10 signs that your smartphone has been hacked

Modern smartphones are multifunctional devices capable of performing a wide variety of tasks, from banking to smart home control. However, this dependence on gadgets can be a threat if your device is hacked by a cybercriminal. Regardless of whether you use a budget smartphone or a premium device, your Android gadget can be targeted by phishing links, malware, man-in-the-middle attacks, SIM cloning, or dangerous charging (juice jacking).

Android Police explains the signs of a hacked smartphone.

Unknown apps

If you see apps on your phone that you didn't install, it could be a sign of hacking. While not all unknown apps are malicious - they can often be bloatware installed by the manufacturer - you should check to see if the app is dangerous. If so, remove it.

Unusual settings

If you notice changes to your settings, such as access to your camera or microphone that was previously blocked, it could be a sign that a hacker is trying to spy on you.

Rapid battery drain 

A rapid drop in battery power for no apparent reason could be caused by malicious applications running in the background.

Suspicious login notifications
If you receive notifications about suspicious attempts to log in to your accounts, it could be a hacker trying to access your information.

Unknown costs

Unauthorized charges to Google Play or bank payments are a serious signal. Check your transactions and contact support.

High data usage

If your mobile internet usage has increased dramatically without a change in your habits, it could be a sign of a hack. If a hacker has access to your phone, high data usage could be the result of running apps or browsing.

Spam windows

Pop-ups in programs are annoying, but they are usually harmless and sometimes useful. However, if your device contains malware, hackers can use adware to create pop-ups with phishing links.

Frequent failures

Persistent crashes of your device or applications may indicate hacking. While these problems can be caused by hardware malfunctions, software bugs, or outdated applications, you cannot rule out hacking.

The device is heating up

Malicious applications may be causing your phone to overheat abnormally, especially during periods of minimal use. Malicious applications running in the background require processing power and can overheat your phone even when you are not actively using it.

Decreased performance

Malicious applications can cause your phone to overheat abnormally, especially during periods of minimal use. Malicious applications that run in the background require processing power and can cause your phone to overheat even when you are not actively using it.

As a reminder, our smartphones receive a lot of notifications every day, which sometimes may contain useful information, while others pose a threat to the user. Fraudsters can use them to gain access to private data or money.

We also wrote that the issue of private data security is becoming more relevant now. Most people believe that key phones can help maintain privacy as opposed to smartphones.