Hacked Smartphone? Learn The Signs Before It’s Too Late

Summary: This article explains the warning signs of a hacked smartphone. Learn how professional mobile device management, performed by IT experts, can help secure your smartphone and other networked devices. Contact your professional IT consulting services to assess your cyber vulnerabilities and provide robust mobile device security.

Hackers love to attack smartphones. Why? Because our phones now contain or provide access to a very large amount of our most private data. Passwords, bank accounts, credit cards, logins and other personal information stored on smartphones have become the “low-hanging fruit” for cybercriminals. The target attack landscape for hackers continues to expand as users add new devices to their networks every day.

The good news is that if you pay attention, you might be able to save your phone data before it’s too late. Know what to do when your iPhone is hacked.

Phone Hacked? Signs and Indicators

• Your Data Usage Has Increased – Many people have unlimited data plans for their cell phones. However, sudden and dramatic increases in data usage can still be an indicator your phone has been hacked if you do not have an unlimited data plan. If you never hit your data limit, but suddenly your monthly usage shows a significant increase, you might be the victim of a security breach. A hacker might have placed hidden apps on your phone that allow them to connect to other parties without your knowledge, consuming a lot of your data.
• Mysterious Apps Appear – Sometimes the apps hackers use are not hidden. You must be aware of every app you have installed on your phone. Make sure they are all from trusted sources. If you see apps that you don’t remember downloading, your phone has probably been hacked. Disable or delete the app and contact IT professionals to assess the nature of the attack. Check with your IT technician if you are unsure if an app is necessary for your phone operating system.
• Your Smartphone is Malfunctioning – Is your phone doing strange things you’ve never seen before? You know how your phone is supposed to work. If strange software appears, if you receive unexplained or unusual error messages or if simple functions are slow or cannot be executed, you might not need a new phone. These types of malfunctions could be a sign you’ve been hacked.
• Your Battery Life is Degrading – All cell phone batteries wear out sooner or later. This decline is usually gradual. However, if you’ve had your phone for only a short time, unexpected battery drainage could be a sign that a hacker has installed an app that is running in the background even when you are not using your phone.
• Suspicious Calls or Texts – A hacked smartphone can be sending texts to all of your contacts without your knowledge. If you can see the suspicious texts, delete them without opening them. If you receive many calls from unknown callers, do not answer them. It would be prudent to contact your IT expert to ascertain if the problem can be resolved through settings or virus removal or if it is simply time to purchase a new phone.
• Phone Runs Hot – If your smartphone is unusually hot, even when you’re not using it, you may have fallen victim to a hack.
• Redirection to Suspicious Websites – A phone infected with malware can redirect your online activities to unsafe websites that are capable of further infecting your device and network or stealing your phone data.

Avoid a Hacked Smartphone

Cybercriminals continue to refine their attack strategies and exploit every new vulnerability presented by changes in IT technology. Also, any networked device can spread hacks throughout your home or business network, thereby compromising other devices along the way, including your business and personal contacts.

Cyber security is now a complex matter. SMBs would be wise to enlist the assistance of IT consulting services to help make informed and cost-conscious decisions about the specific system requirements that are best for your company. They can also ensure your system has strong network security from the start, securing smartphones and other devices before your data is breached. When required, on-site or remote IT support will help keep your system up and running as safely and efficiently as possible.

Computer and Network Support Specialists can provide mobile device management to lock down and monitor your smartphones. No more looking for hacked phone signs on your own. They can answer your IT questions from “Is cloud storage right for my business?” to “Is it safe to add more devices to my network?” More importantly, when your business network goes down, they will perform on-site emergency computer repairs if required. And cybercriminals are most active during evenings and weekends, so your team should not clock out at five o'clock on Friday. They need to be available to you 24/7/365, remotely or in person, to ensure your computers, network and data stay up-to-date, healthy and secure. IT support is not just for emergencies. In addition to integrating your system operations and maintaining hardware, software and security, employee training must also be ongoing. New users and new devices require additional training to use those devices efficiently. Hardware and software installation and maintenance, repair, cyber security and network protection are inter-related concerns. They must be addressed consistently and proactively to best support the seamless operation of your company, minimizing costly and time-consuming IT-related mistakes.

Contact your IT support specialists to discuss how they can help prevent hacked smartphones and help protect all your endpoint devices against cyberattacks.