What to Dial to see if Your Phone is Hacked
Smartphones have become an essential part of our everyday lives. They are a necessary evil for staying connected, from work to entertainment to communicating with our loved ones.
Because of the personal information it stores, your phone is a prime target for hackers.
Hackers can spy on you and gain access to your most sensitive information by tapping your mobile phone; therefore, cell phone security is critical. Fortunately, you can determine whether or not hackers are targeting your phone.
How to Determine Whether Your Smartphone Has Been Hacked
Have you noticed anything unusual on your phone? Then you should check to see if your phone has been hacked. If you notice multiple problems, you should assume that your phone has been compromised.
Here are some points to consider:
Battery Life Decrease: If you notice that your phone’s battery dies quickly despite not doing anything unusual, this could indicate that your phone has been hacked. Even if you are not using your phone, the battery dying is cause for concern.
Mysterious Pop-Ups: Seeing strange pop-ups on your phone despite using an adblocker is a red flag. It indicates that you have malware on your phone that is attempting to steal your information.
Codes to Use to Determine If Your Phone Has Been Hacked
The Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) protocol is part of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). It allows you to communicate with your mobile network operator via text messages. USSD codes are alphanumeric codes that are programmed to provide the sender with a specific response or information.
Here are some USSD codes to help you figure out if your phone has been hacked.
*#06# IMEI Check Code:
IMEI is an abbreviation for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It’s a 15-digit number that only your phone has. It doesn’t tell you whether or not your phone has been hacked, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless.
Your IMEI number is a code that allows you to locate your phone. It essentially allows you to track your phone. To obtain your IMEI number, simply enter the code *#06#. You might be able to find it if your phone’s battery is removable.
If Anyone Finds My Unanswered Calls: *#61#:
Conditional call forwarding can be used by scammers to redirect your calls to another phone. One of the symptoms of this attack is that your phone rings without you being notified of an incoming call in any other way.
You can check your call forwarding settings by dialing *#61#. If you do this and discover that your calls are being forwarded, enter the code ##61# to disable it.
Redirection Code: *#062#
If you notice that you aren’t receiving all of your loved ones’ calls and text messages, hackers may have tapped your phone to redirect them all. To see if your calls are redirected when your phone is turned off, enter the code *#062#. If this code returns a phone number, your calls will be routed to that number.
When I’m busy, show who gets my phone data or reject the call: *#67#
Like the redirection hack, hackers can sometimes pick up on calls you reject or calls you receive while on another line. At that point, you can look up the number that receives your unanswered calls by dialing *#67#. If the number displayed is not yours, enter the code ##67# to reset your settings.
Important Codes to Determine Whether Your Phone Is Being Tracked
It’s understandable to be concerned that your phone is being tracked by someone else. There are numerous stories about hackers ruining innocent people’s lives by using stolen information. To see if hackers are tracking your phone with malicious intent, enter the code *#21#.
This code can also be used to check if your calls, messages, or other data are being diverted. It also displays the status of your diverted information as well as the number to which the information is transferred. If you notice that your calls are being diverted, dial the code *#21# immediately.
What To Dial If Your Phone Is Hacked
Hackers have been known to hack phones by using text messages or calls from unknown numbers. In order to prevent this, here’s what you should do when you receive an unexpected call or message on your cell phone.
Hackers have been known for years to use text messages or calls from unfamiliar numbers to gain access to people’s personal information. To avoid being targeted by hackers, here’s how to tell if someone has accessed your phone without permission.
Answer Calls From Unknown Numbers.
You might think that answering calls from unknown numbers is a bad idea because you don’t know who is calling. However, there are some situations where it’s better to answer than not to answer. For example, if you are expecting a call from a friend or family member, you will need to answer the call. This is especially true if you are expecting a child to call home.
Block Unwanted Text Messages.
Another thing you can do to protect yourself against hackers is to block unwanted text messages. There are several apps available that allow you to block incoming texts. These apps work by blocking the number from sending any more texts until you decide to unblock them.
Report Spam Text Messages.
You should report spam text messages to your wireless carrier as soon as possible. This will help keep your phone safe from hackers who might try to use your phone to send spam messages.
Delete Unwanted Call Logs.
If you receive a call or text message from an unknown number, delete it immediately. It’s also a good idea to turn off your phone’s voicemail so that you won’t miss any more unwanted calls.
Change Your Cell Phone Number.
You should also consider changing your cell phone number if you receive a lot of spam texts or calls. This will help you avoid being targeted by hackers who might try to steal your personal information.
