How to remove a hacker from your phone

Your mobile phone is filled with valuable information. With most of our online lives going through our smartphones, being exposed to a hack there might

Hacking into a phone can be quite easy, especially if you don’t update it and install apps from untrusted sources. Hacking your phone is usually done by injecting malicious code through files disguised as legitimate apps. This code can then log everything you do, destroy every file, or corrupt the functioning of your device. The phone can also be employed in a botnet.

Fortunately, with the exception of Pegasus and a few other pieces of malware, many hacking attempts can be avoided, and most hackers can be kicked off of your phone by using the right tools, such as antivirus software.

In this article, we go over the signs of a hacked device, a guide on how to remove a hacker from your phone, and some steps you can take to protect your phone and your data in the process.

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How to know if your phone is hacked?

Are you worried your phone might be hacked but don’t know how to check? Here are some things to look out for:

• Unusual behavior. This is the most obvious sign that your phone has been hacked into. The unusual behavior could be anything from apps launching without you having touched them at all to your phone’s screen suddenly lighting up without any notifications or any prompts from you.
• High data usage. If you run out of mobile data unusually quickly, or if the usage is overall unusually high (you can check this in your phone’s settings), your phone might have been hacked. Your mobile data might be used for transmitting information from and/or to the hacker’s device.
• Suspicious apps. If you notice any suspicious apps that you don’t recognize and don’t remember installing, this could be the activity of a poorly concealed hacker.
• Battery drain. Certain malicious activities, such as spyware or crypto mining (although rare), might drain your device’s resources.
• The phone is unusually slow. If your phone takes ages to boot, restart, or launch apps and is generally very laggy, it might be due to hacking.
• Unusual text and call logs. Sometimes the signs of a hacked phone can be in your call or text logs, such as outgoing calls you didn’t make, or messages you didn’t send.
• No symptoms. Even if neither of the signs above is present, you can never be sure that your phone isn’t hacked. Some hacking techniques are very sophisticated and specially designed to be unnoticeable. If you think that is the case, we recommend taking the actions described below.

Check for more signs that your phone is hacked.

How to get rid of a hacker?

While it might be totally unclear at first what to do if your phone gets hacked, don’t worry, we’re here for you. The process of getting rid of a hacker’s malware is simple – just follow the step-by-step guide below to get rid of a hacker once and for all:

1. Choose a reliable antivirus for your phone. I recommend TotalAV, now 80% OFF
2. Download the antivirus from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
3. Install the antivirus, then log in or register
4. Run a scan of your phone. This may take a while
5. Once the scan is complete, follow the recommendations from the antivirus app
6. Enable real-time protection in your antivirus app
7. If nothing helps, do a factory reset. You can find this option in your phone’s general settings

How to prevent your phone from getting hacked

• Get a quality antivirus app. An antivirus with real-time protection will monitor the security of your phone at all times and will inform you about any potential threats. Note that having an antivirus won’t always protect you, and maintaining caution is required.
• Use a VPN when connected to public wifi networks, such as airports or cafes. Many hackers use unprotected wifi networks to execute man-in-the-middle attacks and hack into people’s devices. A reliable VPN will encrypt your traffic and prevent any hackers from tinkering with it.
• Avoid downloading suspicious apps. Third-party apps from random websites and not the official stores might be malware disguised as legitimate applications. Never download apps from ads and untrustworthy sites.
• Do not click on ads on torrenting and similar sites. These ads could contain links to malicious websites, or trigger downloading of malicious files onto your device.
• Keep your phone updated. The OS updates always include critical security patches to keep your phone secure. If you miss these updates, the risk of your device becoming vulnerable to attacks increases.

Video tutorial

Clean your phone from hackers with an easy step-by-step video guide:

Bottom line

Getting hacked can be a horrible experience. Your identity might be stolen, your privacy violated, and your bank accounts compromised. The worst part is that you might not even know you have been hacked.

Luckily, there are some telltale signs of a hacked device, as well as tried and tested ways to remove hackers from your phone. For example, you can use reliable and advanced antivirus software, such as TotalAV, to scan your device for any threats and efficiently remove them. Antivirus software with real-time protection will also keep your device safe from threats and attacks in the future. However, it won’t replace common sense. Remember to be careful when using your passwords online, never give your credentials to strangers, and avoid clicking on popups and ads.

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