www.makeuseof.com How Your Phone Can Be Hacked Remotely and What You Can Do to Stop It

We use our smartphones for almost everything—from paying bills to sending emails. Therefore, they contain highly sensitive information about our lives. And if that data falls into the wrong hands, that could lead to quite disastrous consequences.

Here's how your phone can get hacked remotely and what to do about it.

How Can Someone Hack My Phone Remotely?

It's not a secret that hackers don't need to have your phone in their hands to steal your personal information. They can target any of the data stored there remotely. Passwords, SSNs, bank account details, text messages, photos—almost anything can get into the hands of the bad guys if you aren't careful enough and well-protected.

But how can a phone be hacked remotely? Cybercriminals come up with unique ways to access people's smartphones and monitor them. Usually, they look for some vulnerabilities in the phone's operating system to hack it or trick people into downloading malicious software onto their devices.

The scariest part in all this is that with technology constantly evolving, the process of hacking someone's phone remotely is turning into a child's play. There are various apps out there that can be used to get access to a smartphone with just a phone number.

Ultimately, can hackers control your phone? Yes. Unfortunately, they can even hack a phone's camera. But you can also learn how to block hackers from your Android or iOS phone. The first step is understanding how cybercriminals think and work.

Some other ways a hacker can get into your phone include:

How to Know That Your Phone Is Hacked

Whether you have an iPhone or Android smartphone, there are some signs that can indicate that your device has been hacked. If you notice these things on your smartphone, there might be a chance that a cybercriminal has targeted you:

However, there is no need to panic right away. Not all cases like this are linked with hacking. For example, if it's taking a long time to load an app, maybe there's just something wrong with the phone's performance, or you're running an older version of the app and need to upgrade it.

Related: Think Your Phone Has Been Hacked? Here's What to Do Next

But if you notice strange activity on your bank account or any other accounts that you have access to from your phone, then there is a chance that you've become a cybercrime victim.

Another way you can find out whether your device has been hacked or not is to use antivirus software to run a security scan on your phone. If there is anything suspicious, it will detect it.

So, apart from "How can someone access my phone remotely?", you should also look into "What do I do after a cyberattack?"

How to Remove a Hacker From My Phone

Do you have reasons to believe that your smartphone has been hacked? Then the first thing that you should do is factory reset your device. If you've never done it, be sure to check out our guides to learn about how to factory reset an Android device and how to factory reset an iPhone. But keep in mind that this will not just help you get rid of the hacker but also delete every file stored in your device.

If you don't want to run a factory reset on your smartphone, there are some other things that you can try:

After you've done everything you could to remove the hacker from your phone, it is also recommended to change your account passwords, such as the device's passcode, all social media, Apple ID or Google account, email, and internet banking. Make sure that you choose strong passwords for your accounts.

How to Prevent Hackers From Getting Into Your Phone

There are a few actions that you can take to protect your smartphone and any personal information stored there from hackers. Here's what you can do:

Of course, installing an antivirus application is always a good option. But using it and remembering the tips mentioned above can give your iPhone or Android device even more protection from hackers.

There's Nothing Wrong With Being Cautious

The risk of getting hacked is extremely high these days. And since it's that easy to do it, it's best to be protected from such a possibility.

It's not only your phone that can be hacked. Your social media accounts, computers, email, contacts, almost anything is at risk, which is why you should always be careful.

Even better, if you have friends who often ask the fatal question: "How can someone remotely access my phone?", make sure to pass on the insights above.

Romana is a freelance writer with a strong interest in everything tech. She specializes in creating how-to guides, tips, and deep-dive explainers about all things iOS. Her main focus is on iPhone, but she also knows a thing or two about MacBook, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

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