Is my phone hacked? 11 ways to tell

Malware and viruses may sound like spooky relics of the early 2000s, but these insidious threats haven’t disappeared. As smartphones start storing more sensitive data, from passwords and banking apps to authentication codes, they also become valuable targets for cybercriminals. And cybercriminals don’t stop at slinging shady software off-market — they also target users with malicious apps through trusted marketplaces and legitimate install methods.

For example, a recent Zscaler report found that smartphone users installed over 40 million malicious apps between June 2024 and May 2025, all from Google Play Store.

Despite advancements in mobile security, like biometric authentication and app verification, hackers are still finding ways to infiltrate phones, often through phishing or social engineering attacks, rogue apps, and software vulnerabilities. These intrusions can result in account takeovers, financial fraud, or even identity theft.

In this article, we’ll teach you how phones get hacked, how to tell if yours has been exposed, and different ways to unhack your phone and secure your device.

How does someone hack your phone?

Attackers can hack your phone in several ways: for starters, they can trick you into clicking a fake link or downloading a malicious attachment, intercept your data on unsecured networks, or exploit app or system vulnerabilities. This is especially true if you’ve taken steps that compromise your device’s built-in protections, like jailbreaking your iPhone or disabling Gatekeeper to install an unverified app.

Here’s a closer look at some common ways phones get hacked:

• You downloaded a malicious app: Some apps, especially from unofficial sources, contain hidden malware that can steal your data or track your activity.
  
• You clicked on a smishing link: A fake text message may include a link that installs malware or steals login credentials when interacting with it.
  
• You opened an attachment: Malicious files sent via email, messaging apps, or AirDrop can compromise your device once opened.
  
• A drive-by download exploits vulnerabilities: In some cases, visiting a compromised website can install malware on your phone, even if you don’t open an infected link or file.
  
• You shared information with someone you shouldn’t: Social engineers and fraudsters can trick you into revealing private data by impersonating trusted entities like customer support.
  
• You connected to an unsafe Wi-Fi network: Hackers can intercept your data on public or unsecured networks through man-in-the-middle attacks.
  
• You reused passwords across accounts: If one account, like your email, is breached, and you use the same password everywhere on the internet, attackers could potentially hack your phone by accessing synced apps, cloud backups, or linked services, giving them access to your device and personal data.
  
• You’re targeted by a SIM swap attack: If a social engineer convinces your mobile carrier to switch your number to a new SIM in a SIM swap attack, they could get access to your calls, texts, and two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.

12 signs that your phone is hacked

If your phone performs poorly, you can’t get into your accounts, battery and data usage are high, or you notice other odd behavior, your phone might be under attack.

Of course, many of these red flags are also signs your phone is aging, outdated, or out of storage. Take this into account when trying to determine whether or not your phone is hacked.

Learn more about the red flags you’ll likely encounter if your phone is hacked.

1. Your phone is hot

Malware apps can sometimes run background processes so they can continuously collect and transmit data to attackers. This requires a lot of processing power, and can make your phone feel warm to the touch, even when you’re not using it.

If your phone frequently overheats even during light use, it may be worth checking which apps are running in the background.

Note that phones can also become warm from normal activities, such as streaming video, gaming, or running multiple apps at once — especially if your phone is older.

2. Your phone is slow or crashes frequently

Since apps running in the background use up system resources, you may notice apps lagging if there’s not enough memory available. Your phone may also reboot without warning to clear overloaded processes or recover from a crash.

3. The battery is draining quickly

Another side effect of some malware infections is excessive processing use and a rapidly draining battery. For some rarer types of malware, like cryptominers, heavy battery use and constant data transmission can deplete battery life, since they run continuously and demand high system resources.

But battery drain alone is not enough to diagnose a hacked phone. In most cases, quick battery drain is due to normal factors like battery age, high screen brightness, enabled location services, and other apps continuously syncing data in the background. If you suspect your phone is hacked, check these settings first to rule out normal usage.

4. You’re receiving suspicious texts and calls

You may get two-factor authentication (2FA) codes you didn’t request if someone is trying to access your accounts. This may happen if your email or login credentials are leaked, and a hacker is trying to change your password.

5. You’re not receiving expected texts and calls

Hackers can intercept or reroute your messages and calls by tricking your phone carrier into transferring your number to their device in a SIM swap attack, potentially granting them access to 2FA codes sent to your device via text. If cybercriminals intercept your 2FA codes, they could hack into your digital accounts across the internet and potentially steal your identity.

6. Your contacts get weird messages from you

If a hacker gains control of your phone or SIM card, they may attempt to send phishing links to your friends or contacts or trick them into sending money.

7. Unfamiliar apps appear on your device

If you see apps you don’t remember downloading, they might be spyware or trojans planted to monitor your activity or steal personal data. Some apps may just be pre-installed bloatware or system apps, which you can check with your phone carrier or manufacturer.

A generic app that requests too many permissions and runs your battery dry could be malicious. Review the app’s permissions, battery usage, and data usage. If something feels off, remove the app.

8. You see frequent pop-up ads

Certain types of malware, like adware, bombard your phone with pop-up ads, banners, and notifications, even if you’re not using an app. These infections can make your phone nearly unusable due to the onslaught of interruptions. If you click on a malicious ad or get redirected to an unsafe site, it can also lead to further infections.

9. Your data usage is high

If you’re blowing through your data plan faster than expected, malware might be using your mobile data to communicate with command-and-control servers, upload stolen information, or run hidden processes in the background. To tell, check which apps are using the most data in your settings. Unfamiliar apps you don’t use frequently shouldn’t consume much data; if they do, you could be dealing with malware.

10. You can’t access your accounts

If you try to log into your accounts and can’t, an attacker may have hacked your phone and changed your login credentials. They may have taken over your accounts remotely with a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) or by redirecting your 2FA code to their phone through a SIM swapping attack or with spyware.

In many cases, though, account takeovers happen through phishing attacks, password reuse, or data breaches and leaks — even if your phone itself hasn’t been compromised.

11. Your phone behaves oddly

Excessive resource consumption and active spyware use can make your phone go haywire. Apps might launch on their own, and the camera or microphone indicator lights may turn on even when you’re not using your device. If spyware is secretly recording or transmitting audio, you might also hear strange sounds, like static, clicks, or distant voices.

12. Security alerts or warnings appear

If your smartphone is hacked, you may get email alerts or push notifications from your antivirus or mobile security apps notifying you of suspicious activity, unauthorized changes or logins, or unknown devices connected to your phone’s network.

If you want powerful Cyber Safety software that combines identity protection and antivirus, try Norton 360 with LifeLock. It features AI-powered scam detection, spyware defense, and the signature LifeLock identity protection trusted by millions, keeping both your identity and your devices safer from cybercrooks.

How to confirm if your phone is hacked

Certain device behaviors scream “hack,” but sometimes there’s another cause behind the issues. Complete these steps to confirm if your phone is actually infected or if it could be acting buggy due to issues like low storage or outdated software.

• Use a mobile security tool: If you think somebody hacked your Android, use a trusted malware scanner, like the one included in Norton 360 with LifeLock, to detect and remove threats. On iOS, the app helps detect outdated software and compromised Wi-Fi networks so you can take action to patch software vulnerabilities and disconnect from shady internet networks.
• Look for unfamiliar apps: Go to your app list in settings and check for any applications you didn’t install. Focus on apps that consume lots of data or battery without explanation: these could be malicious.
• Check apps for too many granted permissions: On Android, check Settings > Security > Device admin apps. Here, you’ll see apps with elevated privileges. On iOS, go to Check settings > Privacy & Security to review app permissions.
• Use built-in security features: On Android, use Google Play Protect, which is built into Google Play Store, to check your phone for harmful behavior and apps. On iOS, look for Safety Check to review accounts and share permissions across your iPhone.
• Dial codes to reveal hidden phone settings: Codes like *#21# or *#62# can tell you if somebody is forwarding your calls or texts on Android or iPhone. In the response you receive after dialing these codes, sections that say “Disabled” or “Not forwarded” indicate call forwarding isn’t set up; any other variation that you didn’t configure could mean someone else has enabled call or message forwarding to intercept your communications.

How do I unhack my phone?

If you suspect your phone is hacked or compromised in any way, quickly take these steps: disconnect from Wi-Fi networks, back up essential data, and run a malware or security scan to regain control and limit data theft.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to secure your phone if you think it’s compromised:

1. Disconnect from the internet: Disable Wi-Fi and cellular data to prevent malware from communicating with outside servers.
2. Backup data: Save only essential files to a secure cloud or external drive to avoid transferring any malware along with your backup.
3. Run a malware removal tool: Use a reliable mobile security app to remove any detected threats and clean your system. Norton 360 with LifeLock makes this process simple.

If the malware holds on after this, you can try to manually rid yourself of the infection by deleting unnecessary or suspicious apps, clearing your browser cache, and removing unfamiliar devices linked to your accounts. If all else fails, consult a cybersecurity expert or factory reset your device.

How to protect your phone from hackers in the future

Good habits like installing software updates and avoiding suspicious downloads can go a long way in protecting your personal data and device from future attacks. Here’s a closer look at what you should do to defend your phone from attackers:

• Install software updates: App and operating system updates patch security vulnerabilities that can be exploited if left unchecked. Turn on automatic updates for your phone and apps to maximize your protection.
• Only download apps from reputable marketplaces: Avoid third-party app stores, and always review an app’s permissions before installing.
• Don’t jailbreak your phone: While jailbreaking a phone gives you more customization options, it also disables built-in security features that guard against malware.
• Lock your SIM: Set up a SIM PIN (a four-digit number) to prevent attackers from inserting your SIM card into their phone or using it without permission.
• Use an ad blocker: Stop malicious ads and redirects by enabling ad-blocking extensions.
• Set up two-factor authentication: For stronger security, protect your accounts with 2FA or MFA, preferably using an authenticator app rather than SMS codes.
• Update your passwords: Guard your online accounts with strong and unique passwords. This helps prevent attackers from hacking your phone in the future by reducing the risk of credential stuffing and unauthorized access through reused or weak passwords.

Monitor your phone for suspicious activity

After you’ve taken steps to boot hackers from your phone, continue monitoring for further signs of hacking. You’ll also need to keep an eye out for signs of identity theft. LifeLock offers tools to help you monitor for data exposure, new accounts opened in your name, and investment account withdrawals, alerting you if you’re at risk.

And, if your identity is stolen, LifeLock helps make the recovery process as pain-free as possible, offering up to $25,000 in stolen funds reimbursement if you lose money due to identity theft. As a LifeLock member, you’ll also get help from U.S.-based restoration specialists who will personally handle your case and help you get back on your feet.