We live in a time in which a lot of our personal and professional information is stored in our mobile devices. Mainly our smartphones. While this is practical and has a lot of benefits, it is also a safety hazard. From our banking information to our love life; everything is there and can be accessed by hackers. How can you protect yourself? A few suggestions are not storing passwords, never leaving your phone unattended in public places and remain informed about new popular malware and phishing techniques.

Pay Attention to Changes in Performance

If your phone has sudden performance issues, it might be a sign of hacking. The most common performance issues due to hacking are battery problems (it suddenly lasts less) and speed changes (your phone suddenly becomes slow or gets stuck easily). If you are wondering: Has your phone been hacked? Well, if you are dealing with these issues, it probably has.

Unknown Activity

Suddenly, you realize that there are a few texts in your sent folder, that you don't remember sending. Or you can find apps that you did not download. Any type of unknown or unauthorized activity that's registered on your phone is a sign of trouble. Be especially aware of sent emails: this is a common scam after your phone has been hacked, and hackers may be asking your contacts for money or their personal information.

Screens Locking or Pop-ups

A clear sign of malware are pop-ups that you can't close. Never click on anything on these windows, and try restarting your phone. If it freezes or the pop-up window is still there after restarting, you should consider taking your phone to a licensed technician.

What Can You Do?

If you believe your phone has been hacked and your information is in danger, you need to take immediate action.

1. Change all passwords that might be compromised. According to Cybersecurity firm Avast, people choose weak passwords most of the time. They have a handy list of suggestions to make them stronger. If you believe your banking information is at risk, notify your bank.

2. If you believe that hackers might have contacted people from your address list, notify them not to disclose any information or send money.

3. If your phone syncs with other devices, you need to stop the syncing and check them too.

4. Notify your service provider

If you are an IOS user, the best course of action may be to reset your phone to factory standards. This will erase all information stored on the device. After that, you should close your iCloud account and open a new one before you continue using your phone. After that, consider reviewing recommended security apps and install them. Keeping your system updated helps a lot too, as with each IOS update, security issues are addressed.

A factory reset is also the recommended course of action for hacked Android devices, as well as closing your current Google account and notifying about the hack. After opening a new account, choose from the recommended antivirus apps before using your smartphone again.

Preventing a Smartphone Hack

If you were the victim of a hack and want to prevent it from happening again, you may want to consider the following:

1. Whenever possible, avoid public charging stations and public WiFi

2. Always install antivirus apps, but make sure they are vetted by your provider

3. Be wary of free app downloads

4. Change your passwords frequently

It is especially important to remain attentive to kid's smartphones, as they can easily overlook or ignore security threats. If your child uses a mobile device, always install parental controls and limit social network usage according to their age. Children are especially vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, and the consequences on them can have a lasting impact.

Cybersecurity is an important responsibility, and everyone must take action to prevent hacks. The United States government has a list of suggestions regarding privacy and mobile devices. Always be attentive to the information you share online, whether on social networks or via text message and email. Remember that we all have a digital fingerprint that will remain linked to each of us forever. When it comes to protecting your information and identity, every step counts. If you believe you have been hacked or your information is vulnerable, take immediate action to minimize the damage and protect those around you from the threat.