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Help Am I Hacked?

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I'm sure that my ex has hacked my phone. How can I prove it? I have cheap ZTE Citrine and don't know squat about all this tech stuff. Other than apps that I know I didn't get all over my phone there is also an unknown device listed in Google's activity files, as well as my ZTE.
My StraighTalk and his AT&T won't help? Please answer
 
A large number of new apps that you didn't install could mean that someone else has installed them, either if they had physical access to the phone or know your Google login. But it could also happen if you install a dodgy app with the permission to install others, so if you have installed apps from random websites that's another possibility (if you have ever been tempted by a "free" copy of a paid app then this, or worse, is often part of the price). Or if you have had a system update your carrier could have included a new bunch of bloatware apps as part of the update (in which case it's not a hack or malware problem, just that your carrier thinks it's fine to clutter your phone with crap whether you want it or not).

So, can you uninstall these apps? If you do, do they come back?

And as said above, change your Google password and enable 2-factor authentication if you haven't already done so.
 
Also, do a factory reset. this will remove all in stalled apps EXCEPT the carrier installed ones.
 
Davdi said:
Also, do a factory reset. this will remove all in stalled apps EXCEPT the carrier installed ones.
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As long as you've not got malware installed to the /system partition. A reset won't affect something like that.

Whether you are vulnerable to malware with that capability depends on your Android OS version. If your phone has been upgraded to 6.0 that shouldn't be possible unless the phone has been rooted. If you are still on 5.1 then you could be vulnerable to malware which can do that (whether from an ex or something you installed unwittingly).
 
Straightalk will not help because they are a bargain carrier. They provide cheap air time but no service to your phone. Your ex's service is not obligated to help you because you are not their customer.

First, yes, change your passwords. You can uninstall the unknown apps as mentioned above. You can revoke access to the unknown device on your Google account.

If you can find a reliable cell phone service they would be able to do diagnostics testing on the phone itself. If that is too expensive you will have to be vigilant watching the phone for signs of reappearing unknown apps. If one reappears. Google the app name. There are sites that keep track of where apps come from and whether they are dangerous.

Cheers
 
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