Has your smart phone been hacked?
That’s not a good thought, but it happens. New threats and zero-click entry can cause nightmares for owners. A hacked handset could cause someone to steal your identity, listen to calls, track you, download your photos and so on. Zero click is probably not an issue for most citizens as it is used by governments to spy on people not in favor with the current regime such as reporters who are critical of the government. Just mentioning this as it is a risk for some.
Usually, one can notice changes in phone behavior such as random pop-ups, full screen messages, apps appearing without you downloading them or outgoing calls or messages you did not originate. Other signs might be high background data usage, abnormal battery drains, apps opening and closing on their own also indicate problems.
Stolen passwords might make you subject to financial loss at your bank account or identity issues. Password resets for your most important accounts is a good step to protect your security and two-factor authorization. Other techniques might include a factory reset or even getting a new SIM card. When on public Wi-Fi you might consider using a VPN connection to improve security.
To protect yourself, be very cautious on unsecured Wi-Fi networks, don’t download apps from services you don’t trust, avoiding clicking on random links in emails and text messages, and never plugging in USB devices of unknown origin to their phones or computers. Some issues have been reported of USB charging stations at airport having ability to implant malware. Use a charger in a wall receptacle to be safer. Doing these suggestions are a good precaution but is not a guarantee of hack prevention. Above all, always keep you phone updated with the latest versions of software for IOS or Android.