Your phone battery drains much faster than usual
The phone becomes unusually hot even when you are not using it heavily
Apps you don’t recognize appear on your phone
Unknown apps request unusual permissions (accessibility, device admin, SMS, calls, contacts)
Pop-ups or ads appear repeatedly, especially in places you don’t expect
Your browser homepage/search engine changes without your consent
You see new toolbars, extensions, or “browser helper” apps you didn’t install
Data usage spikes noticeably without an increase in your activity
You receive unexpected SMS messages, calls, or charges you didn’t initiate
Your text messages or call history look altered or missing
Your phone starts sending SMS or making calls by itself
The screen turns on/off or apps open on their own
Your device becomes slower, crashes more often, or reboots unexpectedly
You notice unfamiliar accounts or sign-ins on Google/Apple/social media
Password reset emails arrive for accounts you didn’t request
Your device settings change (new accounts added, Wi‑Fi settings altered, VPN/proxy added)
You see an active VPN or proxy you didn’t set up
Accessibility services are enabled for apps you don’t recognize
Device Administrator / “Find My Device” or similar admin access is granted to unknown apps
Your phone shows “unknown device administrator” alerts or similar prompts
You can’t uninstall a suspicious app or it keeps reinstalling itself
Security or antivirus alerts report threats you didn’t install or authorize
Your SIM card or carrier services seem impacted (loss of service, repeated registration changes)
You observe unusual permissions granted to system-like apps
You receive frequent “verification” prompts or security challenges tied to compromised accounts