Erin S. has a smartphone loaded with popular apps like Instagram.
Since Instagram has over 2.4 billion active users it has become a popular way for hackers to steal your information.
One day, Erin received an Instagram message from a local mom-and-pop store that she frequented.
The message included a shortcode link to click on.
Erin responded to the message and said she didn’t click on any links.
Next, the sender asked for a screenshot of the shortcode (the link) she had received.
The problem was, Erin thought the shortcode was from the store that had messaged her.
But the shortcode was actually from Instagram, and it was a two-factor authentication code that you would receive when trying to log in to an account.
Once Erin messaged back with the code her account was doomed.
The hackers were able to login to her Instagram account and change the email address associated with Erin’s account so she couldn’t log back in.
The hackers immediately started sending the same message to Erin’s friends to compromise additional accounts.
They also had access to Erin’s personal phone number which was connected to the Instagram account.
From there, the hackers were able to access Erin’s phone including her data.
They accessed over 30 apps on her phone including the passwords she saved.
Two days after Erin’s phone was hacked the bad guys were able to access her bank accounts.
After this, Erin immediately changed her phone number along with all her online passwords.
Since billions of people around the world carry smart phones, it has obviously made them a prime target for hackers.
Whether it’s through viruses or bad apps, hackers are looking to steal information to get access to bank accounts.
So, here are a few signs to look for that could mean your smartphone has been compromised.
Performance lacks:
One of the most noticeable signs that a smartphone has been hacked is if it runs slower than normal.
If a virus or hacker is operating your smartphone it will take performance away from the tasks you are trying to complete.
So, you will notice things such as apps or web pages loading much slower than they typically would.
Of course, you can try to resolve these issues by checking the internet connection and restarting the phone.
But if they continue it could be a sign that the phone has been taken over without your knowledge.
Temperature:
Another sign that a phone has been hacked is if the phone is running hot.
You may have experienced using your phone for many tasks and have felt it get warm.
But, when a virus is running in the background of a device it will use extra computing power, causing your phone to feel hot or overheated.
So, if your phone heats up quickly it could be a sign hackers are using your phone.
Strange texts, calls, or pop-ups:
If apps you’ve never downloaded appear on your screen this is clearly a sign that someone has taken control of your phone.
Also, if you see phone numbers in your call log that you didn’t call, it could be a sign that someone else is using your phone.
Another telltale sign of a virus is frequent pop-ups or changes to your Home Screen.
So, if you start getting spam ads on your phone it could mean the phone has been hacked.
If you think your smartphone has been hacked, you should immediately turn it off.
When it turns it back on, delete any apps that you don’t trust or don’t need.
Once you have removed those apps, turn off the phone again.
If you turn it on and still are worried hackers have access, consider a factory reset of the phone.
While a factory reset means you could lose all the information on the phone, it’s better than hackers watching everything you do.
With billions of people using smartphones, they are a prime target for hackers.
Always remember to make sure that your smartphone has the latest updates.
And only download apps from legitimate app stores. Don’t trust third-party apps.
Plus, use a quality VPN or anti-virus software on your phone such as McAfee.
If you don’t have a robust plan to keep yourself and your personal information safe online, put one in place starting today.
