Codes to Check if Your Cell Phone is Hacked

Cyberattacks are on the rise*, and cell phone hacking is just one method criminals use to steal your sensitive data. If your phone is behaving strangely—running slower than usual, showing unexpected notifications, rebooting randomly, or taking longer to open apps—it may be compromised.

Anti-hacking codes, or USSD codes, are special character combinations you can enter on your phone to check for security issues like unauthorized call forwarding, blocked numbers, or spyware.

The first step is to understand the signs to look out for to see if your phone has been hacked. If you suspect your phone has been targeted, these hacked cell phone codes can help you check your device’s security.

Hacked Cell Phone Codes To Dial

If you suspect your device has been compromised or is being tracked, you can use several hacked cell phone codes. When you use these USSD codes, you’re essentially sending a request to your mobile network for specific information.

You dial the code on your phone as if you were making a phone call, and within seconds, you’ll receive a response on your screen. This is typically a pop-up message or a new screen with the requested information. You don’t need to listen for anything or wait for a text message—the information appears directly on your screen.

These codes are read-only; they provide information but don’t allow you to make changes. If you see something suspicious, you’ll need to take separate action to address it, such as contacting your mobile network provider.

Now, let’s look at some specific codes and what they tell you:

*#06# – Dial This To Check Your IMEI Number

This is one of the most frequently used USSD codes. It displays your device’s IMEI number, which stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. This 15-digit number is unique to every device and is stored on the Equipment Identity Register (EIR).

The IMEI number is useful if your phone has been lost or stolen, and you need to file a legal complaint or prevent someone else from using your device.

You should also check the IMEI number before you purchase a used device. When you dial *#06#, the IMEI number will be displayed on the screen. If the number doesn’t match the number on the box, you’re likely being sold a fraudulent or stolen device.

*#062# – Dial This To Check Call Forwarding

Hackers often use call and SMS forwarding to intercept communications. They may install software on your device that secretly redirects all calls and text messages to another number. This tactic is commonly employed in financial scams when hackers need to intercept one-time passwords (OTPs) for transactions.

Let’s say you’re signing in to an app that requires extra verification with an OTP. You enter your mobile number and wait for a temporary password on your phone. Now, if your OTP isn’t being delivered, even after retrying a few times, there might be something untoward going on.

Luckily, it’s easy to find out if malicious software has been installed on your phone. Simply dial *#062# to see if your calls and texts are being forwarded to another number. A message will appear showing any active call forwarding settings. If there’s no forwarding in place, you’ll see a message indicating that call forwarding is not active or disabled.

*#67# or *#21# – Dial This To See if Missed or Rejected Calls Are Being Redirected

If your phone has been hacked, calls you miss or reject could be getting redirected to another number. This can be difficult to detect because your calls are only redirected when they remain unanswered for a few rings. Looking at your phone, you might assume the caller simply hung up or reached your voicemail when, in reality, the call was redirected to another number.

To see if your missed or rejected calls are being redirected, dial *#67# from your phone. If *#67# doesn’t work, try dialing *#21#.

You’ll see a screen displaying information about any active call forwarding settings. This also includes text messages.

Once you know which number gets all your calls, you can use one of the best spy apps to block that number or gather more data on the culprit.

*#*#34971539#*#* – Dial This To View Camera Settings

Hackers often access your device’s camera to monitor your activities. If you think your camera is acting oddly or you’re worried that someone is watching you behind the lens, dial *#*#34971539#*#* on your phone.

This code will display key information about your camera’s hardware on your screen. One important detail it shows is when the camera was last used. If the displayed time doesn’t align with when you last used your camera, your device may be infected with tracking malware or spyware.

*#*#1472365#*#* – Dial This To Check GPS Spoofing

If hackers have enabled GPS spoofing on your device, they can deceive your network about your device’s whereabouts, and your GPS map will show a fake location. One reason this might be done is to intercept deliveries. A hacker could make your phone appear to be in a different city, potentially redirecting package deliveries to that false location.

If you suspect someone is tracking your GPS location, dial *#*#1472365#*#* on your cell phone to check if someone has meddled with your location settings. This code will tell you if anything is abnormal or if a malicious party has enabled GPS spoofing on your device.

After entering this code, you’ll see a menu called “UMTS Cell Environment.”

• Navigate to “UMTS RR information” and find the “Cell ID” number.
• Then go to “MM information” and locate your “Area Code.”

To make use of this information, go to sites like OpenCellid or CellMapper, where you can enter the Cell ID and Area Code to show the approximate location of the cell tower reported by your phone. Compare this location to where you actually are. If it’s significantly different (like showing you’re in a different city), this could indicate GPS spoofing.

For a more reliable check, contact your mobile service provider. Give them the Cell ID and Area Code, and they can verify if these match your actual location. Keep in mind that this method isn’t perfect. Cell towers cover large areas, so the location won’t be exact. However, major discrepancies could be a red flag.

*2767*3855# – Dial This To Restore the Factory Settings of Your Device

If you’ve tried everything above and nothing seems to work, you may want to consider restoring the factory settings of your phone. The codes below will reset your device.

However, think your decision through and be very careful before you enter these codes. This will wipe out your entire phone’s data, making it as good as new. Before you enter the appropriate code, remember to back up important data such as photos, contacts, and files on your device.

• To reset an Android device, enter the USSD code *2767*3855#
• For iPhone, dial *#*#7780#*#*

What Are Anti-Hacking USSD Codes?

If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, you have enough reason to be suspicious that your phone has been hacked. At this point, you can use USSD codes to gather information about your device.

Hacked cell phone codes, or Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes, are communication protocols used by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) for communication needs. A USSD code can be as long as 182 characters and usually includes characters such as star (*) and hash (#).

These codes are used by mobile devices to communicate with your telecom provider’s servers and computers. Each code requests different information from your provider’s network, such as your data balance, usage history, call records, and more.

You can dial these hacked cell phone codes to gather crucial information, such as call forwarding details, location, and IMEI number, to assess your device’s security.

Here’s how USSD codes work:

• When you dial a USSD code from your device, it sends a communication request to your telecom provider’s servers.
• If the request is successful, the server will send the information back to your device, typically displayed as a pop-up message or in your phone’s native messaging app.

This comes in handy if you suspect your device has been hacked. For example, if you notice your calls aren’t coming through, someone might have set up call forwarding without your knowledge. You can verify this by dialing a USSD code.

Other Ways to Prevent Cell Phone Hacking

USSD codes are a great way to get some detailed information about your device, which is otherwise very difficult for a novice to extract. However, that’s all USSD codes do. They can only inform you about your device’s current settings. You cannot use this code to take remedial actions or preventive measures.

Plus, not every malicious activity can be detected by these quotes. Programs such as spyware and keyloggers escape the radar of these codes.

Reliable monitoring solutions, like spy apps, can give you real-time information about your device, which is a stronger solution. 

Conclusion

Mobile devices are undoubtedly central to our lives, storing vast amounts of personal and sensitive information. However, they’re also a prime target for hackers, so protecting your phone from malicious intent is more important than ever.

While USSD codes offer a way to check your device’s status, monitoring apps provide ongoing protection. Combining these tools with password managers, antivirus software, and VPNs creates a robust defense against digital threats.

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