IF YOU’RE worried that your phone has been hacked, there are telltale signs you can look out for.
After being infected with malware, your iPhone or Android handset is typically under a lot of extra strain.
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That can result in your phone’s performance and battery life tanking, as well as frequent overheating.
Hackers infect people’s phones with malware in order to steal their data, such as their online credentials or bank account details.
Of course, it’s possible that any performance issues may be the result of something other than a virus, such as your device’s age.
If your smartphone is relatively new, however, it’s likely that something more sinister is afoot.
1. Sluggish smartphone performance
If apps are taking longer than expected to load, this could mean that you’ve been hacked.
The same goes if the app crashes randomly too.
2. Battery draining quickly
Smartphone batteries do drain faster with time.
But if it’s happening suddenly, it could point towards malware.
That’s because malware is secretly beavering away in the background, sucking up more power to go about its malicious purpose.
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3. Data being used up
If you’ve noticed your data is being consumed far too quickly, this can also be a sign.
Similar to battery, malware could be sending stuff in the background.
4. Bill changes
If you’ve had an unexplained bill change, this is a red flag.
This could mean more data is being used up by malware and it’s costing you for it.
5. Pop-ups
Pop-ups are fairly standard on web browsers.
But when they start appearing far too frequently at various points, it may mean you’ve been infected with some kind of dodgy adware.
6. Overheating
A smartphone that overheats may mean it’s getting old or being exposed to the Sun too much.
But it can also be an indication that some malware is getting to work.
What to do if you suspect your phone is being hacked
If you think your smartphone may have been infected with a virus, malware or something else dodgy, the first thing to do is download a reliable antivirus app and run a scan.
There’s a full list worth considering here.
You should also download any apps you think might be behind it.
If the problem persists, the last resort may be to factory reset your phone – but back up precious files like photos that you know to be safe first.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
