Can malware steal your photos and videos from your device?

[Android Central Question]

I had some sensitive pictures and videos of me and my wife on my phone to spice up the marriage and make it exciting. Well I found out my phone got infected idk how but it wouldn't hold a charge and it would overheat. I even had to change my FB password because my messager was acting up. I ended up factory resetting it but still it was acting up so I smashed it and threw it in the ocean. It has been 3 years now and I am scared to death that we will be porn stars. I never uploaded them and they was never shared with anyone. I have been told that I was ok but I am still paranoid. It ultimately falls on me because it was my idea and I don't want her life to be ruined. I did a backwards search with one of the pictures nothing came up. You guys think I am ok?

 

[belodion]

I think that you're worrying needlessly about something of no importance, and furthermore about something which is normal human behaviour.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! I think you're ok. There are many non-sinister reasons for a phone to overheat and not hold a charge, the primary one being a failing battery. Just because your Facebook Messenger was "acting up" doesn't mean you were hacked -- Facebook apps are notoriously badly coded, at least for Android devices.

But in general, remember that things you save on your phone are only as secure as you make them. If you upload pics to the cloud, sext them, or save them locally on the phone without adequate security, they're at risk for being appropriated. It's best not to do this kind of thing on your phone -- use a standalone digital camera instead.

Please register on this forum, which will allow you to engage in discussion more easily, as well as post images. https://forums.androidcentral.com/ask-question/409154-join-android-central-community.html

 

[anon(10649133)]

Believe me I will never ever do this again. It has been 3 years and I did the reverse Google images search but if those pictures and videos got out I wouldn't forgive myself. I didn't store them in the cloud they was just in the gallery.

 

[Javier P]

Welcome to the forums. I'm pretty sure you are ok and your pictures aren't public. Just a quick note. If you have the same kind of concerns in the future, please don't throw your phone in the ocean again. A factory reset and taking it to any place that handles electronic waste would be more than enough.

 

[belodion]

^ Yes, contaminating the ocean with LiPo batteries and other stuff. Fish ought to have thrown it back.

 

[anon(10649133)]

There will be no more pictures and videos of me and my wife in the future. Yes I agree I shouldn't have thrown my phone in the ocean that was a bit of overkill. I am just so glad me and my wife will not be pornstars lol. Thank you guys!!!