Killer battery clue means your iPhone or Android is 'probably infected' by criminals

RESEARCHERS have shared several warning signs that could indicate a smartphone has been hacked.

Smartphone owners must remain vigilant about malware or risk having their data stolen, Keeper Security experts say in a new blog post.

Malware is a malicious file or code that can infect your phone, desktop, or laptop.

For example, once malware has successfully infiltrated your device, it can spy on your activities and steal your data.

In more extreme cases, the malicious software can even take control of your device and gain access to your financial accounts.

“Cybercriminals can spread malware through phishing attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, exploit kits and drive-by downloads,” the cybersecurity firm wrote.

All of these attacks typically use social engineering tactics to trick people into downloading malware or exploiting security vulnerabilities that install malware discreetly.

To alert users to the presence of malware, Keep Security has shared some warning signs to look out for.

HOW TO DETECT MALWARE ON YOUR DEVICE

Decline in performance

One of the biggest indicators of malware on your phone or computer is a noticeable and sudden drop in performance.

“Malware runs in the background and consumes a large portion of your device's resources,” Keeper Security explains.

“This can cause issues for your device, such as problems starting up or shutting down, long loading times, frequent crashes, programs running on their own, fast battery drain, and error messages.”

Browser redirects

If you notice many browser redirects while browsing the Internet, it could mean that there is malware on your device.

That's because when malware infects your browser, it redirects you to malicious websites that try to steal your data.

“Malware will sometimes even make changes to your browser's toolbar or homepage,” Keeper Security said.

“If you find yourself having trouble getting to a specific page or notice differences in URLs, your browser is infected with malware.”

New applications

Another surefire sign of malware is seeing new applications on your device that you haven't downloaded.

It is likely that these new applications also contain malware that can damage your device and steal your data.

They also often take up a lot of storage space on your device and cause performance issues such as battery drain.

Frequent pop-up windows

Frequent pop-ups are a big indicator that malware has infected your device.

Typically, these pop-up windows contain advertisements or “error messages” and are caused by adware.

“Adware can sometimes display malicious advertisements that try to get you to download more malicious malware that further damages your device,” Keeper Security said.

HOW TO STAY SAFE

There are a few things you can do to protect your device from dangerous malware.

To start, only install apps from the Apple or Google Play Store. This helps ensure that the apps you download are safe.

Be careful when clicking links in emails or text messages, as they often lead to phishing websites.

It helps a lot to use a security app with malware protection on your device

Always keep your phone up to date with the latest security patches.

These patches can help close security holes that malware can exploit.