Did you know that hackers can track your phone without your knowledge? If you don't know what signs to look for, you may be left in the dark about this malicious activity and unknowingly put your personal information at risk.
As a cybersecurity company in Miami, we have seen our fair share of hacked phones and the negative consequences of not securing devices properly.
Here are some signs that your phone is being tracked.
1. Data Usage is Higher Than Normal
Spyware apps are data-intensive, but if you have an unlimited data plan, you may not be checking how much data you’re using on your mobile devices.
If you suspect that your phone is being tracked, check your data usage to see if it’s higher than usual.
Here’s how to check your data usage:
For iPhones
- Navigate to your Settings and choose either Cellular or Mobile Data.
- Scroll down until you see “Usage,” where you can view how much data was used this billing cycle.
For Android
- Navigate to your settings and tap Network & Internet.
- Choose SIMS.
- Select App data usage to see your total data consumption for this cycle.
2. The Battery Drains Rapidly
Spyware apps use a lot of data, but they also consume a lot of power. If your phone is being tracked or someone installed spyware on your device, you may notice that your phone’s battery drains more quickly.
When phones are tapped, they may record conversations or activities and send them to a third-party. Those extra activities eat up your phone’s battery usage, causing it to drain more quickly.
Both iPhone and Android devices allow you to check your battery life data. Compare your data to other phones of the same model and software to see how yours compares.
3. Your Browser History Has Abnormal Entries
Spyware apps are designed to do their work in the background undetected. But sometimes, there are subtle signs that something is amiss. Browser history mismatch is one sign.
If your browser history is showing entries that you don’t recognize, this may be a sign that you’ve been infected with spyware. Bad actors may be trying to load up phishing sites or use portals remotely to install spyware.
4. You’re Receiving Strange Messages
If you’re receiving strange text messages with links from unknown numbers or coded text, this may be a sign that your phone is being tracked. Strange texts can also be a phishing scam, so beware of them.
Never click on links or engage with messages from unknown numbers.
5. Your Phone Freezes, Runs Slowly or Shuts Off Abruptly
If your phone is being tracked, it may start behaving strangely. You may notice that your phone freezes, runs more slowly than usual or even shuts off without warning.
Spyware can overload your phone’s RAM, causing it to freeze up and crash abruptly.
If your phone is behaving strangely and you’ve ruled out other causes, this could be a sign that your phone is infected with malicious spyware.
Conclusion
These are five telltale signs that your phone is being tracked. But as experts in cybersecurity in Miami, we know that spyware can often go undetected. For this reason, it’s important to keep a closer eye on your battery and data usage and look for unusual activity.