What’s Wrong With My Phone? Signs Your Phone Is Hacked
Summary: This 3-minute article explains how hackers can attack your cell phone and how you can tell if your phone has fallen victim to a cyberattack. To learn more about mobile device management, contact GEEKAID Computer and Network Support at https://www.geek-aid.com/. They offer a wide array of home and business IT solutions for your computer systems.
Can Phones Get Viruses? Is My Cell Phone Hacked?
Today, mobile devices can perform many of the same tasks as desktop and laptop computers. They’ve become mini-computers and are versatile to the point where some users no longer feel the need to own computers. You might not be ready to give up your PC, but the more you use your cell phone, the more likely you are to fall victim to a cyberattack.
Finding Malware On Phones
Unlike desktop and laptop computers, it is more challenging to find malware on phones. Obviously, hackers would like to make it as difficult as possible for you to discover a cyberattack. However, the potential for an attack is real, and the possible data breaches posed by adware, ransomware and spyware can lead to network-wide consequences. There are many symptoms you can spot that could indicate your phone is infected:
- Overheating – Functioning phones should not overheat. Overheating usually indicates your cell phone is being overworked. In the case of a hack, your phone may be working in the background without your knowledge. If your phone is overheating and you’re not using it, you should turn it off immediately. Even if you haven’t been hacked, a hot cell phone can lead to an electrical short, burn out a component or, in the worst-case scenario, burst into flames or explode.
- Battery Drains – Similar to an overheating phone, unexpected battery drains or reduced battery life can also be caused by malware working in the background. If your battery isn’t old, a sudden power drain or need for a charge could be a sign of an infected device.
- Slowdowns – If previously simple tasks suddenly take much longer to perform or apps take a long time to load, the reason is usually similar to the cause of battery drains and overheating: malware might be running in the background and overworking your phone’s processors. There are limits on how much work your processors can perform. Eventually, overworking can lead to your phone crashing.
- Pop-Up Ads – If relentless pop-up advertisements plague your phone, it could be a sign of malware infection. Do not click on pop-up ads. Although pop-up ads probably mean your phone has already been infected, clicking on them could open the door for much more aggressive attacks.
- Inexplicable Phone Charges – If you find charges on your phone bill that you do not believe you’ve authorized, contact your wireless carrier to dispute them. If cybercriminals hijack your phone, they can manipulate it to produce fees on your bill or credit card statements. A little extra diligence when checking your bills can mitigate the extent of a cybercrime going forward.
- Mystery Apps – Applications downloaded to your phone can potentially include hidden malicious downloads. If you suddenly find an app on your phone you never wanted, check your app list on your phone and delete any you don’t recognize without opening them.
- Weak Connections and Dropped Calls – If your phone has been attacked with malware, the stability of your signal can be affected. If your other connected devices are not experiencing poor connections, it might indicate that your phone is the lone target… so far. As we explained earlier, unchecked, an infected phone can be the entry point for a system-wide compromise.
Many users don’t consider cyber security for their cell phones as part of regular IT maintenance. Instead, they often think their computer system and network security are locked down. But, in the ever-expanding “Internet of Things” (IoT) (https://en.wikipedia.org/
The number 1 best practice for preventing many of the most pervasive cyberattacks is always to think before you click. Hackers count on users to be impulsive and easily drawn into clicking on ads, links and downloads without checking credentials or authenticity. A subset of the “think before you click” rule is never to accept an offer presented by an app unless you are sure it is from a reputable source. When in doubt, pass it up. It is prudent to research the legitimacy of an app and read a variety of user reviews before taking the risk of downloading it. Furthermore, any unexpected requests for any personal information should be ignored unless you are 100% certain of the source of the request and the purpose for which the data will be used.
Mobile Device Management should be viewed as part of your computer system. Cell phones are as vulnerable as any devices connected to your network. Without proper cyber protection, using a cell phone in public or logging onto public WiFi without using a virtual private network (VPN) makes it even more vulnerable to a cyberattack and could lead to a broader attack landscape for hackers, threatening your entire network.