Android mobile devices are pretty secure, provided you follow common-sense precautions such as using strong passwords for your accounts, downloading apps only from Google Play or official phone manufacturer app stores, and not clicking on suspect website links you receive by email or instant messaging.
According to Valentia Nkosi from TLC Communications, it’s possible for you to accidentally download some malware on your device or give your account details to a persuasive scammer. Cybercriminals are clever and persistent, and it’s not easy to keep up with their latest tricks.
And once they’ve breached your phone, they might quietly steal your personal data, hijack your social media accounts, or use your phone to mine cryptocurrencies.
Here are a few signs that could mean your phone was hacked or malware was installed:
• Your battery life is suddenly worse than it was. Some malware and fraudulent apps constantly run in the background on your phone, draining its battery.
• Your phone is running hot, and you’re using more data than usual. This could mean malware or spy apps are running in the background.
• Performance has degraded. Another sign that there is a malicious app on your phone is that its performance has worsened. For example, it takes longer to load websites and apps are freezing, crashing, or running slowly. This is another sign that a malicious app is stealing resources on your device.
• Strange things are happening on your online accounts. If a cybercriminal has access to your info, they might try logging into your apps like social media or online banking. If you receive emails and texts for password resets or notifications that someone is logging in from an unfamiliar location, you could have been breached.
• Mystery apps, texts and calls. If you start seeing apps you didn’t download, calls you didn’t make, and texts and emails you didn’t send in your history, that’s a major warning sign.
Steps to consider if you suspect your phone was breached:
• Disconnect your phone from the internet. Immediately disconnect from the internet to prevent malware from sending more data from your device or the hacker from controlling your phone.
• Remove suspicious apps. Check your phone for any suspicious apps that you might have unknowingly installed. Uninstall them immediately.
• Install a reputable antivirus app. Use a good antivirus app to scan for malware or viruses that may be present on your device.
• Change your passwords. Change the passwords for all your accounts, including your email, social media, and banking accounts, to prevent the hacker from accessing them.
• Perform a factory reset. If nothing else works, consider a factory reset of your phone to remove any malicious software and start afresh.
