How to Block Hackers from My Phone?
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Hackers are relentless, always hunting for weaknesses to exploit. While the fight against cybercrime is ongoing, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless.
You can make yourself a much tougher target with vigilance and smart habits. Ready to take control? In this article, we give you 10 ways to outsmart hackers and protect your phone.
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What is Phone Hacking?
Phone hacking is the practice of gaining unauthorized access to a person’s phone and the data stored within it.
This can be done through various methods to achieve different malicious goals.
Here’s how it works:
- Exploiting vulnerabilities: Hackers search for gaps in your phone’s defenses — outdated software, weak network connections, or insecure apps can all be entry points.
- Malware: Malicious software like viruses and spyware can hide from untrusted sources within downloads, links, or apps. Once on your phone, they operate secretly to steal data.
- Social engineering: Hackers impersonate banks, companies, and even people you know. Phishing attacks aim to trick you into giving up passwords or sensitive information.
- Physical access: If a hacker gets ahold of your unlocked phone, even briefly, they could potentially install malicious code or access your data directly.
What do hackers want?
Why would someone hack a phone? Sadly, there are many reasons. Hackers are looking for information they can exploit for profit or personal gain. This could include gaining access to:
- Your money: Logins and card details grant scammers direct access to your bank accounts and money-sharing platforms like Cash App, allowing them to steal your money.
- Your personal information: A hacked phone contains photos, messages, and contacts — they can sell this or use it for blackmail or identity theft.
Sometimes, the motivation is more personal. An ex-partner or someone with malicious intent might hack your mobile devices to:
- Track your location: Monitor your whereabouts without your knowledge.
- Eavesdrop: Listen to your calls or record your surroundings.
- Steal private data: Access your texts, photos, or other personal files.
What Are the Signs of a Hacked Phone?
Modern phone hacks are designed to be stealthy, but there are often tell-tale signs. Watch out for these red flags:
- Unexpected activity: Camera or location icons turn on when you’re not using them, suggesting an app is spying.
- Missing data: Calls, texts, or photos vanish without explanation. This could be a hacker covering their tracks.
- Mystery apps: Find apps you didn’t install. These could be tools for the hacker.
- Resource drain: Battery dies faster than usual, or data usage spikes. Malware running in the background is often the culprit.
The key point here is that if you suspect you’ve been hacked, taking immediate action is crucial. Even if you’re careful, staying ahead of the game requires staying informed.
The rest of this article will show you how to block hackers from infiltrating your cell phone.
10 Ways to Block A Hacker From Your Phone
1. Update your phone and apps
Criminals constantly invent new hacking techniques, but one old method remains reliable: exploiting out-of-date software.
Device makers and app developers fix security holes with frequent updates. Falling behind makes you a prime target.
Regularly updating your phone’s operating system and apps helps to remove a hacker. These updates often patch weaknesses that malware relies on.
Pro Tip: An update might even block a hacker who already has access to your device if their malware relies on out-of-date software or a jailbreak.
2. Enable 2-factor authentication for all your online accounts (Especially iCloud or Google)
Backing up your phone to the cloud is smart — it protects you from losing data if your device is lost or damaged. However, it’s important to be aware that this creates a potential target for hackers.
Think of 2FA as an extra security guard. Most cloud services offer this option. Even if a hacker gets your password, 2FA requires a unique code (sent to your phone or email) before they can access your backed-up data.
It’s important not to skip this step. Always enable 2FA for cloud accounts where you store important information. It’s a simple way to dramatically boost your security.
3. Download a good antivirus software
Want to kick hackers off your phone for good? Specialized security apps are your best bet.
Top-rated antivirus software doesn’t just detect threats — it isolates them quickly and removes them completely, restoring your phone’s safety.
Certo Mobile Security for iPhone and Android is trusted by millions worldwide to help protect their devices from cyber attacks.
Award-winning mobile security
Block hackers for good with Certo's industry-leading security apps for iPhone and Android.
4. Use a complex passcode
This may seem obvious, but a strong passcode is the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your phone.
Contrary to popular belief, most of the time a hacker will need physical access to your phone in order to install a malicious app.
Here’s how to make your passcode hard to crack:
- Length is key: Use at least 6 characters but ideally more. The longer the passcode, the better.
- Mix it up: If your device supports an alphanumeric passcode (numbers and letters), then set one. It will exponentially increase the security of your device.
- Don’t use identifying information: Avoid using personal info as your passcode (e.g. birthdays, etc.). Once you have set your passcode, don’t share it with anyone else.
- Use biometrics: If your device supports biometrics such as fingerprint or facial recognition to unlock your phone then make sure you enable this for extra security.
5. Don’t connect to public Wi-Fi networks
Hacking doesn’t always mean that some malicious app or code has been loaded onto your phone. Sometimes, a hacker may create a malicious public WiFi hotspot designed to eavesdrop on your internet traffic.
That’s why you should never connect your phone to an unsecured WiFi network or one you do not trust.
If you have no option other than to connect, then make sure to use a good VPN like NordVPN so your traffic is encrypted.
6. Only download apps from official app stores
Third-party app stores can be tempting as they often contain free versions of paid apps or tweaked versions of existing apps that offer more features than the original.
However, these apps are subjected to a much less rigorous approval process than any official app store. Therefore, they are a common method used by hackers to distribute malware.
7. Factory reset
As a last resort, performing a factory reset will stop or block any hackers who currently have access to your phone.
Doing so will remove any spyware that has been installed on the phone but it also removes every trace of your account from the device.
Make sure you create a secure backup of any important data before doing so.
- To learn how to factory reset your Android device, click here.
- To learn how to factory reset your Apple iOS device, click here.
8. Use intruder detection
Some apps for iPhone and Android offer an intruder detection feature to catch snoopers who have physical access to your phone in the act.
For example, they can detect when an incorrect PIN is entered and either take a photo of the intruder or sound an alarm to alert you.
This feature is available in Certo Mobile Security for Android and will soon be added to Certo Mobile Security for iOS.
Fig 1: Catching an intruder with Certo Mobile Security for Android.
9. Restart your phone periodically
Many hackers rely on your phone being left on for extended periods. Restarting your phone occasionally is a good security practice, as it can disrupt malicious apps. This is particularly true for iPhones as a restart can also remove some system modifications used by hackers, such as a jailbreak.
This simple action can help prevent hackers from monitoring your movements or other activities.
10. Check your device for apps that are using your location, microphone or camera
Hidden spy apps are a common way hackers gain access to data on your phone. To catch them, check which apps use your location, microphone, and camera — and limit their access if needed.
iPhone users can check their devices by following these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Check these sections:
- Location services: Shows apps tracking where you are.
- Microphone: Shows apps that can listen in.
- Camera: Shows apps that can use your camera.
Also, be sure to limit app permissions: if you see apps you don’t fully trust, tap on them and adjust their access.
For example, change location access to “While Using the App” instead of “Always.”
Fig 2: Reviewing apps with access to your Microphone on iOS.
For Android users:
- Go to Settings.
- Look for Security and Privacy, Privacy, or Permissions. (The exact location varies by device.)
- Tap Permission Manager.
- Tap on categories like Location, Microphone, and Camera.
Fig 3: Reviewing apps with access to your Camera on Android.
ℹ️ Important: Even legitimate apps sometimes ask for more than they need. Be critical and only grant access when it makes sense for the app’s function.
Final Thoughts
While phone hacking is a real threat, knowledge is your best weapon. By making smart choices today — strong passwords, updating software, being cautious online — you make yourself a much harder target.
All of these methods greatly reduce your risk. But for even more robust protection, consider specialized security apps like Certo AntiSpy (iOS) and Certo Mobile Security (Android). These tools actively detect and block hacking attempts.
Think of it like this: the preventive steps are your everyday armor, while apps like Certo are your specialized combat gear. Together, you’re a formidable force against cybercriminals!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What protects my phone from hackers?
Hackers will usually rely on out-of-date software with vulnerabilities or a phone with poor access control. Therefore, the two best things you can do to protect your phone from hackers are
- Install any operating system or app updates as soon as they are available.
- Use a complex passcode to unlock your device, which is at least 6 characters long.
Can you check to see if your phone is hacked?
With the right tools, it’s quite easy to tell if your phone is hacked. Certo’s free apps can help with this. Download Certo Mobile Security for iPhone or Android now and run a scan for threats and vulnerabilities.
What should you do if your phone is hacked?
If you’re unfortunate enough to become a victim of phone hacking, there are a few things you should do as soon as possible:
- Run a scan with a security app and remove any identified threats.
- Change the unlock passcode on your device.
- Change your Apple ID and/or Google account password and ensure two-factor authentication is enabled for these accounts.
- Check for and install any updates for your operating system and apps.
- If your device is still compromised after the above steps, you may want to restore your phone to factory settings, which will remove any threats from your device. Ensure you have a full backup of your device and are familiar with the restore process before erasing any data.
Cover Image by Freepik
Sophia is a Senior Content Manager at Certo Software, showcasing her deep-rooted expertise as an accomplished writer in the tech industry. With a genuine passion for cybersecurity, Sophia is a trusted source of insight and information.