How to Check If Your Phone is Hacked: A Guide for iPhone and Samsung Users By Ebrima Ceesay

In today’s digital age, smartphones have become an essential part of our lives. We store sensitive information, personal data, and even manage our finances through our mobile devices. However, with convenience comes the risk of cyber threats. Whether you’re an iPhone or Samsung user, the risk of having your phone hacked is real. Fortunately, there are several ways to identify if your phone has been compromised. In this post, I’ll walk you through simple methods to check for signs of hacking on both iPhones and Samsung devices.

Signs Your Phone Might Be Hacked

Before we get into the specifics, here are some common signs that your phone might be hacked:

• Unusual battery drain.
• Increased data usage without an obvious reason.
• Pop-up ads or strange applications you didn’t install.
• Overheating, sluggish performance, or apps crashing frequently.
• Unexpected changes in phone settings or strange behavior during calls.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, follow the steps below for your respective device to investigate further.

How to Check if Your iPhone is Hacked

iPhones are known for their security, but no device is completely immune to hacking. Here are a few simple steps to check if your iPhone has been compromised.

1. Check Battery Usage

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage.
Look for apps consuming an unusually high amount of power. If you see an unfamiliar app or one of your trusted apps consuming far more battery than usual, this might indicate malicious activity.

2. Review Installed Profiles

Profiles can allow third-party apps to install software on your phone.
Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > Profiles.
Look for any unfamiliar profiles. If there’s one you didn’t install, delete it.

3. Check App Permissions

Review which apps have access to sensitive data.
Go to Settings > Privacy and check the permissions given to various apps (camera, microphone, location, etc.). Revoke access for any suspicious apps.

4. Use Dialer Codes

You can use specific dialer codes to check for forwarding or surveillance activities:

• Dial *#21# to check if your calls or messages are being forwarded.
• Dial *#62# to check if your calls are being forwarded when your phone is unreachable.

If you see any forwarding you don’t recognize, it might be a sign that someone is spying on your phone activity.

5. Scan for Malware

While Apple does not allow antivirus apps on the App Store, you can use built-in tools such as Find My iPhone to check for any unusual behavior. Also, keep your iOS software up to date as Apple frequently patches security vulnerabilities.

How to Check if Your Samsung Phone is Hacked

Samsung devices, especially the Galaxy line, come with robust security features, but they can still be vulnerable to attacks. Here’s how to check for potential hacking on your Samsung phone.

1. Check Battery and Data Usage

Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery to check for unusual battery drain.
For data usage, go to Settings > Connections > Data Usage to see if any apps are consuming an abnormally high amount of data, especially in the background.

2. Review App Permissions

Go to Settings > Apps > Choose the app > Permissions.
Look for apps that have permissions they shouldn’t, such as access to your camera or microphone. If something looks suspicious, revoke the permissions or uninstall the app.

3. Check for Unfamiliar Apps

Go to Settings > Apps and scroll through your list of installed applications. If you see an app you didn’t install, especially one without an icon or a generic name, it could be malicious.

4. Use Built-in Security Features

Samsung phones come with a built-in security scanner:

• Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Device protection and run a full scan for malware.

5. Dialer Codes for Samsung Phones

You can also use secret dialer codes to check for unauthorized activities:

• Dial *#21# to check if your calls, messages, or data are being forwarded.
• Dial *#62# to check for conditional call forwarding when your phone is unreachable.
• Dial ##002# to disable all forms of call forwarding and ensure no one is intercepting your calls.

6. Developer Options for Advanced Users

If you suspect deeper issues, you can enable Developer Mode:

• Go to Settings > About phone and tap Build number seven times to unlock Developer Mode.
• Go to Developer options > Running services to see which apps or processes are running in the background. If you see something unfamiliar, it might be malicious.

My Final Thoughts

Whether you’re using an iPhone or a Samsung device, taking a few minutes to check for unusual activity can help protect your personal data. If you suspect your phone has been hacked, immediately uninstall suspicious apps, revoke unnecessary permissions, and scan for malware. If the issue persists, consider performing a factory reset or seeking professional help.

As always, keeping your phone’s software up to date and avoiding suspicious links or downloads can go a long way in preventing cyberattacks.

Stay safe, and stay secure!

This blog post was written by Ebrima Ceesay, entrepreneur and founder of ITTSforAll. For more tips and advice on protecting your devices, visit www.ittsforall.com.