No. 10: Signs of activity in standby mode
Watch out if the phone should be “sleeping” but it lights up or makes unusual noises in standby mode.
(Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock)
No. 9: Strange sounds during phone calls
Beep or flashing sounds may indicate that spyware is eavesdropping on your calls.
(Fractal Pictures/Adobe Stock)
No. 8: It takes a long time to turn off the phone
All running programs must be turned off before the phone goes black. It could be a sign of unwanted software if the disable feature is pulling.
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No. 7: Rapid battery drain
This could be a sign of an old phone or a failing battery, but it could also indicate that spyware is using up your phone’s power.
(LookerStudio/Shutterstock)
No. 6: Unknown installed apps
Make it a habit to routinely look into your phone’s settings folder to make sure the installed apps are familiar.
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No. 5: Unusually high data usage
Track monthly data usage and ask questions if data usage jumps uncharacteristically.
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No. 4: Overheating
The phone works overtime when malicious apps work in the background.
(René Schmidt/Adobe Stock)
No. 3: Strange text messages
Text messages can allow a bad actor to discover your device’s location or gain control of your phone entirely.
(Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock)
No. 2: Slow performance
This is often an indication of a problem, and sometimes the problem is spyware operating in the background.
(Farknot Architect/Adobe Stock)
No. 1: Random reboot
This phone behavior could be an indication that an external user or some kind of spyware has infiltrated the device.
(terovesalainen/Adobe Stock)
Mobile phones are essentially pocket-sized computers. As such, these increasingly ubiquitous devices are attractive to cybercriminals.
Consider that more than 60% of fraud comes from phones, according to RSA Security, and about 80% of these attacks happen via an app.
All phones, regardless of make or model, can be vulnerable. How does this affect the world of insurance?
In addition to being vigilant about their own data and financial security, insurance companies today must also monitor potential financial threats to policyholders. Among the vulnerabilities presented by our handy mobile phones: They can be used to siphon money from bank accounts, perpetrate other financial scams, tap into private data, track a user’s location and movement, and monitor their online usage – including access to proprietary business software or accounts.
The slideshow above illustrates 10 clues compiled by online security information site VPNOverview.com that a cell phone has been hacked. In many cases, checking a suspicious phone for unusual apps is a place to start to determine if the phone has been compromised. Should that happen, uninstalling suspicious apps and installing antivirus software are two early steps that can help eliminate the problem.
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