How to tell if your phone is being hacked
If you have an unnerving suspicion your phone is being hacked then go through this checklist.
With dodgy links, emails, social media tags and fake texts becoming more and more frequent, it can be hard to know whether your device has been compromised in some way shape or form.
Thankfully, there are a few telltale signs which indicate your phone may have been hacked, so don't panic just yet - unless you relate to them that is.
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Hot phone
No, we're not talking about you having bagged the latest upgrade, we're talking about your phone literally getting a bit hot and bothered.
Digital privacy expert at ProPrivacy, Ray Walsh, tells Reader's Digest: "As well as the phone’s charge going down more quickly, a device feeling hot even when it hasn’t been in use is a possible sign that Internet data is being consumed more quickly than usual.
"If consumers notice that they keep exceeding their data limits, someone may be ‘piggybacking’ on their sessions."
Phone taking ages to load
If you're sat staring at your screen for what feels like hours on end, trying to send a text or load a page on the internet, this could be a sign someone's taken control of your device.
However, to check whether your phone is simply being old and duddery or if it's actually been hacked, turn off your device.
"Phones that have been hacked often won’t shut down correctly or never shut down, even though you tell them to," CEO of Safr.Me Robert Siciliano explains.
No signal
Called a 'number porting attack' you receive a text or email from your mobile carrier and then later find yourself without any signal.
This means your mobile number has been 'ported out' and Director of Security and Information Technology at Pensar Development Kqayne McGladrey advises you must call the police immediately as your identity has been stolen.
He adds: "You must call your mobile provider, of course, and may need to show them a police report to prove that you are a victim of identity theft."
Your phone gains new apps out of nowhere
Some apps may contain malware which could harm your device and lead to someone else gaining access.
Keep an eye on any apps which suddenly appear on your home screen or in your settings.
Your battery suddenly draining as a result of an app can be a sign it's a dodgy one.
Pop-ups
If you get strange pop-ups appearing on your device out of nowhere or you screensaver changes, this could also be a sign something's up with your phone.
"An increasingly high number of pop-ups could be a sign that your phone has been infected with a form of malware called 'adware', which forces devices to view specific sites that drive revenue through clicks," CEO and founder of MoneySavingPro.com, Rob Webber explains.
Awful battery performance
If you're being spied upon or hacked, your phone will be using a lot more energy and so your battery will be draining quicker.
If this happens 'consistently' President of Psychsoftpc.com Tim Lynch warns it's 'possible' you may have been hacked.
Or it could just be a sign you really need an upgrade.
Your data usage has sky rocketed
Similarly to a hacker draining your battery, a potential sign your device has been compromised is your data usage having spiked - someone or something is lurking around in the background.
Lead forensic examiner at Secure Forensics, Allan N Buxton, says: "Look for anomalies or exceptionally large periods of uploading."
Texts or calls listed you haven't actually made
Your phone may be compromised if you spot any calls or texts you didn't actually make yourself.
Keep a particular eye out for messages or calls sent to people outside of your contacts list.
Webber, explains: "Some of these could be premium-rate numbers that malware is forcing your phone to contact—with all the proceeds landing in the pocket of the person who has compromised your phone."
Unusual email activity
Your email is a powerful tool - containing a lot of personal information about you and holding the key to many other accounts.
Webber warns: "Watch for emails about password resets you didn’t make, or security messages notifying you that your email or social media account has been accessed using a new device, or verification emails saying that you have signed up to new accounts that you are unfamiliar with."
Victim Support offers practical and emotional support for victims of crime, such as fraud – call the charity’s free 24/7 Support line on 0808 16 89 111 or visit the website
Topics: Technology, Phones, iPhone, Crime, True Crime
Poppy Bilderbeck