Tips to Help You Recognize You’ve Got Hacked

There are many types of cybercrime today. Scammers may try to gain access to your information, such as your email password, bank details, or social security number. For this purpose, they may install malicious software on your device, try to hack your account, or trick you into providing this information. After finding out the necessary data, fraudsters can rob you, sell your data at an auction, etc.

Hackers can also use the Internet to defraud you, sell counterfeit goods, or force you to do what you are charged for. Like a thief who steals a car to escape, they can use your smartphone or other devices as a tool to commit cybercrime. You may not even know it, because hackers work completely unnoticed. Therefore, it is very important to know what features to pay attention to and be able to instantly recognize you`ve got hacked.

10 Tips to Identify Hacking on Time

Below we have collected tips that will help you determine if your device has been hacked. Try to study them carefully:

1. Use of special codes. Did you know that there is an easy way to check hacked phone by simply entering a code? Specific codes to see if phone is hacked allow determining the status of the call forwarding. When you enter the codes, they check if phone is hacked and tell you if any connections or mobile phone services are being redirected. After entering the codes to see if phone is hacked, you receive a message that displays the current status of all your connections. Obviously, if you forwarded calls intentionally, then there are no problems. Otherwise, this may indicate an application that is hacking your calls or data;
2. The emergence of unknown applications. If you find an application on your phone that you do not install, it most likely indicates a hack. In some cases, such as after updating the OS, the manufacturer may install an important and necessary application on the smartphone. To make sure that the unknown app is from the manufacturer, you need to check the information about it on the Internet;
3. Slow operation of the smartphone. Many smartphone users mistakenly believe that the phone becomes slower over time. However, if such a problem arises, it is worth considering the issue “Am I being hacked?”. The slow operation of the device, when used correctly, indicates the launch of hacker programs that take up most of the RAM;
4. Strong heating and rapid discharge of the device. If the phone heats up too much and discharges quickly even in standby mode, this is a clear sign that it has been hacked. Running hidden apps in the background requires a lot of energy from your device;
5. The appearance of noise or echoes during calls. Any sound interference during a telephone conversation is not always a communication problem. This is one of the most common signs of digital device hacking;
6. Mobile traffic increase. Have you noticed that mobile internet consumption has increased significantly? This may be a sign that the hidden application connects to the Internet network and sends the necessary data to attackers;
7. Anti-spam email blocking. If important emails start to spam, it may indicate that they are being read by someone else;
8. The appearance of pop-ups on the phone screen. Any advertising pop-ups on your smartphone are an attempt to download a virus program to your device;
9. Independent work of the smartphone. If your gadget starts to reboot, dial numbers, send messages, and perform other possible actions, it is likely that the device has been hacked and urgent action must be taken;
10. Unable to turn off the device. If you try to turn off the device but it starts to open various applications or increase the backlight – this is a clear sign that you`ve got hacked.

What to Do in Case of Hacking: How Can I Tell if I Have Been Hacked?

So, let’s say you find out that your phone has been hacked. It doesn’t matter how it happened. Maybe, you have got a virus or scammers fraudulently swindled your username and password. Or you just didn’t understand what happened, but you see that someone has access to your social network or email. The only thing that interests you now is how to tell if you’ve been hacked.

Here are the steps you need to take immediately to get rid of hackers and protect yourself:

• Change passwords for all vulnerable services immediately. Never use the old password again. If you are thinking about the issue “Does changing password stop hackers?”, then be assured that this measure is effective in a large number of cases;
• Use an antivirus. You may have given access to your accounts yourself, simply by installing malware on your device disguised as useful software. Therefore, first of all, it is better to remove all virus threats before starting the recovery process. Then you need to install a good antivirus program and start the process of scanning all media for threats;
• Take back control. Many services (Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, etc.) have their own procedure for returning an account after it has been taken over by scammers. After answering a couple of questions about the account, you will most likely be able to restore it;
• Look for vulnerabilities. Most likely, the hacker will not calm down just by infiltrating your account. He will look for ways to achieve the goal. Therefore, you need to identify vulnerabilities that scammers can use again (email settings, password strength, etc.);
• Make sure no one is debiting your money. After hacking, keep a close eye on what happens to your accounts. If any extraneous activity is detected, contact the bank with a request to restrict access to accounts.

It is also recommended to contact the National Cyber Security Centre in case of a hacker attack. It will help you get rid of scammers quickly and effectively.

Read also: Hacked Website – Here’s How to Get Rid of Malware