I’m a security expert and mysterious phone call is sign your iPhone is hacked – but three clues are even scarier

BEWARE four signs that your iPhone or Android phone may have been "hacked" by cyber-criminals.

Experts have revealed the clues that suggest your phone may be infected with dangerous malware.

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Cyber-criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and hack attacks can be difficult to spot.

But if you don't notice your iPhone or Android has been compromised, you could be in serious danger.

Hackers can use malware to steal your info to sell on or defraud you, and some sophisticated attacks can empty your bank outright.

McAfee cyber-expert Natalie Maxfield revealed four sinister clues that mean you may be the target of a tech-savvy crook.

Mysterious appearances

One of the warning signs you should look out for is any outgoing call in your log that you didn't make.

But anything that turns up on your phone that doesn't seem familiar is cause for concern.

"A potential telltale sign that your phone has been hacked is the appearance of new apps that you didn't download," said Natalie, who is the director for consumer marketing at McAfee.

"Likewise, if you see calls in your phone's call log that you didn't make, that's a warning as well."

Pop-up panic

You should also watch out for pop-ups suddenly appearing on your phone.

"If you’re seeing more popup ads than usual or seeing them for the first time, it might be a sign that your phone has been hit with adware," Natalie explained.

"A type of malicious app that hackers use to generate revenue by distributing ads without the consent of the user."

Not only can pop-ups be annoying, they could also prove dangerous.

For instance, they could redirect you to dangerous websites that steal your info or money – or install malware on your handset.

Data disaster

It's also a warning sign if you're running out of data but can't seem to explain why.

You might even notice unknown charges on your phone bill.

Natalie called this a "big red flag".

She warned: "This is a possible sign that a hacker has hijacked your phone and is using it to transfer data, make purchases, send messages, or make calls via your phone."

Suspicious activity

Finally, look out for issues with any of your online accounts.

If someone has hacked your phone, they may be able to steal your log-in info for your accounts.

So if you notice suspicious changes on several accounts, it might be that your device has been compromised.

If you think your phone is hacked, consider deleting any recent apps you've downloaded that seem suspicious.

And if you can't get the problems to start, try wiping your phone completely.

Make sure to change your account passwords on a different device that you think is safe.