Key Takeaways

  • Check battery usage: If your battery is constantly low or you notice unusual usage, your phone may be hacked. Look for unknown apps draining your battery in the settings.
  • Remove unwanted apps: Random app installs that you didn't install yourself can be a sign of hacking. Uninstall suspicious apps in the settings, but be cautious not to remove important ones.
  • Monitor data usage: Unusually high data usage could indicate a hacked phone. Check your data usage in the settings and look for any apps using excessive data. Uninstall suspicious apps if necessary.

Everyone has a smartphone these days, and they pretty much run our lives, so ensuring they are secure is paramount. How do you check if your phone is hacked, especially if it's an Android?

If your device behaves unusually, you can follow these guidelines to check for malware, scam apps, and other potential issues. Moreover, we'll guide you on how to tell if your phone is hacked or tapped and ensure your protection in the future. Here's how to determine if your Android phone is compromised.

1. Poor Battery Life or Extreme Battery Usage

Even if you don't see clear signs of suspicious activity, something malicious can still happen behind the scenes. One of the best ways to see if your phone has been hacked is to check your battery usage.

If your phone is hot for no reason, something could be running in the background while the screen is off. Some of the most advanced malware can still leave traces on your phone or tablet, so start by checking the battery usage menu. If your battery is constantly low, and you find yourself wondering if your phone has been hacked, then perform the below checks.

Open Settings > Battery > Battery usage and look for an unknown app or anything unusual.

This doesn't happen too often because of the Google Play Protect system in Android that automatically warns you of existing malware-infected apps. In the example above, we see typical battery usage and drainage. If, in your case, any miscellaneous app drains a significant portion of your phone's battery, that's not good.

In this scenario, you probably have a keylogger or virus hiding its name to prevent being found. As a general rule, just look for anything unusually exhausting.

We all use our phones differently, but if you notice an extremely severe battery drain, that's a concern. You can reboot your phone, force-close the suspect app, or, if possible, completely uninstall the app. If your battery is draining far too quickly, and you find yourself wondering, "Is my phone hacked?" then definitely perform this check.

2. Check for Random Unwanted App Installs

Another tell-tale sign of malware or phone hacking is if you see random apps installed on your phone. These are apps you didn't install yourself. Malicious apps or sites can install a program on your phone and send sensitive information back to a third party.

Sometimes, this program won't use much battery life, but it can still cause harm and drain your data. If you come across such a program, here's how to get rid of it.

Navigate to Settings > Apps > All apps and scroll through the list of apps on your phone. Find anything you don't want, tap it, and select Uninstall.

You should only uninstall apps that look suspicious and you know aren't important. If you start uninstalling random stuff, you could cause more harm than good and break your phone's vital components.

There are many apps that come pre-installed by phone manufacturers or carriers and are harmless. Make sure you use caution with regard to what you remove.

3. Unusually High Data Usage

Many people have unlimited data plans, so they don't look at the Data Usage menu in settings. But if your Android is acting up, and you want to check if your phone is hacked, it's another easy way to check for issues.

Follow the below-given steps to check your phone's data usage:

  1. Navigate to Settings > Network and internet.
  2. Select your preferred SIM.
  3. Scroll down a bit and tap on App data usage.

YouTube, Spotify, and other streaming services regularly use much data. But if another app is using way too much, something isn't right. No random app should use 5GB in a given month, so look for anything out of place here.

When you find something that looks suspicious, uninstall it after making sure it's not essential to your device.

4. Watch for Weird Pop-Ups and Ads

Pop-ups come in various shapes and sizes, randomly, and from all types of websites. We've learned to deal with them, and most of the time, they're nothing more than ads covering content.

But sometimes, pop-ups can be a headache for you and cause you trouble. Keep an eye out for weird pop-ups or ads that look highly persuasive, threatening, or generally suspicious. You should never click on them.

A Fake Android Virus Popup Overview

Google made several changes in the last few years to avoid occurrences like this, especially in Google Chrome on Android, but it still happens occasionally. Usually, it'll make your phone vibrate as pop-ups appear over and over. Sometimes, your screen will even flash.

But it's completely fake; do not tap the Remove Virus Now button. Close your entire web browser and reboot your smartphone instead.

Never submit any personal information in an input field you're not familiar with. In addition, you should avoid entering your credit card or password details on websites that look suspicious at first glance. We have a guide on malicious websites if you'd like to learn more.

5. Hardware and Software Keep Crashing

Another indicator to check if your phone is hacked, especially on Android, is frequent crashing. Android devices might exhibit strange behaviors like launching apps spontaneously, lagging, or persistently crashing. Often, these issues could be the result of a malware attack. Here's how to know if your Android is hacked and some effective methods to address the crashing problems:

  • Scan your device using Play Protect: First, try the Google Play Protect scanner built directly into the Play Store. Open Google Play and tap on your profile image at the top of the page. Then, go to Play Protect halfway down the screen and tap Scan to start scanning your phone and apps.
  • Try antivirus scanners: Try antivirus scanners: There are dozens of antivirus scanner apps on the Google Play Store, but we recommend sticking to trusted brands and names. Look for well-known brands you've used on your computers, like Avast or BitDefender. These tools are great at quickly and easily scanning your device for problems.
  • Update your phone: If you're still using an older version of Android, then the apps may be crashing because of an unsupported Android version. To fix this, check out how to update an Android phone.

Hopefully, it'll resolve the apps and the phone crashing issues due to malware. If you're still struggling with it, you can also perform a factory reset on your Android phone.

Do a Factory Data Reset (if You Have To)

If you remove apps, run antivirus software, and still experience issues, a last-ditch effort is to do a factory data reset.

Remember that this process deletes everything on your phone, so be sure before proceeding. You can also check out some FAQs about factory reset on Android phones to learn more.

Back up photos, text messages, videos, and anything else you want to keep, then proceed to factory reset your Android phone. Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).

Only resort to this when all other methods fail to work for you. Note that factory resetting your phone will wipe out everything. Your phone will boot up as it did the first day you got it. So you'll have to set everything up again, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

How to Check if Your Phone Is Hacked

Hackers are creative when the target audience is large. Since there isn't a one-size-fits-all hacking method, it's challenging, especially for beginners, to discern such intrusions. So, this leaves you with a question: "How do I check if my phone is hacked?"

In addition to the signs previously discussed, a noticeable drop in your device's speed, unexpected wallpaper changes, or uninitiated calls may indicate hackers have compromised your device. Staying alert and cautious is key to avoiding security threats initially. Here's how to tell if your phone is hacked and several strategies to ensure your safety:

  • Stay updated and always install the latest software updates.
  • Only get apps from trusted sources.
  • Disable or uncheck the Install from Unknown Sources option in Settings.
  • Use a fingerprint, face scan, password, or PIN for lock-screen security.

In addition to Android hacking, you must know how to tell if your phone is tapped on Android.

Stay Vigilant to Keep Your Phone Safe

Only install apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store, Amazon App Store, Samsung's Galaxy apps, or F-Droid. Websites that offer Android APKs (install files) are sometimes not your friend. Don't install these files unless you know you can trust the source.

The key to keeping your smartphone safe is exercising caution and using common sense. Besides, you can also pass on the information to your friends, so they know how to sniff out hackers on their phones.