such as apps taking longer to load or the device lagging, could be an indication of a security issue. This may be an indication of malicious software running in the background as it can consume system resources, leading to decreased overall performance.
5. Phone acting strangely
At times, you might notice your phone starting to act strangely. This could be in the form of apps crashing frequently or failing to load properly. You may also experience random reboots, shutdowns, and wake-ups without any user activity. When the screen lights up unexpectedly, it could signify background processes, potentially indicating the presence of malware.
6. Unusual mobile data usage
Keep an eye on your mobile data usage patterns. Check if your mobile data usage has experienced a sudden surge, higher than its usual levels. This could be an indication of malicious apps or software fraudulently using your mobile data in the background.
7. Unexpected Pop-ups or Ads
If you start receiving push notifications containing fake virus alerts and other alarming messages, it may be a sign that your mobile phone is infected by adware that requires user interaction to complete its tasks. It's important to refrain from clicking on or engaging with such notifications or messages.
