Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Every smartphone user needs to be aware of the risk of eavesdropping which can occur at any time. It is important for you to recognize the symptoms of a phone that has been hacked so you can take preventative action.
Hackers usually use various methods to tap cellphones with the aim of stealing important information stored on them, including financial data that can be exploited and cause bankrupt accounts. You can easily recognize the signs that a cellphone has been tapped.
Here are 8 signs that indicate that your cellphone has become a target for eavesdropping:
1. Strange sound when calling
Strange Sounds When Calling When you call someone, usually the voice of the conversation sounds clear and smooth. However, if your phone has been tapped, you may hear strange sounds such as high-pitched buzzing, beeping, clicking, or static that shouldn't be there.
This is caused by eavesdropping software that steals conversations and sends the data to other parties, thus causing sound interference.
2. HP battery
One sign that your cellphone is being tapped is a problem with battery life. Usually, the battery will run out quickly or get hot.
This happens because the perpetrator installed a special application on your cellphone. This app keeps running in the background without you knowing. Because it is constantly running, this application consumes a lot of battery power.
You can check what applications are running in the background on your cellphone and consuming a lot of battery. If there is a suspicious application that you don't recognize, there is a big possibility that your cellphone has been tapped.
3. The process of turning off the cellphone is problematic
If your cellphone is not functioning properly, it could be a sign that your cellphone has been tapped.
For example, you have difficulty turning off your cellphone. Or the cellphone becomes slow and less responsive when operated. Something like that could be a sign that there is a malicious program or virus that has entered your cellphone without your knowledge.
This malicious program is deliberately installed so that it can access data on your cellphone secretly. That's why your cellphone is difficult to turn off or slow to respond.
So, if your cellphone starts having problems like that, immediately be alert and check the possibility that someone else has tapped your cellphone.
4. Suspicious Activity on Cell Phone
There are several strange activities that could be a sign that your cellphone has been tapped. For example, strange text messages containing letters and numbers appear, mysterious pop-up advertisements, activity icons that move suddenly, and the appearance of personal information online.
5. Electronic Devices
Usually cellphones will be disturbed when they are near electronic devices such as laptops or telephones. However, this should not happen when the cellphone is not being used. So be careful when your cellphone has problems near electronic devices even if they are not active.
6. Cell phone bill
This sign occurs for those of you who are postpaid users. If there is a sudden high bill it is possible that the cell phone has been tapped. This happens because malicious applications or spyware can use data packages secretly.
7. Third Party Applications
Be careful if you download an application that does not come from an official application store such as the App Store or Play Store. Make sure the application developer is a legitimate and trusted party before installing it on your cellphone to avoid unwanted things.
8. Camera and Microphone Turn On Themselves
When the camera or microphone is on, a green or orange dot usually appears. Hackers might use your cellphone's camera and microphone so that it will turn itself on without realizing it.
How to Handle and Prevent Cell Phones from Being Tapped
1. Make sure to only download trusted applications
Installing apps from untrusted sources can open security gaps and make your phone vulnerable to hacking or the spread of malware. Therefore, it is very important to only download apps from official app stores such as Google Play Store, App Store, or Samsung Galaxy Store.
Additionally, make sure to check the authenticity of the app by comparing it with the developer's official website to ensure that the app you download is the original version and not a potentially dangerous fake app.
2. Use an Anti-Malware Application
Malware can infiltrate your phone through various means, such as downloading applications from unsafe sources or through other security gaps.
Installing and using trusted anti-malware and antivirus applications can help detect and remove malware that may have been installed on your phone. Perform regular scans to ensure your phone's security.
3. Check using the MMI code
The Man-Machine Interface (MMI) code is a secret code that can be used to check whether there is a call diverting or recording feature active on your cellphone.
These codes can vary depending on the network you use, but generally use codes like ##002#, *72, *73, or *#21#.
By dialing this code, you can view information about call forwarding or recording that may have been secretly activated by the other party.
4. Enable 2-Step Verification
2-step verification is an additional security feature that requires two-factor authentication to log in to your account or app. By enabling 2-step verification, you can prevent hackers from accessing your account or apps even if they manage to get your password.
2-step verification typically uses a combination of a password and a one-time code sent to your phone or an authenticator app.
5. Turn off GPS Location
The GPS Location feature can leak your real-time location to other people without your knowledge. To prevent this, you can disable the GPS Location feature in your phone settings.
Apart from that, make sure not to share your location directly with other people via applications such as WhatsApp or other applications that have a location sharing feature.
By implementing these preventive measures, you can reduce the risk of your phone being tapped or monitored by others.
However, remain alert and take immediate action if you find signs that your cellphone has been tapped or monitored illegally.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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