5 telltale signs that your phone has been compromised (and how to combat them)
A new guide details battery drain, slow performance, and secret USSD codes to detect and disable call forwarding.
A new consumer guide from Techreport, authored by Managing Editor Amy Clark, outlines the critical warning signs that a smartphone has been compromised by spyware. The five primary indicators include a battery that drains unusually fast due to background spyware activity, noticeably sluggish performance or app crashes, alerts about unfamiliar logins to social accounts, a sudden drop in available storage space, and the presence of apps you don't remember installing. These symptoms point to malicious software running covertly to monitor activity and steal data.
Beyond diagnosis, the guide provides practical steps to fight back, highlighting the use of carrier-specific USSD codes. Entering codes like *#61# on your phone's dialer can reveal if your calls or texts are being conditionally forwarded to another number—a clear sign of a hack. If forwarding is detected, codes like ##61# can immediately disable the redirection. Clark also recommends using *#06# to retrieve your phone's IMEI number for official reports to your carrier or law enforcement, offering users concrete tools to reclaim control of their device security.
- Five key signs of a hack: rapid battery drain, slow performance, unfamiliar login alerts, reduced storage, and unknown apps.
- Use USSD code *#61# to check for call/SMS forwarding to another number, a major red flag for spyware.
- Counter with code ##61# to disable detected call forwarding and use *#06# to get your IMEI for official reports.
Why It Matters
With smartphones holding sensitive personal data, this guide provides actionable steps for professionals to detect and mitigate sophisticated mobile spyware threats.