ESET: How to know if your cell phone has been hacked - The signs, the 5 precautionary steps

ESET’s instructions describe step by step how to tell if your mobile phone has been hacked.

Is your cell phone battery draining faster than normal? Or are you consuming more data, even though your Internet browsing habits have not changed?

You may need to consider getting hacked. Mobile phones have now become smart laptops capable of performing tasks that were previously done on laptops and desktops. We use them to take photos, send and receive emails, communicate on social networks, make electronic payments, etc. But all this mass of data attracts fraudsters who want to get your data for their own reasons: from selling it on the dark web to stealing your identity.

In recent years it has been shown many times that one Android phone or another can be compromised by malware. According to Lucas Stefanko, a researcher at global cybersecurity company ESET, who has extensive experience exposing malware targeting Android users, his phone can be compromised in a number of ways. One of the most common tactics used is phishing and malspam emails that contain malicious links or attachments. As soon as the victim clicks on the attachment or link, which then “downloads” the malware onto their device, it “opens the door” for hackers.Increase

mobile hacking strategy

Another strategy is to copy the web pages of popular companies or organizations, which are full of malicious links that, once clicked, download malicious software to your device. Additionally, it is not uncommon for cybercriminals to develop fake apps that masquerade as real fitness tracking apps or cryptocurrency apps, leading unsuspecting victims to download keyloggers, ransomware, or spyware. These apps are often distributed through unofficial app stores.

There are Several signs that your smartphone may have been compromised: The most common is that the battery drains faster than normal, it seems that you are consuming more data even though your Internet browsing habits have not changed, the GPS function or data usage (either Wi-Fi or mobile data) seems to be enabled or disabled on its own, as well as random pop-ups or unknown apps are installed without your permission.

Another sign is that previously running apps start to behave strangely, such as starting, closing or shutting down abruptly and causing unexpected errors. Other signs of a breach are that you are receiving strange calls or texts, or your call and text history contains strange and unknown entries due to certain types of malware trying to make calls or send messages to international toll numbers. In fact, if your Android phone is affected by ransomware, your device will be locked and you will not be able to open it.

There are no magic or easy solutions to reduce the chances of your device being infected by malware. However, following a combination of precautionary measures you can be safe from threats:

• Update both your operating system and apps as soon as the latest updates are available.
• Download and keep a copy of your data in case your device is compromised.
• Use a reliable mobile security solution with a proven track record to protect you from most threats.
• Prefer the official store when downloading apps and always make sure to check the reviews of both the app and its developer.
• Find out what are the most common tactics used by cybercriminals to break into and compromise devices.

source: iefi merida