Metro Creative

If you use any kind of digital device, you’ve probably heard of the term, “hacking.” Let’s take a minute to explain what hacking means. It happens when someone identifies a weakness in a data system to gain hidden access, steal data or disrupt services. Hackers use their considerable techno-talents to get past your device’s security features to steal your personal information, financial data or hijack your phone for illicit purposes. For now, we’ll just talk about what happens when a hacker successfully finds a way into your smartphone and what you can do about it.

How do you know when your phone has been hacked?

• Your phone is running hotter or slower than usual. This may be a sign that a hacker has installed malware on your phone, and the hidden programming can be causing your phone to be working overtime without showing any obvious changes on your screen.

• You are now seeing new apps on your phone that you never downloaded. Your home screen may have changed. Even worse, someone has put a cryptocurrency app on your phone.

• You see a new uptick in spam emails or text messages. This can mean someone has gained access to your stored phone numbers and email messages.

• There is a sudden increase in data usage on your phone. Your habits haven’t changed, but your carrier just sent you a bill for much more data use than normal.

• You notice there is a flurry of unexplained activity in your bank or credit card accounts.

• Your friends tell you that they have been receiving unusual messages from you through text, instant messaging or social media.

These are red flags that your phone has been hacked.

If you think your phone may have been hacked, take it back to your cellphone carrier’s office and ask them to investigate for you. In any case, you should immediately change your account passwords, set a new lock/unlock PIN number or reboot your phone in a way that clears the phone’s memory and removes unauthorized apps and programs. Or, for the not-so-faint-of-heart, do a “factory reset” on your phone.

You should also take a good look at the apps on your phone and delete any apps you aren’t using. In my experience, my cellphone carrier routinely dumps a bunch of weird games and website apps that I never asked for. Regularly check for and get rid of unused apps and games immediately.

Smartphones are frequently and automatically updated with new security fixes to keep your phone safe from hackers. Make sure your phone hasn’t fallen out-of-date and is so old the manufacturer is no longer sending out security updates for your device. You can quickly check to see if your phone is no longer supported by going to the “Endoflife.date” website. I did this a few weeks ago and discovered my five-year old phone went out of date a few months ago. This unfortunate news triggered a quick visit to my carrier’s office for a new smartphone — sigh.

In addition to removing unused apps from your phone, keep your device more secure by never lending your phone to anyone else, especially kids, who might download a sketchy game or app on your phone without your knowledge. Never download new apps from untrusted sources. Steer clear of using public WiFi sources in restaurants or airports. If your phone needs a charge, don’t use a public charger — an infected charger can download malware into your phone in a heartbeat. And remember to turn off your Bluetooth connection when not in use.

Having a smartphone is like riding around in Captain Kirk’s spaceship — we are always headed to “strange new worlds, boldly going where no one has gone before.” Your partner on this journey, your not-so-trusty phone, is just a little machine, full of transistors, chips and switches. It doesn’t know the difference between good and bad — it only does what it’s told to do. Take the time to ensure your smartphone is working in your best interests.

Dave Long of Poland, a Youngstown State University graduate, is a retired public affairs officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection who later worked as an Elder Scam Prevention Outreach specialist in Rochester, N.Y., before moving back to the Mahoning Valley.