From poor battery life to overheating, 6 telltale signs your iPhone or Android device has been hacked

If you’re worried that your phone has been hacked, there are telltale signs to look out for.

After a malware infection, your iPhone or Android phone usually gets an extra load.

1

This can cause your phone’s performance and battery life to degrade, as well as often overheating.

Hackers infect users’ phones with malware to steal their data, e.g. B. their online login information or bank account details.

Of course, it’s possible that performance issues are due to something other than a virus, e.g. B. on the age of your device.

However, if your smartphone is relatively new, there’s likely something more sinister afoot.

1. Slow smartphone performance

If apps take longer than expected to load, it could mean you’ve been hacked.

The same is true if the app also randomly crashes.

2. Battery drains quickly

Smartphone batteries drain faster over time.

But if it happens suddenly, it could indicate malware.

That’s because malware sneaks around stealthily in the background, consuming more energy to fulfill its malicious purpose.

3. Data Usage

If you find that your data is being used up way too quickly, that can also be a sign.

Similar to the battery, malware could send data in the background.

4. Billing Changes

If you’ve had an unexplained bill change, this is a red flag.

This could mean more data is consumed by malware and you have to pay for it.

5. Pop-ups

Pop-ups are pretty standard in web browsers.

But if they appear far too frequently in different places, it may mean that you have been infected with some kind of shady adware.

6. Overheating

An overheated smartphone can mean it’s getting old or being exposed to too much sun.

But it can also be an indication that malware is getting to work.

What to do if you suspect your phone is being hacked

If you think your smartphone has been infected with a virus, malware or something else, the first thing to do is download a reliable antivirus app and run a scan.

Here’s a full list worth considering.

You should also download any apps you think might be behind it.

If the problem persists, the last resort might be to factory reset your phone — but first, back up valuable files like photos that you know are safe.

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