You’re sitting there, scrolling, and the screen flickers. Or maybe the battery, which usually lasts until dinner, just hit 12% at noon. You start wondering. Is it just an old battery? Or did that weird PDF you opened yesterday actually do something?
Knowing how to find out if my phone is hacked isn't about being a cyber-security genius; it’s about noticing the little things that feel "off." Most people think a hack looks like a giant skull and crossbones on the screen. It doesn't. Real hacks are quiet. They're greedy. They want to sit in the background and suck up your data without you ever knowing they were there.
Honestly, your phone is basically a digital diary of your entire life. If someone gets in, they have your bank logins, your private texts, and your location history. It’s scary. But before you panic and throw your iPhone in a lake, let's look at the actual evidence.
The battery drain that makes no sense
We’ve all been there. Your phone gets old, and the battery starts to suck. That’s normal. What isn’t normal is a sudden, massive drop in performance overnight.
If you haven't changed your habits but your phone is running hot in your pocket, something is working in the background. Malicious apps, especially spyware or crypto-miners, use a ton of processing power. They are constantly communicating with a remote server. This creates heat. If your phone feels like a warm potato while it's just sitting on the nightstand, that's a massive red flag.
Check your settings. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Battery. On Android, it’s usually Settings > Device Care > Battery. Look for apps you don’t recognize. If "System Update" or some generic-sounding utility is using 40% of your battery but has no icon, you've got a problem. Real system updates don't show up like that.
Data spikes and the mystery of the vanishing gigabytes
Why did you hit your data cap on the 10th of the month?
Unless you’ve been binging 4K TikToks on the bus, your data usage should be pretty consistent. Hackers need to get your information out of your phone. To do that, they use your data. They might be uploading your entire photo gallery to a server in another country or routing your traffic through a malicious proxy.
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Check your data usage logs. If you see gigabytes of data being sent by an app you barely use, or worse, by "Removed Apps" or "Unknown Sources," someone is likely piggybacking on your connection. Researchers at companies like Kaspersky and Zimperium have documented how mobile trojans often wait for a Wi-Fi connection to dump stolen data, but sloppy ones will just use your cellular plan and leave you with a massive bill.
The weirdness: Pop-ups, glitches, and ghost touches
Sometimes the signs are more aggressive.
Have you ever seen a pop-up on your home screen—not in a browser, but just floating there? That’s often a sign of adware. It’s annoying, but it usually means a malicious app is installed and has "Draw Over Other Apps" permissions.
Then there are "ghost touches." Your phone opens an app by itself. You see the cursor moving. You see a message being typed. This is rare but terrifying. It usually suggests remote access trojans (RATs). This is where an attacker literally sees your screen and controls it.
- Look for weird texts. Are your friends asking why you sent them a link to a "miracle diet" or a crypto scam?
- Check your outgoing calls. If there are numbers in your log to countries you’ve never heard of, a hacker might be using your phone as a proxy for expensive toll calls.
- Check your sent folder. Hackers love using your email to phish your contacts because you are a "trusted sender."
How to find out if my phone is hacked using secret codes
This sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it’s actually just old-school telecom diagnostic stuff. You can use "MMI codes" to see if your calls or messages are being diverted.
Open your phone app and dial *#21#.
This code tells you the status of your call forwarding. It will show you if voice, data, or SMS are being forwarded to another number. If it says "Not Forwarded," you’re likely fine. If you see a phone number you don't recognize, someone might be intercepting your calls. This is a common tactic used in SIM swapping or targeted spying.
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Another one is *#62#. This shows you where calls are forwarded when you’re unreachable. Often, this will just be your carrier’s voicemail number. Google that number to make sure it actually belongs to Verizon, AT&T, or whoever you use. If it’s a random private mobile number? Red alert.
The "Microphone is On" dot
Apple and Google actually did something right recently. On modern versions of iOS and Android, a small green or orange dot appears in the corner of your screen whenever an app is using your microphone or camera.
If you’re just sitting on your couch reading a news article and that green dot pops up, an app is watching you. Swipe down to your control center or notification shade. It will usually tell you exactly which app is currently using the sensor. If it’s "Instagram," maybe it's a bug. If it's "Flashlight Pro" or "Calculator," delete that thing immediately.
Where did this malware come from?
Most people think they got hacked by a "super hacker" in a hoodie. In reality, you probably just downloaded a bad app.
The Google Play Store is notorious for having "fleeceware" or apps that bypass security checks. They often masquerade as QR code scanners, PDF editors, or "cleaner" apps that promise to speed up your phone. According to a report from Check Point Research, even apps with millions of downloads can secretly harbor malware that activates weeks after you install it.
Side-loading apps is the other big culprit. If you downloaded a "cracked" version of a game or a free version of a paid streaming app from a random website, you basically invited the hacker in. These APK files are almost always modified to include a backdoor.
Step-by-step: What to do right now
If you’ve gone through the list and you’re convinced someone is in your phone, don't just sit there. You need to act fast before they change your bank passwords or lock you out of your Apple ID or Google Account.
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1. Cut the cord
Put your phone in Airplane Mode. This kills the Wi-Fi and the cellular signal. If the hacker is using a remote access tool, this disconnects them. It gives you a second to breathe and think without them watching your every move.
2. Audit your apps
Go to your settings and look at the full list of installed apps. Look for anything without an icon or anything named "Internal Service," "Browser Support," or "System Update." Delete them. If it won't let you delete it, that's an even bigger sign that it has gained administrative privileges.
3. Check for "Device Administrators"
On Android, go to Settings > Security > Device Admin Apps. On iPhone, check Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. If you see a profile or an admin app you didn't personally set up for work or school, remove it. This is how stalkerware stays on your phone even if you try to delete the main app.
4. The Nuclear Option: Factory Reset
If you’re still seeing weird behavior, a factory reset is the only way to be 100% sure. Warning: This wipes everything. Back up your photos and contacts to the cloud first, but do not back up your apps. If you restore from a full backup, you might just be re-installing the malware. Start fresh. Sign back into your accounts and download your apps one by one from the official store.
5. Change your passwords (from a different device)
This is the part people miss. If your phone was hacked, your passwords are compromised. Use a laptop or a friend's phone to change your primary email password, your bank password, and your Apple/Google password. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), but use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy rather than SMS-based 2FA, which can be intercepted.
Staying safe in the future
The best way to not have to search for how to find out if my phone is hacked ever again is to change how you use your device.
- Stop using public Wi-Fi. Or at least use a reputable VPN if you have to.
- Update your OS. Those annoying "System Update Available" notifications are usually security patches for vulnerabilities that hackers are currently exploiting.
- Don't click links in texts. Even if it looks like it's from FedEx or your bank. Go to the official website instead.
- Check permissions. Does that Sudoku game really need access to your contacts and microphone? Probably not.
Phones are incredibly secure until we, the users, accidentally open the door. Stay skeptical. If a deal looks too good to be true, or an app asks for weird permissions, trust your gut. Your privacy is worth the extra ten seconds of caution.
Next Steps for You:
Immediately check your Battery Usage in settings to identify any "ghost" apps consuming power. If everything looks normal there, dial *#21# to ensure your communications aren't being forwarded to a third party. If you find an unknown number, contact your service provider to reset your line security.