How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Phone and Fix It Fast

The advent of technology has proved to be a blessing for us. It has made it possible to contact our relatives living on the other end of the world within a second. Having smartphones makes our lives possible by connecting us to the world, but it comes with some disadvantages. These devices may be smart and come packed with security features; still, hackers can steal all the data in the blink of an eye.

It is risky as all our private data, from photos to bank information, are in our cell phones or other smart devices. Not only do we depend on these devices, but they also control us somehow. However, the scariest thing is that most people don’t know how to secure themselves and their data online. Additionally, many are still unaware of what to do if their security is compromised. A study by Varonis shows that around 56% of Americans don’t know what to do after a data breach.

If you also don’t know how to find out who hacked your phone and how to unhack your phone, this guide will take you through everything you need to know and do.

How to find out who hacked your phone

How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Phone?

Usually, the hacker may upload malicious software or a file to hack into the target’s phone. This software works in the background of your phone, monitors every activity, and copies each piece of information. Due to this, we are writing about how to find out who hacked your cell phone. The hacked target device may show some signs mentioned below.

1. Unknown call or text made by the user

The victim may also notice unknown calls or texts sent from his device to an unknown number. It may indicate that the malware or the hacking software uploaded to the victim’s phone is trying to contact the hacker. Another scenario is that the victim may notice unrecognized messages, call logs, or emails sent from his device to all the contacts on the list. In this case, the hacker may use the victim’s phone to get hold of or hack into other devices.

2. Use the USSD code to check if phone is hacked

The hacker can direct the victim’s call to his number to access calls, messages, and other data. The user can use the USSD code to check if phone is tapped and take measures to prevent mobile hacking. It is another way to know how to tell if your phone is hacked.

Number to dial to see if your phone is tapped:

  • *#62# Redirection Code – It helps the victim check if someone has forwarded his messages, calls, and other data without his knowledge.
  • *#21# Diversion Code – It works the same as the above code, but it notifies the victim about the forwarded calls, messages, and data, which is relatively harder to detect.
  • *#*#197328640#*#* Utility Netmonitor Code – It carries information regarding everything our phone sends or receives, along with the location. When a user dials this code, it will open the main menu.
    • Here, tap on UMTS Cell Environment, then UMTS RR Information, and note down the cell ID number.
    • Return to the main menu and tap on MM Information, then Serving PLMN, and note down the local area code visible on the screen.
    • Open any net monitor website/app and enter your cell ID and area code to determine if your cell phone has an unknown connection.

3. Too many spammy pop-ups

Though the pop-ups don’t necessarily mean that the victim’s phone is compromised, more pop-ups may point out that the victim’s phone is hacked. It can also signal that the device is infected with Adware (a form of malware), forcing it to view some specific sites that draw revenue.

4. Presence of unknown application

As discussed, the hacker may install spy apps on the victim’s phone to monitor his every activity. These apps run in the background and don’t have any visible icons like others. But a user can still check the number of apps running on his device even if it is hidden. The victim can recognize whether any unknown app is spying on or monitoring his device by looking at its active hours, battery, memory, and data usage. Our mobile usually has many hidden system apps we don’t know anything about. But these apps typically don’t occupy much space or use much of the device’s battery or data. Still, a user must check everything and consult an expert before deleting or uninstalling any hidden app from the device.

5. Frequent app crashes

The frequent app crashes are another sign that a hacker has got access to the victim’s phone. Sometimes, security features like the antivirus app won’t open. It happens especially when malware or a virus has taken hold of the victim’s device and disabled all its functionality.

6. Unusual activity on your account

From bank to g-mail or iPhone Cloud, we use these online accounts to keep our data safe and convenient to use. But the information or files saved here are critical data that anyone can misuse against us. If someone tries to hack into these accounts, the user will get notified through emails or messages related to password reset, signing up from an unknown device, logging in from a new account, etc.

7. Spike in data usage

It is another issue faced by the victim when his phone is hacked. There can be many reasons for the large consumption of data. But if there aren’t any, a hacker may have uploaded a malicious app to your device. A hacked device usually uses this data to transfer information or upload files/folders on the hacker’s phone. Several applications and software are available online to monitor the amount of data sent out of the victim’s device.

8. Lost signals from the cellphone

A victim finds a message or email from his mobile carrier about an unknown account change. After around 30 minutes, his mobile device loses signals. It is an example of identity theft. It is a form of cybercrime prevailing among all mobile devices (Android or iPhone) and mobile carriers. The victim’s mobile loses signal because the hacker has ported the account on his cellphone. It is one of the scariest kinds of hacking where the victim and people related to them can become prey.

9. Phone battery drains fast

When a phone is hacked, the victim’s mobile already performs many activities in the background, like copying every new data, transferring data, monitoring every keystroke, etc. These activities run in the background, so the victim knows nothing about them. But it affects the battery life of the device drastically. No matter how many times a victim may charge his device or reduce the usage of the device, he will still find himself plugging his phone into a charging cable.

10. Phone becomes super-hot

Some smartphones may also become excessively hot when hacked. Most users question themselves, why is my phone hot? Unknown activities run in the background without the victim’s knowledge. Cell phones can get hot due to other reasons like playing games, excessive usage, or exposure to heat sources. But if the cellphone gets hot while kept idle for hours, it may point that the device is hacked.

11. Overall poor phone performance

The overall performance of a device may become poor if it is hacked. The victim may experience that his cellphone is taking too long to do trivial activities like loading pages, opening files, making calls, checking voicemails, etc. If the victim sees any of this, he can try shutting down his device. A hacked device either won’t shut down or shuts incorrectly, even if the user is forcing it.

How to Unhack Your Phone?

Most of you may want to know if my phone was hacked and how I fix it instead of finding the answer for how to trace a phone hacker.

How to unhack your phone

The answers will remain the same if you ask how to remove a hacker from my phone.

Once you know how to find out who hacked your phone, you must know what to do if your phone has been hacked.

1. Run anti-malware software

An anti-malware or anti-virus software is necessary to securely keep one’s data and files. This application will monitor all the victim’s device activities and notify if it finds anything suspicious or a malicious file. It will also remove and block unwanted connections and make the device safe to use.

2. Change your passwords

If the victim gets any message or mail about unrecognized activity on his online account, he must block it instantly and change all passwords. Changing these pins every few months will keep hackers away from your account.

3. Delete any apps or messages that may be malicious

A lot of things are present on the internet, but not all of them are secure. Downloading any unknown file or app, especially from an unknown source, can introduce malware to your device. The user must uninstall any app downloaded from a third-party source (instead of Google Play Store or Apple Store). The user can also look at the app list on his device and remove unrecognized applications.

4. Update the OS and applications

The smartphone operating system or apps becoming sluggish or getting crashed frequently is a sign that the phone is hacked. To overcome this, the victim must update the application, which he finds hard to access. Alternatively, the user can reinstall the application on the device after clearing all its data. The phone manufacturers keep sending updated security patches; don’t forget to install them. Similarly, app developers regularly release the latest version of the applications to fix the bugs that may give access to hackers. Thus, it is required to update your apps to the latest version.

5. Disable call diversion and redirection

Don’t worry about what to do if your phone is tapped. As discussed prior, a few USSD codes will help you identify if someone else is receiving your call or messages. You can use USSD code *#06# to identify the IMEI number of your device and note it down somewhere. It is needed, especially when you want to file a complaint against a phone lost or hacked.

Another USSD code ##002# will help you erase all redirection or diversion commands and prevent mobile hacking.

6. Tell contacts to ignore spam messages

When the phone is hacked, a victim must inform his contacts to avoid spam messages or emails from his account. It will reduce further damage that the hacker can do.

7. Do a factory reset

If, after removing any malware app, the victim is still not convinced that his device is safe to use again, resetting the phone is the ultimate way to do it! Resetting a device will remove everything from every photo, file note, and app. So, the user must keep a backup of all the data before doing so.

How to Block Hackers from My Phone?

How to Block Hackers from My Phone?

There are many ways your phone can be hacked. But not many people know how to stay safe online. Read the guide given below carefully to stay safe and prevent hackers.

  1. Turn off the hotspot and Bluetooth in public if you aren’t using them.
  2. Don’t use public Wi-Fi without a VPN. It is the most un-secure way of using the internet because the other person using the same network can view your activities online. You must, especially, avoid making any only transactions using public Wi-Fi.
  3. Keep your phone and apps updated. The manufacturers keep making small changes and fixing bugs so that the user can safely use any platform.
  4. Don’t leave your phone unattended, especially in a public place like a library or restaurant. Also, avoid giving your phone to use by any randomly unknown person.
  5. Lock the phone with strong passwords and pins. Avoid using any common password that anyone can guess. Keep it random and use both alphabets and numbers.
  6. Enable multi-factor authentication on online accounts. These provide extra security and notify you if someone tries to break into your account.
  7. Never download any app or file from an unauthorized or third-party source. These apps can often contain malware and infect your device.
  8. Never click on an unknown message or link, as it can also carry malware. Double-check it, even if it comes from a family or a friend.
  9. Review the apps on your phone regularly and look for any unknown activity or software you don’t remember downloading.
  10. Regularly review the security features of your online account. It will provide extra security to them.
  11. Install anti-malware software on your device to keep your device secure. It will block all suspicious activities on your phone.
  12. Avoid visiting any un-secure website. It can also become a source of malware.
  13. Never share your pins, passwords, especially OTP, with anyone. You never know who is trying to hack your device.

Summing-Up

As we progress into a new technological age, we must be aware of all the disadvantages it can bring to people misusing it. It’s scary to think that most people now know how to use different online platforms but don’t know how to keep themselves safe. If you are one of them, it’s time to update your security features as you keep up with technology.

6 thoughts on “How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Phone and Fix It Fast”

  1. Avatar photo
    Bryon Perry

    Someone is controlling my phone. I’ve tried getting new ones, but always getting watched and listened to.
    Would you please let me know if you can help me trace who’s made my life miserable?

    1. I have been in the same situation. I got helped by a professional IT expert. He made my iPhone back in my possession. He erased all viruses, and no one could have access to my iPhone. Now I’m glad I could get out of this. You should get help too.

  2. Hi, Please be so kind as to help me recover. Unfortunately, my hacked phone can’t send or receive any mail. My Play Store doesn’t work. I need your urgent help regarding my matter. Thanks in advance.

  3. Avatar photo
    JOYICE ANGLE

    Are you looking for a way out? It’s simple. When it comes to tracking Locations of mobile phones, computer systems, and individuals using them, or remote mobile hacking into devices, This Genius hacker provides the best services.

  4. Avatar photo
    Dana Fuller, Ted Melvin

    Someone constantly erases my apps and my song lists. Strange pictures and voices are something I just found.
    No matter how many times I get a new phone. It’s a few days before it’s done again. I believe it’s a family member.
    I only have Wi-Fi on my phone now. They took my minutes last month.
    How can I figure out who is doing this? Please help.

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