If Your Mobile Is Acting This Way, Your Data Might Be Stolen

If Your Mobile Is Acting This Way, Your Data Might Be Stolen

Is your mobile phone behaving strangely and inexplicably? Phishers might have gained access to it. Here are the signs.

There are countless methods nowadays to protect our data, but hackers strive to keep up with developments and can access our confidential information with surprising ease and speed if we're not careful. Most often, they send an email or a text message containing suspicious links or try to extract information over the phone.

Increasingly, they seek to attack your mobile phone's system and take control over it, and access it remotely. You may become a victim to phishers without realising. Fortunately there are a number of telltale signs that your phone has been compromised. These are the following signs are that your phone has been exploited: 

  • Unknown Applications - If you see apps on your phone that you didn't download, it could be a sign that someone is tracking your device. Immediately delete any apps you don't remember downloading.
  • Phone Battery Drains Quickly - If your phone heats up even when you're not using it, it could suggest that an application is continuously running in the background. 
  • Be Careful with Used Phones - If you buy a used phone, it's advisable to immediately reset it to factory settings. "Jailbreaking" or "rooting" means that unauthorized applications can be installed on the device.
  • Increased Data Usage - Spyware uses an unusually high amount of data. You can check for this and limit data usage. 
  • Unable to Turn Off - Some spyware can prevent you from turning off the device. Even taking an unusually long time to turn off is suspicious.

  • Screen Lights Up Unnecessarily - It's strange if your phone's screen lights up without any notifications.
  • Strange Text Messages - Messages you don't remember sending could indicate someone has accessed your device. They can take screenshots and send various commands to your phone.
  • Autocorrect Not Working - If autocorrect is not functioning properly, it could be a sign that spyware is continuously monitoring what you type on your phone.
  • Poor Quality Screenshots - This can also be a sign that someone is tracking your device.