Your phone being hacked is a very serious thing that requires quick action as it can represent dangers like phishing or bank fraud. The point is, you have to make sure your phone has been tampered with before you start taking action.That’s why today we’ve prepared a topic for you how Find out if your phone has been hacked and how to avoid it.
What exactly is malware?virus type
Many people are often confused when they hear computer terms that are widely used today. What do I know? means malware or program Its purpose is to get into your device, be it mobile, laptop or PC, and cause damage. But these virtual threats are usually categorized by attack type.
Therefore, we may encounter different types of malware that you must have heard of.like them Adware, Trojans, Ransomware, Worms and Spyware. But they were created and will be the same, to quietly infiltrate our computers to steal information or delete files.
Understanding Computer Viruses
In order for you to gain insight into how each type of malware behaves, you need to know very well What is the purpose of creating these computer viruses?Yes what parts of your computer can they infect and what are the most common ways they use to infiltrate our devices.
Try not to mess with the Trojan horse
A Trojan is malware that attempts to enter and Unintentionally left on your computer, for which they will use legitimate programs to disguise. Trojan horses can act and generate actions without you realizing it. They are responsible for opening security holes so other viruses can get in and steal important information, but they cannot replicate themselves.
Most Common: Computer Worms
Computer worms are the most common form of viruses we can find, with The main purpose is to replicate throughout the system. They spread to other devices, for which they can use different means such as email. Although they are very similar to viruses, they do not infect files.
This is how they use spyware to steal information from you
Spyware is typically a virus or software that steals information about the user who infects your mobile device or PC.The information it collects can be of various types, ranging from Bank account or internet search etc.. For this reason, they are very scared and it is better to keep your computer away from this malware.
Advertiser: Adware
This virus will not always cause damage to your computer because it usually appears in Ad forms, especially in browsers. It’s usually installed silently when you install another app, and then inadvertently appears as a popup. It can be said that it behaves very similar to the penetration of a Trojan horse, but the adware does not do any harm.
kidnapping ransomware
This is a very dangerous malware that usually hijacks users’ access to their files or PC.The only way to be able to recover this data is ransom payment method This must be done with a credit card or cryptocurrency. Although it is advisable not to visit extortionate as they offer very little assurance of releasing your data.
Is there any way they can hack me?
Though you might not believe it, there are many ways cyber hackers use to spy on what you’re doing through your phone these days.This can of course be done at this time Your installed mobile apps. This software uses the camera or microphone without any authorization to perform its inappropriate behavior.
But as we’ve already mentioned, this is just one of the many ways in which smartphones can be hacked.Another method widely used by these criminals is when you Connect to a public WiFi connection Or it’s not protected. In this way, they can get into your device with impunity.
But the most dangerous and The best result it offers hackers is via the well-known phishing. These are nothing more than legitimate looking portals and pretend we enter to steal sensitive information such as passwords, bank details, users. You have to be very careful when they get into a PayPal account, social network or bank.
What is cell phone hacking and how to identify it?
As we already mentioned, hacking a phone is nothing but unauthorized access to our phone. No matter which route you use, So it is important that you know how to recognize this fact, if you are currently hacked. Here are some signs that can tell you if this is happening:
If it’s overheating faster, that’s a sign
If you find that your phone is overheat In recent days, that could be a strong sign that it has been hacked. This is because, when some type of malware has been running in the background of your device, it can cause the mobile processor to work at full power, causing the device to overheat.
Therefore, if your phone has a Apps of dubious origin Or it just starts heating up all of a sudden, and there’s a good chance you’ve been hacked, so to avoid that, try not to download apps from unknown sources.
Red flag: performance degradation
You may notice a drop in performance on your phone because it’s providing processing power for other activities you didn’t know about.This is done by another person Apps used by hackers and running in the background. This is a very common way, so you have to pay attention to the performance of your phone.
You received a message from an unknown number
if you start suddenly Receive notifications or messages from unknown numbers They thank you for subscribing to a service. This is a clear signal that you have been hacked. So you must have some malware doing the task of subscribing your number to such services.
If there are too many ads in places where they weren’t before
If you accidentally see an ad or get a notification with an ad after unlocking your phone, there’s a good chance you have a serious condition hardware virus.
The most effective way to solve this problem in time is to remove Adware virus, you can do this uninstall the app that stores itwhich can be a flashlight app, a RAM optimizer, a utility app, or an adult app.
Phone failure and battery drain
If you find your phone is malfunctioning, battery drained in less time than usual, again, because of the malware, the mobile processor is working faster than usual, thus spending more battery on the mobile device. You may also notice that your mobile data is also draining faster than usual, which may indicate that you have been hacked.
Although the mobile phone is faulty, battery and data drain It could be caused by other reasons, and it’s best not to stress the possibility of your being hacked.
Suddenly an app you don’t remember installing appears
Did you come across it when you checked your phone? Apps you don’t remember installed? Be careful with these, as malware may be attacking you and filling your phone with unknown apps.
by reference Application history You downloaded, if you are not allowed to do so while trying to remove some unknown app, it may be the work of malware.
Although you have to keep in mind that some apps that appear by default on your phone cannot be removed, this does not mean that these are malware; on the other hand, you have to be very careful APK filewhich are sometimes very useful, but equally dangerous.
There are 3 codes to check if your phone has been hacked: Know them
Thanks to the efforts of thousands of internet users, there are at least three common codes known today that can let you know if your phone has been hacked so you can start taking action to fix the problem.
##002#
The first recommended code is ##002#this is useful for deactivating call forwarding, if you think your calls are being intercepted and redirected to another phone, enter this code on your phone and you will activate this option.
*#62#
Another code is *#62#, Here is a useful code With this code you will be able to know where your phone’s messages, calls and data are being redirected if those trying to call your phone mention that it is out of service or not answering.
*#twenty one#
On the other hand, the last Code *#21# Recommended similar to the previous onethe difference is that it will indicate if messages, calls, or even faxes were diverted, showing you whether any services were actually diverted.
How to fix a hacked phone
Although it is true that mobile phones can be easily hacked, It’s also true that you can reverse this and fix it. But for this, it is necessary for you to apply the corrective actions we will explain below in each case.
Uninstall the app that caused the hack
One of the fastest and safest methods at your fingertips To remove a program or application that contains malware is to uninstall it. So do this process as soon as possible, if you have an Android device, you can uninstall the app by activating safe mode first.
Will updating my software help?
Update your smartphone to the latest version, which provides us with greater security against attacks on it. Therefore, it is necessary for your phone to update the software, and if you do this, you will most likely be able to fix your phone. But it’s always necessary to do this before it can happen, not after.
Last resort: reset the phone to factory mode
If all the methods you have performed so far have not provided you with a solution to your problem.Then you have to take drastic measures, it’s about Factory reset your phone. Since this operation will permanently delete all data contained in your phone, you must make a backup beforehand
How can I protect myself from hackers attacking my phone?
As a smartphone user, there are a few things you can do to protect you from cybercriminals.The first of these, which you should not ignore, is Update your operating system. But you also need to update the apps installed on your phone.
keep phone locked, this is very important, even if you don’t like to do it, remember that if you lose your phone, all the information it contains will be exposed. If possible, use passcode locks in applications that contain your personal data.
Do not use a public internet connection, if you don’t have a data plan right now, resist the temptation. You should already know the dangers of connecting to an open Wi-Fi network, and last but not least, don’t give out your phone number to everyone.
If possible, use a second phone line or use a program to protect your line, such as Google Voice.