What to Do If Phone Is Hacked

Is your phone or account hacked and you don’t know what to do? Read on to learn what to do if your phone is hacked!

Hackers work relentlessly to achieve their aim of getting over your data. However, there are various ways to deliver yourself if your phone has been hacked. In this article, we'll show you various ways to get hackers off your phone now and in the future.

Let’s get started!

What to do if the phone is hacked

Get this right before we start: the hacker has proved to be wiser than you in the first sense. So, you need to act as fast as you can if you want to regain your hacked phone or account. Ready? Here’s what to do if your phone is hacked.

· Change your passwords!

The first and the most important thing to do after sensing your phone has been hacked is to change your accounts passwords. That would give you peace of mind over your private data. To do that, you need to pinpoint which of your accounts was hacked. You can then create a new robust password for it.

Using the same, old passwords after your phone has been hacked is risky and may cost you more than expected. If you're sure which of your accounts were hacked, it's not a bad idea to change passwords for all your accounts then.

For most accounts, you’d receive a notification when someone tried to access your account from a strange location or device. So, that might be the best time to recreate a robust password for the account.

Just do it! Go ahead and change your password!

If you noticed the hacker has changed your password earlier than you, you can tap the “Forgot Password” button on the account page. Doing so will try to reconfirm your identity (by any means), and hopefully, you'd regain your account.

Now, don’t miss the next solution below to avoid getting into the same trap once again.

· Initiate 2-Factor Authentication

Enabling “2-Factor Authentication” or “2-Step Verification” for your accounts will make them more secure. Hence, protecting you from potential hackers planning to feast on your data.

The security behind 2-Factor Authentication is gallant. It requests an OTP via your phone number or another trusted source anytime you want to sign in to your account on a new device or location. So, even if a hacker knows your password any day, your 2-Step Verification would be your second guard!

Now, the steps to enable 2-Factor Authentication varies on various platforms. Nonetheless, you’re most likely to find it under “Security” or “Privacy” settings. We’ll show the steps below using a Google Account.

How to enable 2-Step Verification for Google accounts

1. Open the Google app on your phone or visit google.com, and sign in to your account if you've not done so.
2. Tap the Security tab
3. Scroll down a bit and select 2-Step Verification
4. Click on GET STATED
5. Confirm your account password
6. If you use an Android phone, Google may prompt you to “Use your phone to sign in.”
7. Otherwise, click the “Show more options” link to select another confirmation method.
8. Complete the methods by following the on-screen guide.
9. Once done, your account has received an extra layer of security!

More things to do if your phone is hacked

Besides changing my password and initiating 2-Factor Authentication, what should I do if my phone is hacked? Well, there are many others things you can do, and we have them covered below.

· Revise your apps and uninstall the ones you don’t remember downloading

The easiest way a hacker can get into your phone is by installing spy apps on it. That way, the hacker would continue getting your data as much as he needs it.

After changing your password, what to do if your phone is hacked is to scan through all your apps and install the ones you don't remember installing. The same is applicable if you're looking for what to do if your iPhone has been hacked.

For Android users:

1. Launch the Settings app
2. Tap Apps & Notification (or whatever your OEM calls it)
3. Tap the option to view all apps (usually “See all apps,” “App info,” or "App settings."
4. Now, scroll down carefully and scan the apps with your eyes.
5. If you find any strange one, select it, and tap the Uninstall button straightaway.

Some apps may prove stubborn by failing to uninstall. In that case, go to Settings → Security → Device Admin apps and turn off the suspected app. You should be able to uninstall it now.

For iPhone users:

1. Launch the Settings app
2. Scroll down to view all your apps
3. If you find a strange one, uninstall it straight away.

· Install and run an Antivirus software

Still on what to do if your phone is hacked, we recommend you scan your phone with a virus cleaner app. Doing so will let you know if there are suspicious apps, strings, codes, and files, on your phone.

There are many free antivirus apps on the Play Store. If you’re unsure of which to choose, however, here’s our 5 Best Android Antivirus Apps to Try!

After scanning your phone with the anti-malware apps, ensure to always install your apps only from trusted sources – like Google Play Store – to avoid hackers from jailbreaking your device.

· Reset your device

There are plenty of things you can do if your phone is hacked. However, the most effective one is to reset your device. Doing so will help delete all malicious apps, files, and others on your phone. It'll also bridge the connection between you and the hacker.

Meanwhile, ensure you backup your Android phone properly before resetting it. After that, follow these steps to reset your Android phone.

1. Open the Settings
2. Click on
3. Tap Reset options.
4. Select erase all data (factory reset).
5. Confirm your action and wait till your phone reboots.

Note: A factory reset will wipe out all data on your phone

What happens when your phone gets hacked?

Before looking for what to do if the phone is hacked, it’s necessary to ask yourself the question: “Is my Android phone hacked?” By then, you’ll have a clear insight on how to fix your hacked Android phone.

Below are some symptoms you may notice when your phone gets hacked. These symptoms are essential to help you know when to act in the future and to know whether your phone is hacked.

1. You notice unusual activities on your accounts
2. Your phone's performance drops.
3. Your apps are force closing frequently.
4. You noticed or heard a report that you call is being forwarded or diverted.
5. You notice unknown calls and messages on your phone.
6. Your battery drains quickly.
7. You notice unknown pop-ups here and there while using your phone.
8. Your mobile data runs out quicker than normal.
9. You notice unknown apps/processes on your device.
10. Your phone develops a high temperature every time.
11. You notice unusual online activities/transactions on your phone, etc.

Notice any of these symptoms on your phone? The tips mentioned in this article would help you get the silly hacker off your phone!