Has your friend's phone number been compromised? Here are the signs to watch out for.

Preventing Phone Number Hacks: How to Keep Your Information Safe

Cyber threats are a growing concern, and phone hacking is a bigger issue than many realize. A recent incident involving a suspicious text message shared by Dennis serves as a reminder of the need to stay vigilant and informed. By recognizing the warning signs, we can take steps to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones from potential harm.

Is your friend's phone number compromised? Here's what to look for — A woman texting on her phone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

The suspicious text message

A friend texted Dennis with an unusually brief message, "Would you like to chat?" This piqued Dennis's interest, especially since the number was not recognized by Messenger as belonging to his contact list. Such situations often indicate phone number spoofing or hacking, where cybercriminals use someone else's number to disguise their identity.

Signs your friend's phone number might be compromised

It is essential to recognize the warning signs of a compromised phone number in order to safeguard your personal information and that of your friends. Some of the indicators that your friend's number may have been hacked include:

If your friend's texts appear unusual, such as with odd phrasing, unexpected links, or requests for personal information, it may suggest their phone has been hacked.

If Messenger incorrectly reports that a contact number is not in your list despite it being present, it could suggest an issue.

If your friend's phone is behaving unexpectedly, they should be cautious.

Malicious apps running in the background on your friend's phone can cause unexplained spikes in their data usage.
If your friend discovers unfamiliar apps on their phone, it might indicate that their device has been hacked.
Background malware activity could be the cause of rapid battery drain, even when not using the phone heavily.
Malicious software could be the cause of your friend's phone's sudden slow performance.
An increase in pop-ups or redirects to suspicious websites while your friend is browsing could suggest adware or malware on their device.

Unexpected charges on your friend's phone bill may be due to premium SMS services or calls made by malicious apps.

If your friend's phone is compromised, you or other contacts may receive spam or suspicious messages from their number.

Steps to protect yourself

If you suspect your friend's phone number has been compromised, take these steps:

Confirm with your friend: Use a different method to check if they sent the message.

Advise your friend to install strong antivirus software on their devices to safeguard against malicious apps, malware, phishing emails, and ransomware scams. For the best protection, recommend using antivirus software on all their devices. Additionally, provide your picks for the top antivirus protection winners for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices in 2024.

If your friend suspects their phone number has been hacked, they should change their passwords for all accounts linked to their phone number. They should also consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.

Your friend should contact their mobile service provider to report the issue and secure their account to prevent further unauthorized access.

Encourage your friend to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts for enhanced security.

Advise your friend to routinely review their bank statements and credit reports for any suspicious activity.

Kurt's key takeaways

The issue of phone hacking is often overlooked, but Dennis's recent experience serves as a wake-up call. It is essential for everyone to remain cautious and knowledgeable about the indicators of impending hacking attempts. By being aware of these signs and taking preventative measures, we can safeguard our personal data and our loved ones from cyber threats.

Have you ever received a suspicious message or experienced a potential hacking incident? Share your story with us and let us know how you handled it by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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