DFW Computer Integration

Finding out if your phone is hacked seems to be one of the most frequent search terms recently.

Unfortunately, there is a plethora of apps available to make hacking or cloning your phone far too easy. And since psychopaths are very clever, they can now harvest all your information / gaslight you far too easily!

How do you know if your phone has been hacked / cloned?

There are some obvious signs to look for:

Phone hacking

Signs of hacking generally include

• Calls and messages you did not make
• Unrecognized apps
• High data usage (could be for other reasons)
• Major battery drain

Always be suspicious of links via text and email as this is a frequent source of phishing scams. Any links should be inspected before clicking. Even from close friends and major brands. Start by clicking on the From address to see if the address is legit. If the email comes from a name brand but the email address is gmail.com, yahoo.com, outlook.com, hotmail.com, onmicrosoft.com, aol.com, or icloud.com it is a scam. Likewise if the domain ends in two characters like.io or .pl it is a scam. Anything with .ru in the address is from Russia and definite scam.

Codes to find out if your phone is hacked:

Using them is as easy as dialing a few digits and symbols. The phone will distinguish your actions at once and give you the answers. Keep reading to find out more about these essential cell phone codes and hacks:

1. Code to show your IMEI: *#06#
2. Show if anyone picks up your unanswered calls: *#61#
3. Code to check call forwarding status: *#62#
4. Code to check for call forwarding number: *#67#
5. Check all call forwarding information: *#004#
6. Stop all phone redirection: ##002#
7. Check if phone is tapped: *#21#
8. Show unknown connections and tracking (for Android): *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#*
9. Code to show unknown connections and if someone is tracking you (for iPhone): *3001#12345#*
10. Code to find your phone if lost or stolen (for Android): *#*#1472365#*#*
11. Code to show the firmware details of your phone’s camera (for Android): *#*#34971539#*#
12. Code to show the MAC address information (for Android): *#*#232338#*#*
13. Code to factory reset your phone (for Android): *#*#7780#*#*
14. Code to wipe your smartphone clean of all data (for Android): *2767*3855#

Trustd is an app with good ratings that detects malicious apps, network threats and phishing.

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How do you find out if your Tablet is Hacked?

That’s an entirely different approach.

Signs your iPad or Android tablet is Hacked:

• Unusual behavior:
  Slowing down, crashing or unexpected popups
• Suspicious network activity:
  Instability, frequent crashes, freezes or sudden restarts
• Unauthorized account access permissions:
  Password changes or account settings changes you did not make.
• Rapid battery drain:
  A sudden decrease in battery life
• Sudden increase in data usage:
  A significant change in data usage beyond normal.
• Unknown apps or software suddenly installed:
  Check for unfamiliar apps or software you did not authorize.
• Strange messages or calls:
  A barrage of unexpected messages / calls from sources not in your contacts.
• Security software disabled:
  Your antivirus or security software cannot update or is disabled.
• Changes in your device settings:
  You see unknown configurations / changed permissions

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What can you do if your device is hacked?

A full backup and factory reset may be required. But the risk here is that restoring the data may restore the infection as well. Especially if you restore the apps in the process.

If you choose this route, only restore your photos and nothing else to be on the safe side.

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Certo AntiSpy will help scan and fix malware / hacking infestations.

You install the appropriate version on your computer for whichever OS you need scrubbed (Apple or Android).

Connect your tablet via USB cable.

And let the app scan.

In short order you will know if your device is clean or compromised. If it is compromised, you will get a comprehensive list of issues and options to correct them.