Guide
Is my phone hacked? How to tell and what to do
A hot battery and a few dodgy pop-ups send people into a panic that is often worse than the actual problem.
Updated 6 July 20268 min readBy AngusPart of Online safety tips
If you are asking is my phone hacked, start by taking a breath, because genuine phone hacking is less common than the ads and pop-ups warning you about it. Most scary symptoms, fast battery drain, heat, pop-ups, turn out to be a misbehaving app or a scam trying to frighten you into installing something. That said, real compromises do happen, and it is worth knowing the signs and the fix.
This guide helps you tell a true problem from a false alarm, then walks through exactly what to do if something is genuinely wrong, in the right order.
Signs that are worth investigating
No single symptom proves a phone is hacked, but several together are a reason to look closer.
Good to know
- Accounts sending messages or posts you did not write.
- Logins or password-reset emails you did not request.
- Apps you do not remember installing.
- A sudden, dramatic drop in battery life or constant heat when idle.
- Your phone bill showing charges or premium texts you did not sign up for.
Signs that are usually a false alarm
A pop-up saying your phone is infected, especially in a web browser, is almost always the scam itself, not a real warning. Legitimate security software does not ambush you on a website. Older phones also run hot and drain quickly simply because the battery has aged.
How to check your phone
- Review your installed apps and delete anything you do not recognise or no longer use.
- Check battery usage in Settings to see which app is really draining power.
- Look at the account security pages of your email and social media for unfamiliar devices or recent logins.
- Make sure your phone's software is fully up to date, updates remove most known threats.
What to do if your phone is genuinely compromised
- From a different, trusted device, change the password on your email first, then your other important accounts.
- Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere it is offered.
- In each account's security settings, sign out all other devices.
- Remove any suspicious apps, and if problems continue, back up your photos and do a factory reset.
- If money or a bank account is involved, phone your bank straight away and report the scam to Scamwatch.
How to stop it happening again
Only install apps from the official App Store or Google Play, keep automatic updates on, use a screen lock, and be sceptical of any message that pushes you to act fast. These habits prevent the large majority of phone compromises.