They can be malware or spyware in disguise

Do not open suspicious messages, links, or files.

Regularly review what apps your phone has to see if there are any you don’t recognize.

Never leave your phone unattended and don’t let people you don’t know use it.

Lock your phone with a password or lock screen.

Switch your Bluetooth off when not using it as it can also be an access point for hackers.

Also, don’t forget to disconnect from public Wi-Fi once you’ve stopped using it If you must use public WiFi, never do so without a VPN.

Avoid Wi-FI or charging spots you don’t trust.

If you do need to turn it on, make sure you’ve made the settings as secure as possible To prevent your phone from being hacked, do the following: This one is a nuclear option, so use it only as a last resort. That might help if tons of pop-ups or malicious apps have made your phone impossible to use.

Restore your phone to its factory settings.

Stop broadcasting your personal hotspot when in public as this makes it easier for hackers to breach your device.

Inform your friends and contacts and instruct them to ignore suspicious messages coming from you.

Check our guidelines on how to remove unwanted apps If your security apps don’t find anything, or if you don’t have any, it’s still a good idea to delete any apps you downloaded right before the problems started appearing.

Remove the suspicious apps immediately.

This might prevent a malicious app from using your data and can disrupt its activity if it uses online connection

Turn off your mobile data and Wi-Fi when not using them.

Just make sure you use safe and reliable security software that doesn’t track and gather your data

Run anti-malware software to detect any malicious applications and processes.

You can also use our Nordpass app to store your strong and complex passwords You can find out our tips for stronger passwords here. Here’s what to do if your phone has been hacked: Try NordVPN, it secures public Wi-Fi by encrypting your data traffic.

You might also download malware from suspicious sites while downloading apps or by clicking on malicious pop-ups or links.

Phishing text, Facebook or email messages with malicious links that install malware and snatch your data.

Hackers can set up fake Wi-Fi networks, called evil twin networks, to redirect you to malicious websites or steal data via USB cable at a charging station

You might get malware via public Wi-Fi networks or charging stations.

A person can install such an app by getting a direct access to your device This lets them remotely monitor your phone activities. Some spy apps are pretty easy to get hold of and can be used by a person without advanced IT knowledge. By using this attack, hackers can transfer your phone number to their own SIM card and take over your accounts Some don’t even require advanced tech knowledge:

Cell phone hacking tools