I've had a few of my online accounts hacked recently, and it's making me worry that my Samsung phone might be compromised too. Lately, I've experienced some strange issues like my music playing randomly, my phone heating up without reason, and during a call with my husband, I couldn't hear him clearly. Instead, I just heard weird noises that made me uncomfortable. This has me thinking that someone might have access to my phone. Particularly troubling is that the hacker who got into my Reddit account changed my email and made a post about something I was discussing with my husband. I want to know what steps I should take to secure my phone and determine if it might actually be hacked.
2 Answers
I understand your concern! Your edit about the Reddit post definitely raises red flags. It could all be coincidence, but it’s still wise to back up your files and reset your phone to eliminate any malware. After resetting, you can check the Google Play store for your previously installed apps and re-download them. Just be careful while backing up to ensure that any lurking threats don’t transfer over to your computer. Using a secondary device for backups is a smart strategy.
What you’re experiencing could just be bugs in your phone’s software that you've started noticing more because you’re worried about hacking. While it's possible for someone to remotely access your phone, usually, extensive resources are needed, which most hackers won’t bother with unless it's a high-profile target. To be safe, performing a factory reset may help clear anything potentially malicious. Make sure you install only essential apps afterward and follow good security practices.
Totally agree, resetting seems like a solid approach! Just be cautious about what you connect to your PC. When backing up, try to use a temporary setup if you can.