How To Stop Your Android Phone From Being Hacked

The sensitive data you store on your phone makes it a prime target for hackers. While y'all're more likely to hear about celebrities and public figures getting targeted for cybercrimes, the truth is that phone hacking can happen to anyone.

With hackers inventing new and sophisticated attacks every day, it's crucial to invest in a defense system for your phone. I shortlisted the 10 best ways to protect your mobile or smartphone from hackers and other cyberthreats. For maximum protection, I strongly recommend yous install a top VPN (cull ExpressVPN for the all-time security and reliability) and download an antivirus app (Norton 360 Deluxe is best by far).

Protect your phone with ExpressVPN

Protect your phone with Norton 360

1. Use a VPN and Antivirus

Android and iOS provide a decent level of built-in security, but y'all can only get maximum protection against hackers by pairing a VPN with an antivirus.

While a VPN and antivirus both offer extensive security on their ain, having both installed on your phone will provide the best results. A VPN protects you by concealing your IP address and encrypting all traffic sent to and from your device. But if you download a file infected with a virus or malware, an antivirus volition detect and terminate malicious software from harming your phone (although information technology doesn't provide whatsoever sort of encryption).

Yous'll find the best VPNs for 2022 are all equipped with advanced security and privacy features, including military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. Tiptop VPNs volition besides have a strict privacy policy that ensures your personal data is never monitored, nerveless, or shared with 3rd parties.

My team and I take extensively tested over 50 VPNs, and ExpressVPN easily ranks equally the #i VPN for Android and iOS. Yous tin can connect to any of its high-speed network of 3000+ servers in 94+ countries to encrypt your phone'southward internet traffic confronting hackers.

During tests, ExpressVPN'south servers even worked with streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. Fifty-fifty more impressively, ExpressVPN is one of the only VPNs that worked during on-the-ground tests in Communist china. You can rest assured that your individual data is always safety equally well — I ran multiple leak tests on its servers and ExpressVPN passed every 1. In addition, the company has previously deputed independent audits to prove its security and privacy claims.

Every plan includes a thirty-day money-back guarantee, so y'all tin exam out every characteristic on your Android or iPhone. If you're non satisfied, you tin can go a full refund. I tested information technology myself past asking for a refund over 24/vii live conversation. Unlike other VPN services, the client support representative didn't force per unit area me to stay or ask whatsoever follow-up questions. My refund was processed in minutes and the money returned to my account in only 5 days.

Protect your telephone with ExpressVPN

Norton is a perfect complement to ExpressVPN'south encryption capabilities, providing impressive defense force against cyberthreats on Android and iOS. Its features include an anti-malware scanner, personalized privacy report, web protection to cake phishing links, and WiFi Security to notify you when you're connecting to an unsecured network.

You can choose between either Norton 360 for Mobile (avant-garde) and Norton Mobile Security (bones). I recommend Norton 360 for Mobile — this app not only defends your Android or iOS against malware and online threats, just it likewise includes a free VPN and Dark Spider web Monitoring feature. This tool alerts you whenever your personal information is leaked onto the Dark Web, and then you can defend yourself against identity theft and hackers.

You're protected by a 60-day money-back guarantee when you sign up for Norton on its official website. I tested the money-back guarantee to make sure information technology works, and I'm happy to say that it was approved within 5 minutes! The money returned to my account just 5 days later.

Protect your phone with Norton 360 for Mobile

ii. Keep Your OS and Apps Updated (and Remove Erstwhile Apps)

This may seem like a no-brainer but it bears repeating: keep your phone's Os and apps up-to-appointment. In addition to new features, Android and iOS regularly release essential security fixes with system updates that aid protect you against a multifariousness of exploits.

You can go a step further by enabling auto-updates to ensure yous never miss a patch release. If your device is outdated, I tin can understand not wanting to download a new software update, as this can sometimes impact your telephone'southward performance. However, I'd take a performance hit over a hacked telephone anyday.

iii. Only Download Apps From Trusted Sources

Mobile apps can access a lot of personal data, so it's of import that you only install trustworthy ones on your device.

The easiest way to practise this is to start at the source. Brand sure y'all merely download apps that are available on the Google Play Store, Apple tree App Store, or another trustworthy platform. Any app found on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store must see certain security criteria before being approved and are besides scanned to ensure they don't contain malware.

If y'all're always unsure about an app yous've downloaded, you can apply a trusted antivirus like Norton 360 to scan your device for malware and other threats. Norton offers both real-fourth dimension and manual scans to check for security risks, so you'll exist able to catch a wayward app earlier it compromises your privacy.

Protect your telephone with Norton 360 for Mobile

four. Employ a Complex Passcode (And Avoid Biometric Security)

Contrary to what telephone manufacturers would have you believe, biometrics similar fingerprint and facial scanners are a flawed way to secure your telephone. Yous're amend off relying on an former-fashioned Pin or password, as hackers have adult many ways to bypass biometrics (including simple tricks like the infamous 2019 exploit that allowed users to bypass fingerprint scanners on a variety of Samsung Galaxy phones using only a third-party screen protector).

Unfortunately, non all passwords are created equal. Although it's ameliorate to have a PIN/countersign than none, you can significantly increment your security by using a complex countersign. Aim for at least sixteen-20 characters with a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This goes not only for your phone's password, just whatever and all accounts you have.

Here are a few other tips for boosting password security:

Change your password every 6-12 months, as well as any time you lot hear near a data alienation for a service you utilize.
Disable "Smart Lock" or any other feature that keeps your device unlocked in certain areas or when a Bluetooth device is connected.
Don't answer security questions honestly. Instead, call back of information technology like an additional password and utilise letters and numbers in your answer.
Enable "Lockdown Mode" on your Android device, which disables biometric and smart-unlock methods (Pin and password volition nonetheless work).

In add-on to the tips above, y'all should strongly consider getting a countersign director. These services allow yous store all of your account passwords in a digital vault, which not only provides much tighter security simply likewise eliminates the demand to memorize dozens of passwords! Norton offers a free password manager in all of its plans, with mobile apps for both iOS and Android. You lot tin effort Norton risk-free for lx days with its coin-back guarantee.

5. Learn How to Lock or Wipe Your Telephone Remotely

Apple'southward Find My iPhone and Android's Find My Device are location-tracking features designed to help you find your phone in the event it'south lost or stolen. Even so, these tools go beyond elementary device tracking, as they can also be set up to lock your device and delete all information to foreclose thieves from accessing your information.

6. Be Conscientious When Granting App Permissions

Fifty-fifty if you only become your app apps from trusted storefronts like Google Play or the App Store, this doesn't hateful every app tin can be trusted with your data.

You can take additional measures to protect yourself by limiting an app'south access. Many apps will request access to information like your location, photos, contacts, and more than. While granting such permissions may seem harmless, information technology could go a privacy event down the line if the app were to always be hacked or otherwise compromised.

If you encounter an app with suspicious permission requests, deny the requests and submit a ticket to the app store to social club a formal complaint. It would also be a good idea to scan your phone with Norton 360 to ensure the app didn't install any malware.

7. Don't Jailbreak Your Phone

Jailbreaking or rooting your telephone tin can be tempting, especially if you own an Apple iOS-based device. Bypassing your telephone'south operating system lets you lot install all sorts of apps that aren't approved by Apple and fifty-fifty alter wireless providers. Unfortunately, jailbreaking comes with serious security risks that can exit you exposed to hackers and other threats.

For one matter, accessing Google or Apple tree's official security updates may become more hard since installing them could remove the jailbreak. Yous'll as well need to exist 100% sure you can trust the apps yous use, every bit they volition have full access to your device once installed.

While in that location are certainly benefits to jailbreaking your telephone, it's simply not a good idea if you lot care at all about your online security and privacy.

Protect your telephone with Norton 360 for Mobile

eight. Beware of Spam and Phishing Emails

Although your email service's spam folder will catch many of these threats, it won't preclude all of them from catastrophe upwardly in your inbox. Here are a few ways you can protect yourself against spam and phishing emails:

If an electronic mail looks suspicious, don't open information technology — although the act of opening an email isn't all that unsafe, it can still provide information well-nigh you lot to the spammer such as your IP accost, Isp, judge geographic location, and more.
Never click on a link from a suspicious email — if you accidentally open a malicious email, the best thing yous can practise is delete information technology immediately and avoid clicking any links or attachments. These links could contain viruses or other malicious files.
Mark any suspicious email as spam or junk — this helps train your e-mail service'due south detection software to better place such emails in the future.

If yous ever click a link or open an attachment y'all think might be malicious, immediately scan your device with antivirus software. Norton Mobile Security for iOS and Android will scan all apps on your device and remove whatsoever viruses, spyware, or other threats it encounters. Best of all, you can endeavor Norton with the 60-solar day money-dorsum guarantee.

9. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor hallmark or 2FA is one of the simplest and nigh constructive security tools you accept at your disposal. Equally its name implies, 2FA is an extra security layer for online accounts that forces y'all to provide an additional piece of information afterward entering your username and password.

Any class of 2FA protection is meliorate than nothing, but not all methods are created equal. For the best security, yous'll want to apply a software token-based method such as Google Authenticator, which generates a time-based, 1-time passcode. Practice your best to avert SMS text-message or voice-based 2FA, as these methods are less secure and can exist easily tricked past hackers.

In one case you've ready 2FA with your online accounts, you should strongly consider pairing it with a trusted VPN. ExpressVPN encrypts your traffic, preventing hackers from seeing when you log in to your private accounts. Y'all can endeavour ExpressVPN for Android or iOS completely risk-gratis equally information technology'south backed by 30-day money-dorsum guarantee. If you're not satisfied, you can ask for a refund from the customer support team over 24/7 alive chat.

Protect your phone with ExpressVPN

10. Keep Your Phone With You At All Times

Although hackers can access your phone remotely, the easiest way for someone to get into your phone is through physical admission. Thankfully, it's also like shooting fish in a barrel to prevent someone from grabbing your phone past ensuring y'all continue it on your person whenever you're outside your home.

Hackers just need a few minutes to interruption into your phone so leaving it unattended in a public setting is never a good idea. Of class, accidents do happen but prevention is fundamental. Every bit long as you've followed the other tips on this list, your information should be well protected even in the issue a hacker gets a hold of your phone.

How tin I tell if someone is hacking my phone?

It's not always piece of cake to tell if your telephone has been hacked, merely there are a few signs to wait for:

Apps frequently open by themselves
Y'all notice something you lot don't recognize on your phone such every bit an app you lot didn't download or a buy you didn't make.
Your phone'south performance suddenly slows down and battery life is reduced (malware tin significantly drain your phone's ability).
Pop-ups appear on your screen (typically indicate spyware or malware on your device).

To forbid your phone from being hacked, you should enable both a VPN and antivirus on your device. A VPN will encrypt your traffic while the antivirus detects and prevents malware infections with a real-time protection scanner. Out of all the options available, ExpressVPN and Norton Mobile Security are the all-time dual-protection options on the market.

How practice I remove a hacker from my telephone?

If you doubtable your phone has been hacked, change your passwords, remove whatsoever suspicious apps, and immediately run a virus browse. You can also follow these 10 tips to forestall another phone hacking in the time to come.

Norton Mobile Security's malware scanner tin can quickly diagnose and quarantine any threats that may exist nowadays on your device. Depending on the severity of the hack, you may also need to restore your device to manufacturing plant settings to purge the threat.

You tin endeavor Norton on your phone take a chance-gratis using its 60-day money-back guarantee. This way, y'all tin can still remove any malware that may be present on your device already and prevent future attacks for sixty days before committing to a long-term plan.

What are the best apps to protect my phone from existence hacked?

After testing and research, the best style is to download a VPN and an antivirus app. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic to defend it against hackers, advertisers, and anyone else who might be watching your online activities. This is peculiarly useful if you regularly connect to public WiFi networks at schoolhouse, work, cafes, libraries, or airports. I highly recommend ExpressVPN equally information technology'southward the best VPN app in 2022 for Android and iOS devices.

An antivirus app can flag and cake malware infections on your telephone. Norton Mobile Security has an Android and iOS app packed with a sophisticated range of anti-malware tools, including a real-time scanner and encrypted cloud backup.

Protect your phone with Norton 360 for Mobile

While iOS and Android's built-in security systems offer some protection, it'southward simply not enough to fully forestall attacks from today'south sophisticated privacy threats. I strongly suggest you take a proactive approach that combines a VPN and antivirus for a complete security parcel. Telephone hacking is not a niche threat that only people with a big online presence need to worry about — if you lot own a smartphone, you're at risk.

ExpressVPN is the all-time VPN option to encrypt your mobile traffic and it has a 30-day money-dorsum guarantee, then y'all tin download it with confidence. If you're not satisfied, you can easily get a full refund.

Norton is the leading antivirus app for Android and iOS devices and will protect your phone confronting all types of cyberthreats, including phishing links, identity theft, viruses, malware, and more. Yous can test its features take a chance-costless with the whopping 60-twenty-four hour period money-back guarantee.