Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives today. We use our phones for various purposes like communication, internet browsing, online shopping, and banking.

So, it is essential to know if your phone is being tracked or not.

This article will go over some of the more common signs that can help you identify whether your phone is being tracked or not and how to prevent it. Experience the full potential of your digital life effortlessly and securely.

But, despite their sneaky tactics there are some telltale signs to know if you are being tracked.

If you notice that your phone’s battery is running out faster than usual, it could be a sign that there is a tracking app running in the background. Tracking apps use GPS, and other sensors in your phone to collect data, and this process consumes a lot of battery power.

If you notice a sudden increase in data usage on your phone, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked. Tracking apps use your phone’s data connection to send data to the person tracking you.

If you hear unusual background noise while making a phone call, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked. Tracking apps use the microphone in your phone to record your conversations, and this can cause background noise.

If your phone’s performance has become slow and sluggish, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked. Tracking apps use a lot of system resources, which can cause your phone to become slow and unresponsive.

If you notice that your phone is displaying pop-ups and ads more frequently than usual, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked. Tracking apps can display pop-ups and ads on your phone to collect data or generate revenue.

If your phone feels warmer than usual, it could be a sign that there is a tracking app running in the background. Tracking apps use a lot of processing power, which can cause your phone to become warmer than usual.

Noticed any unfamiliar apps on your phone. It could be a sign that your phone is being tracked.

So, if you see any unfamiliar apps on your phone, it is a good idea to check them for any tracking features. If you receive strange text messages on your phone, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked.

So, if you receive any unusual or suspicious messages, it is a good idea to check your phone for any tracking apps. It is important to know if your phone is being tracked or not.

If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it is essential to take action to protect your privacy. Here are a few steps you can take:

If your phone is being tracked, your personal information, including your location, contacts, and online activity, can be accessed by someone else without your knowledge or consent. This can be a serious threat to your privacy and security, so it’s essential to take steps to protect yourself.

Remember, being proactive in protecting your phone can help prevent potential damage to your privacy and security in the long run. Also, you might be interested in how to protect your phone from hackers and cyber threats, check out our great post here.

It is indeed possible for third parties to track your phone without you realizing it, through the use of spyware and other unscrupulous methods that run in the background. To put a stop to phone tracking, you should keep your phone’s software updated, refrain from installing strange apps on your phone, and consider using a privacy-focused VPN (Virtual Private Network).

Some tell-tale signs of phone tracking include unusual battery drain, unexplained data usage, and a noticeable reduction in device performance. For example, your phone might be running unusually slow or give unfamiliar errors.

Your smartphone stores a great deal of personal information. Let’s face it, your whole life is on that thing.

What if someone was able to access all of that personal data. That could be a disaster.

What would they care about the information on your cell phone. There are multiple reasons why someone might want to monitor your smartphone-based activities.

You could have important business-related information stored on your device. If you have any money at all in your bank account or anything left on your credit limit, someone would love to steal that.

Are they using cell phone spying software. How do you tell when someone is watching you through your cell phone.

Those are excellent questions, and they are the reason I wrote this article. Even if you protect your smartphone with a strong password, it’s still possible to be hacked.

In this guide, I’ll tell you 10 ways to tell if someone is spying on your smartphone and what you can do to stop them. Luckily, there are warning signs that you can pick up on that will alert you that there may be spyware infecting your device and monitoring your activities.

Here are the 10 ways to tell whether or not someone is monitoring your smartphone. Has your monthly data usage spiked recently.

That could indicate that someone has installed spyware on your device. Lower-quality spy tools will try to send as much data about your device back to their home base (AKA the bad guys) as they possibly can.

On the other end of the spectrum, some of the spyware makers are quite skilled at it, and their sneaky apps are much more selective with what info they look for and send back home. This makes detection a bit tougher.

While you can contact your wireless carrier to check on how much data you’ve used, you can also check on your device. This means you can quickly check data usage without the need to search around on your provider’s website or app for data usage information.

(The process should be similar on other versions of Android.):.

(The process should be similar on other versions of iOS and on iPads running iPadOS.):.

If you see your device’s screen light up, hear unexpected noises or sounds, and then you don’t see any new notifications on the screen, something could be up. Is your smartphone rebooting for no obvious reason or without you manually rebooting it.

Unexpected reboots may indicate someone has remote admin access and can reboot your device at will. This would also indicate they have all sorts of other access to your device and the personal data stored on it.

Check for new updates for the device’s OS or for the app. See if you can duplicate the device reboot by using the app that was open when it happened.

iOS users will find that antivirus scanners are not available, and in the sandboxed iOS operating system, it’s more likely that there is a bug in an app or in the OS that is causing the reboots. In the days of analog cell phone networks, weird noises in the background and unstable connections were to be expected.

So, if you are hearing weird noises in the background, or (even worse) hear a voice that doesn’t belong to the person you called, there is a possibility that someone is monitoring or recording your conversation. Have you either received unexpected messages with weird characters in them or have your friends or other parties reported receiving weird or offensive messages from your phone.

This can be a sign that you have spyware or malware installed on your smartphone. SMS worms spread themselves through the online world by sending text messages with links embedded in them.

On your Android device, you can install and run security software such as antivirus or anti-malware to scan your device. iOS users will likely not have to worry about these types of worms, as they target Android devices for the most part.

This is true on both the Android and iOS device platforms. If you see your device’s battery life begin deteriorating rapidly and unexpectedly, that could mean your battery is old and in need of a replacement.

Spyware monitors all of your on-device activities and sends information about these activities back to the bad actors that infected your device. Shortened battery life often goes hand-in-hand with increased data usage due to the activities of the spyware.

This is especially obvious when your smartphone is supposedly idle. If you’re not sure whether it’s just an old battery or actual spy software, test this by trying a different set of batteries or checking your device’s battery in a different device.

Sorry iPhone users, your device’s batteries are not removable. But, you can make a Genius Bar appointment and they can check your battery for you.

If an app is using your iPhone’s camera, you’ll see an indicator light up at the top of your device’s screen, as shown here:.

While it is perfectly normal to see either of these indicators light up when apps are using either the camera or the mic, seeing them light up when you’re not actively recording video or audio should serve as a warning sign that something might be up. It’s easy to check your device to find out which apps currently have access to your device’s microphone or camera.

On an Android Device, do the following: These instructions are for generic Android 10.

Check with your device’s manufacturer for more information.

If you haven’t used your smartphone recently, and it’s just been sitting idle on your desk, it shouldn’t be warm or hot to the touch. If it is overly warm, then spyware could be working behind the scenes, collecting information, and sending it back to the bad actors’ home base.

And, much like your computer, occasionally those processes can hang up and either prevent or greatly slow the shutdown process. While this can happen to any device, you may notice that it is happening more often than usual if your device has been infected with spyware.

This could mean the spyware is working in the background, saving its ill-gotten information and sending it back to home base. In addition to slowing the shutdown process of your smartphone, spyware can also prevent your device from shutting down or rebooting completely.

(Did anyone else hear Jeff Foxworthy say that last sentence in their head. Just me.

High-end smartphones made in the last five years or so should run fast and not show many performance issues during day-to-day use. If you notice your smartphone is lagging, performing much worse than usual, or is suddenly running out of resources like memory or storage space, it might be infected with spyware.

But, if you pay attention to how your smartphone usually performs, you can usually tell if something is going on. As mentioned above, there is no lack of spying apps available for smartphones.

All the spyware listed above can monitor and record text messages and phone conversations. With these monitoring apps, a bad guy can take control of your mobile phone’s microphone and listen to everything that happens in your immediate surroundings or even record your phone calls.

So, is there a way to find out whether spyware is installed on your device. If so, how can you remove it.

The following instructions are for generic Android 10 devices. Your cell phone or mobile device may be running a different version of Android.

Android device vendors can also make changes to settings menus, so your layout may look different.

You should delete any unknown apps on your device. If you’re suspicious, I recommend visiting your cellular provider’s nearest store or going to an electronics store, like Best Buy.

In addition, you can also use the Google Play Store “Google Play Protect” feature to scan your installed apps for any harmful behavior. It won’t detect all spy apps, but it’s another weapon to battle the nosy apps.

These steps are for generic Android 10. Steps on other recent versions of Android should be similar.

Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems are locked down, preventing apps from being installed from outside of the App Store. It’s true that you can jailbreak an iOS device, which allows installing apps from other sources.

If you have jailbroken your iPhone, any of the software you install from the Cydia App Store or another jailbreak app repository could include malicious code. So be aware of that danger if you’re considering jailbreaking your handset.

These apps are usually marketed to parents for monitoring their kids’ usage, GPS location, and online activities. Unfortunately, a suspicious partner, employer, or other nosy individuals can also use them to track your usage.

mSpy is one of the apps available in the App Store for tracking purposes, and if you read the reviews of this app and similar apps, many of the reviews are from users looking to catch a cheating spouse. Keep in mind, if you simply want to keep tabs on your kids’ (or your spouse’s) GPS location, Apple includes their “Find My” service that does just that as a built-in free service in iOS.

You can also search for and delete the app from your mobile device by entering the App Store app and searching for “spy” or a similar search term. If an app shows “OPEN” in the list, that means the app is installed on your device.

Tap on “Remove App” from the pop-up menu. Bye-bye spy app.

Although these vulnerabilities have been fixed by now, there are always new threats popping up from time to time. Luckily, Apple does a decent job of keeping these bugs squashed with iOS updates, so be sure to keep your iPhone or iPad updated.

If your iPhone or iPad has been out of your sight for an extended period of time, you can simply update your device by following the steps in the previous paragraph. You can also update iOS by connecting your iOS device to your Windows PC or Mac and updating the operating system via iTunes (or via Finder on macOS Catalina or higher).

Pro tip: You can also manually backup and restore your iPhone using iTunes in Windows or macOS (or in Finder if you’re using macOS Catalina or later). I’m just kidding, there isn’t a solution.

(At least not that I could find.). This is likely due to the lack of success of the Windows Phone platform, meaning there isn’t much of a financial incentive to write spyware for it.

A factory reset is a last-resort option for both Android and iOS cell phones. Resetting your cell phone to its factory settings will delete all third-party apps – which means any spy software will be removed as well.

Trust me, you will miss them once they’re gone. Again, this process may vary on your Android device.

After resetting your cell phone to its factory settings, I suggest that you download and install an app called AppNotifier that will notify you whenever a new application is installed on your mobile phone. Once the app is installed, whenever someone installs something on your phone on the sly, you should receive a heads-up about it.

Another way to reset your iPhone back to the factory settings is via iTunes.

Once you discover that someone has been spying on you, your first reaction may be disbelief (likely followed by anger). Whether it was with personal or business intent, the impact can be hard to cope with upon discovery.

Perhaps it’s not a spy software tool causing any of these signs, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

If you are based in the U.K., call Paladin at 020 3866 4107.

While it isn’t possible on iOS devices, due to the operating system’s sandboxing security, it is possible for apps to intercept your WhatsApp messages on Android devices. If you think this is happening, search for and uninstall the apps by following the instructions I discussed earlier in this article.

Some remote spying apps will allow you to track the location of an iPhone, but you’d require the user’s iCloud login and password to enable the tracking of the device. Anything more than that and you’d require physical access.

However, there are apps for the Android platform that do have the capability of recording your calls and sending them back to the bad actors that created the app. To check for these apps, check the permissions for all of the installed apps on your device, following the steps I laid out above.

To block your phone from being tracked, turn off the cellular and WiFi radios (turning on “Airplane Mode” does this). Disable your device’s GPS radio or turn off “Location Services.” On most Android devices, you can also shutdown the phone and remove the battery.

As you might be aware, doing any of the above will severely limit the use of your device. (Um, especially the part about turning it off.).

It does this by using spyware that prevents your smartphone from actually turning off. The app makes it appear that your device is off, turning off the screen, ignoring incoming calls or button presses, but it is actually still on.

Spyware comes in various forms. These can include:

You may also notice activity, such as your device’s screen lighting up when it is in standby mode. You may also notice your device’s battery life suddenly decreasing.

Stalkerware (spyware) can monitor your smartphone to record your location, which websites you visit, and the apps you use. Stalkerware can also record all of the keystrokes you make on your phone, meaning it can record all of the text you enter, including texts, emails, and login/password information,.

It can also be installed by parents on their offspring’s phones to monitor their actions. Organizations also install it on employees’ phones to ensure company-provided devices are used properly.

In most cases installing spyware on your device requires physical access to the device. So keeping your phone in your possession will help prevent any spyware from being installed.

Also, enable face or fingerprint authentication, which means the device will only unlock for you. Contents [hide].

Short codes can also be used to check if messages and data are secure and whether your phone is being monitored. This section provides code and instructions to secure smartphones against potential tracking.

Using this code, you can check if calls, messages, and other data are being diverted. It will display the type of diversion and the number to which the information is diverted on your phone screen.

If your calls, messages, and data appear to be diverted, use this code to identify the destination. It is likely that your voice calls have been directed to a number provided by your cellular provider.

To avoid the possibility of accrued charges due to auto-redirection, using a universal code to switch off all redirection settings on your phone is recommended before roaming. *#06#.

Knowing this number can help you recover a lost or stolen phone, as its location is transmitted to the network operator even when a different SIM is inserted. Additionally, knowing someone else’s IMEI number enables one to identify the model and technical characteristics of their phone.

Do you suspect that someone is tracking your iPhone. With so many ways to track data on mobile devices, you may be justified in your paranoia.

Well, there are several ways you can detect the presence of spy software on your device. For someone to track your iPhone and have access to your iPhone’s data, they may need to install spy software on your device.

In this article, we will share with you several ways on how to tell if someone is tracking your iPhone and how to remove it to prevent the tracking action in the future. There are several indicators that can point towards the presence of spy software on your iPhone.

Hearing background noise when making or receiving a call can be as a result of a poor connection. But it can also be an indicator that spy software is installed on your device.

These noises can range anywhere from beeping, static, clicking and even actual voices.

Spy software installed on your device may also cause a sudden increase in battery usage. If you notice that you all of a sudden have to charge you battery more often than you use to, it is very likely that someone is tracking your iPhone.

What you need to watch out for is sudden battery drains.

If you have noticed a sudden spike in the data usage on your iPhone, this is also an indicator of the presence of spy software on your device. There are certain types of Spy software that require an internet connection to send the collected data to whoever is tracking your device.

To assess the amount of data being used, use an app like Data Usage for iPhone to track your data usage. Does your iPhone sometimes shutdown even when it is fully charged.

Low-quality spy software can cause your device to malfunction, thereby causing it to shut down at inopportune moments.

Remote managers send these codes to check the status of a spy app.

Check your device’s temperature. Since spy apps run in the background, your phone will start overheating quickly.

One of the quickest way to check if your cell phone has been tracked or not is to check your phone’s browser history. If there are any websites that you don’t remember opening, someone may have opened them to install the spyware app on your device.

An easier way to check if you’re being tracked is to browse your device’s application list. If there’s any suspicious app installed on your device, there’s a good chance that it’s being used to monitor your activities.

For instance, the screen may start to become unresponsive or the settings may start to change automatically. This type of behavior indicates that your device is being tracked remotely.

While it may sound a bit hectic, this is one of the best ways to tell if your cell phone is being monitored or not. Use a root file explorer and look into different folders on your device.

If your iPhone is exhibiting all of the symptoms we’ve mentioned above, it is very likely that someone is tracking your iPhone location or iPhone data. Some of you might thinking about removing these spyware app from your device.

So, it’s always recommended first to take preventive measures so that no one can track your cell phone using a spyware application in the first place. Here are the most effective methods to protect your device from being tracked by other.

It is a dedicated tool that’ll help you teleport your iPhone/iPad’s location anywhere in the world, tricking people into believing that you’re at a different location. With the help of this amazing location spoofer, your true location won’t be able to track anymore.

Try It FreeTry It Free. [Video Transcription].

Then, launch it and tap “Get Started”.

You’ll have to enter the passcode to confirm the connection. Once the connection is established, you’ll be prompted to a map displaying your current location.

Step 3: Choose “Teleport Mode” by tapping the third button in the top-right corner. Then drag the map around to set a location or use the search bar to find a location.

Step 4: Once you’ve selected the right location, tap the “Move” button and your device’s GPS location will change automatically.

With iMyFone AnyTo, you can keep your current location hidden from people. As a result, no one would track your movement, even if there’s a spyware app on your device.

Try It FreeTry It Free. Rooting or jailbreaking a device makes it vulnerable to unverified app installations as anyone can install apps on your device without your permission.

It is important to install apps from verified sources. Any app that’s not available on the App Store or Google Play Store (Android) will possess some sort of threat to your device and it might be a spyware app.

Device manufacturers usually release regular software updates. The primary focus of these updates is to enhance the security level.

The most effective way to protect a smartphone from being monitored is to install anti-spyware apps. These types of apps will automatically detect the presence of a spyware app and alert you instantly.

Here we collect some trusted anti-spyware applications you can install on your device. Let’s take a look.

An all-in-one protection app for smartphone. Norton has been known for its remarkable performance in dealing with virus, malware, ransomware and it doesn’t leave spyware behind as well.

2 McAfee Total Protection. An anti-spyware app with other features like VPN encryption.

Moreover, you can save your Wi-Fi, password, encrypted storage and the like. 3 BitDefender Total Security.

“Safepay” is a special feature with this tool that allows users to keep their bank details get protected from the people having bad intentions or should we say the “cybercriminals”. It also helps you keeping your passwords saved on a secure vault.

Some of you might ask, what should I do if I found there is a spyware app installed on my phone. Is there any way to delete tracking apps on my phone.

Doing that is not as easy as uninstalling an app as you would ordinarily, but there are several steps you can take to remove them. They include the following:

Keep in mind that this will not remove any tracking or spy app that may be installed on your device, but it will keep it from sending any information to the person tracking you.

We have the tendency to use the same password for all accounts and while this may be easy, it does open up all your devices to hacking and other security issues. When you change your password ensure you do so for every service you’ve signed into on our iPhone and also make sure that no one can access it.

This is especially true if the tracking app was compatible with the older version of iOS. Upgrading your iOS can also have the effect of removing certain apps and settings that could be harmful to the device and may very well eliminate the tracking app on your device.

If there is no update, the next best thing to eliminate the tracking app from your system would be to refresh the device by doing a factory reset. This is the most effective way to remove the tracking app since a factory reset will remove all apps and settings from the device.

It is important to ensure that you have a backup of all the data on your device before attempting a factory reset. You should also note that a factory reset may void the warranty on your device.

Step 1: Make sure that you have an iCloud or iTunes backup of the data on your device. If you don’t have the backup, take a moment to create one.

Or plug in the device to your computer and create a backup in iTunes.

Step 3: Enter your passcode when prompted and then tap on “Erase iPhone”. You may need to enter your Apple password to complete the process.

Set it up as new and restore it from a backup. The tracking app should no longer be on the device.

Tracking apps can be installed on your device without your knowledge. But now you know the signs to look out for and how to eliminate them should you find them.

Tell us what do you think about this topic and leave a comment down below if you have any questions.

If you use an Android device, you can download the Tracker Detect app from the Google Play Store. Tracker Detect looks for item trackers within Bluetooth range that are separated from their owner and that are compatible with Apple’s Find My network.

If you think someone is using an AirTag or another item tracker to track your location, you can scan to try to find it. If the app detects an AirTag or compatible item tracker near you for at least 10 minutes, you can play a sound to help find it.

Table of contents. It’s no surprise that more and more savvy mobile users are seeking effective privacy and security protection tools to prevent tracking and monitoring of their phones.

Your employer, the government, and even your internet service provider (ISP) can also track you. However, only the latter is likely to monitor your phone.

Look for the common signs listed below to find out if someone is tracking your phone. Spyware apps regularly eat up your data.

If you suspect that your phone may be tapped, it’s smart to begin keeping an eye on your data. Pro tip.

To turn this on, select Settings, tap Network & Internet then toggle on Data Saver. When you put your phone down and stop using it, it should remain inactive.

Spy apps run in the background to avoid detection and collect your data without your knowledge, but this is one of the ways they give themselves away. Many spyware apps require a surprising amount of power.

If you catch a new, unfamiliar app icon on your phone, this could be the result of spyware. Finding trackers on your phone can sometimes be tough—especially if you have a lot of apps on your phone.

Have you ever seen strange icons in your Android phone’s status bar that you couldn’t quite explain. That could’ve been your phone notifying you that someone was spying on you.

They appear as green blocks with either a camera or microphone icon. Here’s what each indicator means:

A few factors, including age, available RAM, and update status determine device performance speed. If your phone is being tracked or monitored, the responsible apps can eat up your available RAM and slow down the phone significantly or even freeze or crash it.

Naturally, this means you must grant the apps permissions in order to use them effectively. For example, it makes sense for a social media app to ask for camera access.

However, some apps don’t require certain permissions. If an app sends you strange permission requests, it may be trying to spy on you.

Related to issues with the phone slowing down, when your phone’s RAM gets overloaded, it can freeze or even spontaneously crash. If this is happening to your phone and you’ve ruled out other causes, like damage or an out-of-date operating system, it could be a sign that your phone is infected with spyware.

While this is usually not the only sign of infection, it happens when your phone is tracked or traced with stalkerware. The good news is that you can detect a tracker on your phone by checking if someone is listening to your calls.

If this is happening in conjunction with other symptoms in this list, it’s time to take steps to check your phone for spyware. This one can be either a phishing scam or possible stalkerware.

) Never click or engage with these texts. If you believe your phone is being monitored, take steps to identify and remove the spyware app.

Fortunately, there are codes you can dial to see if your phone is hacked. If you notice anything strange or suspicious on websites you visit, like an unusual amount of pop-up ads, you’ve probably been hacked.

Review your browsing history to check if your phone is monitored.

To avoid falling victim to spyware in this way, don’t click on suspicious or unknown links you receive via email or social media. If you’re concerned with location tracking, here’s how to locate spyware on your iPhone and Android to make sure your phone is not being tracked.

This ensures that only applications you regularly use and trust can access your phone. It can also help you block your phone from being tracked.

Make sure these apps are only tracking your location when in use. Spyware usually appears on your phone as unknown, unauthorized, or suspicious apps.

When you check your phone, you’ll want to keep an eye out for any apps that consume an unusual amount of excess energy. Reviewing battery usage for iPhone is easy: Go to Settings > Battery, then scroll down to see the usage breakdown by app.

Here you can review recent usage and force quit apps. Pro tip.

To help rule out potential spyware on your device, go ahead and check who can see your device. For details, review how to check location tracking for Find My.

VPN features are especially effective at helping to mask your data traffic and location.

Once you’ve verified that your phone isn’t currently being monitored or you’ve re-secured your phone after an attack, here’s how to stop your phone from being tracked. Jailbreaking (for Apple) and rooting (for Android) remove manufacturer restrictions built into the device.

Clario AntiSpy’s anti-jailbreak feature ensures your device always maintains its factory-safe settings. This one is pretty straightforward—as threats and security compromises are uncovered, Apple and Android take steps to patch or prevent the vulnerabilities in the operating system.

To ensure you’re always running the latest version, we recommend enabling automatic updates. Both Apple and Google go to great lengths to have specific security requirements for apps in their stores, ensuring greater user device safety.

Sometimes people download apps from untrusted sources for beta testing or try out a brand-new app. However, turning off this security measure on your phone can open your device to a host of security threats.

However, since iOS 17 iPhone allows sideloading. So, now it is especially important to stay safe and run an anti-spy check on your device when possible.

Here’s how to run and anti-spy scan on your device with Clario AntiSpy: If you’ve received a surprise text from an unknown number or Apple ID, beware—it could be a phishing or a hybrid spy-phishing scam.

When you enable location-sharing for an app to access all the features, don’t forget to turn it off again. It’s common to leave permissions on when you don’t need to.

Set a regular reminder to review your location settings by following the instructions above on how to update location sharing. Running a device with loads of old, unused, or even unknown apps is a security risk, especially if you don’t keep them up-to-date.

Phone battery health and usage can tell you a lot about what’s happening on your device, even if you don’t notice it. For example, in addition to helping you identify if any unknown apps or spyware could be eating up your charge, it’s also a great way to keep an eye on all your apps.

As we mentioned earlier, the number one option for securing and protecting your device is a total privacy and protection tool for phones. Expert security apps like Clario AntiSpy are loaded with many tools to protect your device.

For more details on hacking prevention for your mobile devices, check out our complete guide to how to prevent your phone from being hacked.

Did you know.

In addition to practicing good security hygiene, as outlined in this article, a powerful antivirus app like Clario delivers total protection and peace of mind. Ghosting is when someone abruptly cuts off contact without warning or communication.

Hackers and cyber criminals may use spoofing to trick your contacts or people in your area code into answering their calls or texts.

Pinging is an essential technology for many apps that rely on location technology to work properly. It works like breadcrumbs for the apps to follow.

It becomes unsafe, however, if your phone is tracked or monitored without your consent, as with spyware or stalkerware. If you suspect you may be tracked without permission, follow our steps to manage your location-sharing and stop phone tracking.

Forms of tracking apps are often used legally to keep track of employees and minors. More nefariously, however, some cyber criminals use spyware to hack vulnerabilities in existing apps to gain access to your phone usage and location.

While there is no definitive way to know that you’re being monitored, there are several common symptoms that may mean your phone is being tracked.

Top 2% Rank by size. Reddit.

Reddit. reReddit: Top posts of January 2021 Reddit reReddit: Top posts of 2021.

reReddit: Top posts of 2021.

Apple’s iPhones have built-in location tracking features that can let certain people see your location, and in some situations, that can be a major risk to personal safety. Apple recently shared a personal safety manual that teaches people how to protect themselves from being tracked by a stalker, a former loved one, or another malicious person.

If you have granted location access to your friends or family, they can see where you are through the Find My app. To see who can track your location, open up the ‌Find My‌ app and tap on the “People” tab.

A person who is able to see your location will be denoted with “Can see your location.”. If you tap on any person’s name in the list, you can get to settings that will let you stop sharing on an individual basis.

Sometimes people who can see your location do not have the “Can see your location” label, so make sure to check each name in the list. You can also get to these settings by opening up the Settings app, going to the Privacy section, selecting Location Services, and then choosing “Share My Location.” This will list family and friends who are able to see your location.

There are two ways to make sure no one is following your location through the ‌Find My‌ app, through the ‌Find My‌ app itself or through the Settings app on the ‌iPhone‌. To use the ‌Find My‌ app:

If you have Family Sharing enabled, you will automatically appear in the People tab for each person you are sharing with, but following the steps above to disable location sharing will prevent your family members from seeing where you are. Even with Family Sharing turned on, all parties involved must agree to share location data, and you can double check your Family Sharing settings to make sure location is disabled.

To see which apps have access to your location, follow these steps: There are other location options such as “Always,” “While Using the App,” and “Ask Next Time,” but these are not ideal if you’re aiming to prevent an app from seeing your location entirely.

Ask Next Time will prompt the app to ask for location the next time you use it, and Always will leave location access on permanently. With some apps, you’ll also see an option for “Precise Location.” If you toggle this off, an app can see your general location, but it is an approximate location rather than your specific location.

Most of this tracking is done behind the scenes and is not accessible to individuals. If you want to be absolutely certain that no person or app can track your location through the GPS and Bluetooth systems built into your ‌iPhone‌, it’s best to turn Location Services off entirely.

Apple recommends all users update their software to the latest version of iOS for the best protection, as each iOS update includes security fixes to patch known vulnerabilities and flaws that can be exploited by malicious entities. If you suspect that someone has accessed your device and may have done something to it, Apple recommends restoring it to factory settings after a data backup.

Make sure that only YOUR devices are associated with your Apple ID by opening up the Settings app and tapping your profile name. If you see a device that does not belong to you, tap it and choose “Remove From Account.”.

Make sure that you have a passcode enabled and that Touch ID or Face ID are enabled depending on which device you’re using. You’ll also want to make sure that there are no alternate appearances set up under Face ID and no fingerprints that don’t belong to you under Touch ID.

If you have shared your ‌Apple ID‌ and need to change the password, it’s simple to do, and no one can log into your ‌Apple ID‌ without your knowledge if two-factor authentication is enabled. There is never a need to share an ‌Apple ID‌, and those who want to share apps or other information should instead use Family Sharing.

Apple’s guide also covers making sure shared albums, photos, iCloud information, and Apple Watch activity are kept private, plus it walks through deleting suspicious third-party apps and MDM profiles. Many of the most invasive tracking apps use MDM profiles, and you can check to make sure no unauthorized profiles are installed by opening up Settings, tapping General, and then tapping Profiles & Device Management.

If you want more instruction on how the ‌Find My‌ app works and how to use and disable various ‌Find My‌ features, we have a full Find My guide and how to list with in-depth instructions. Need more help with location services, have questions about the ‌Find My‌ app, know of something we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide.

Powerful spy software is out there being used to track phones. Learn how to see if your phone is tapped and how to stop it.

Phone bugging can happen to anyone, from political figures to journalists to everyday folks. It could be to find out details about your private life, information about your business or job role, or it could be related to other sensitive information, like a court case.

Learn how to tell if somebody is spying on your phone, how to find spy software on your phone, and how to reduce your risk of being spied on.

The signs can be quite subtle, but when you know what to look out for, they can also be glaring. Here are a few ways to tell if your phone is tapped:

This isn’t normal for today’s phones on digital networks. If you’re hearing fragmentary voices, your phone may have been tapped.

If a mobile phone is tapped, it records your conversations and activities, then transmits them to a third party. This leaves a footprint in the form of increased battery usage, and as a result, your phone’s battery drains faster.

Is your phone making noises, or is the screen lighting up when you’re not using it. Are you receiving calls and notifications on your phone even in silent mode.

Before a smartphone shuts down, it must finish processing any remaining tasks. If your phone transmits data to someone, it must complete the process before it shuts down.

Malware could change the way your phone handles tasks, like displaying websites. While there are many reasons that a site might look different on your phone, it could be a giveaway that something strange is going on.

If your phone feels warm even when you haven’t used it, it could be because it’s secretly transmitting data. However, remember that this is only a potential sign that your phone is tapped.

Are you receiving strange text messages containing random numbers, symbols, or characters. The remote-control feature of spy software works by sending secret, coded text messages to your phone.

If this happens regularly, you could have a spy app on your phone. Have you ever noticed an orange or green dot at the top of your iPhone’s screen.

While there are many legitimate reasons your phone may be listening to you, if you notice these indicators turning on and off, it might mean that a piece of malware has tapped your phone and is recording. Some less reliable spy apps use extra data to send the information collected from your phone, so look out for any unexplained increase in your monthly data usage.

There’s a large, legitimate, and thriving industry dedicated to snooping on others via spyware. And some of this software is powerful.

Here’s how to find spyware on your phone: Finding spyware on an Android device is, in some ways, easier than trying to root it out on other kinds of devices because of the open-source operating system.

You won’t do any harm by looking for spyware on your phone. But it’s best not to remove or delete any files unless you really know what you’re doing.

It’s unsettling to think that someone may install online surveillance software onto your phone, and a strong mobile security app can help prevent it from happening. Norton Mobile Security for Android includes powerful anti-malware features to help you prevent and identify spyware and other malicious threats.

For spyware to be installed on an iPhone, it’s most likely jailbroken. This limits the likelihood that your iPhone has spyware on it.

Here’s how: There’s no way to completely prevent someone from tapping your phone, but there are some steps you can take that will limit the likelihood of a successful phone tap.

Modern phones provide you with many built-in security options that can help protect you from taps, spying, and viruses. But those features are only effective if your phone has the latest software updates and patches.

If you’re using an iPhone, this means not jailbreaking your phone. Jailbreaking an iPhone must be done physically, so try to keep your phone in your possession at all times.

If the built-in messaging and phone features aren’t secure enough (or you’re worried that someone has access to them), you might want to consider using secure apps to communicate. Because these apps feature end-to-end encryption, they could offer extra security.

You can view these settings and turn off call forwarding easily.

Disabling call forwarding on Android. ○ If you’re using a Samsung phone, enter Call Forwarding and turn it off.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted channel for you to use when you’re online. If someone is targeting you specifically for a phone tap, they will have a much more difficult time finding a pathway into your phone if your browsing is encrypted.

Offloading old apps isn’t just good for keeping your phone running efficiently. It could also reduce the likelihood of somebody tapping your phone.

Delete any apps you don’t use. Security software is designed to help protect your devices from different types of malware, viruses, hackers, and other malicious intent.

If you think your phone has been hacked, resetting your phone to its factory settings, whether it’s an Android or iPhone, should remove any spy software. But be sure to back up your data such as contacts, photos, and music first.

Even if your phone has spyware on it, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be fixed or restored.

Airplane mode disables the phone’s ability to connect to Wi-Fi or cellular networks, which prevents further threats to your privacy and security.

Safe mode allows you more freedom to remove apps that are causing problems. Rebooting in safe mode on Android:

If you have proof that someone has tapped your phone, contact the authorities. Tapping and tracking other people’s devices is illegal, as is recording other people’s phone calls.

In today’s online world, strong mobile security is essential. Norton 360 for Mobile is an effective security software suite that can help keep your phone from being tracked, hacked, or tapped.

Keep your personal data safer with Norton. Still have some questions about how cell phones are tapped.

Most likely, it’s because you have information that someone else wants — whether you’re a well-known journalist, a political leader, or a regular person. This could be private info, details about sales strategies at work, new product development, or a court case.

But technology makes spying a lot easier than it ever used to be. If your phone has been handled by someone else — for instance, during repairs or for some other reason — a backdoor application could have been installed to piggyback on your GPS service, or spy software could have been installed on your mobile device.

These codes are usually used by a phone’s owner when they want to set up or turn off call forwarding settings on their own devices. While it is possible that someone used these codes to intercept your communications, it isn’t that effective because you can turn it off whenever you want.

If there is a link in a text message and you click on it, it could take you to an unsafe website where your personal information could be compromised or malware downloaded onto your phone. Not really.

If law enforcement has a warrant and follows all other legal guidelines, they can tap your phone. For nearly everyone else, it depends on where you live.

Business owners may have the legal right to “tap” phones they own and record calls made for business purposes, but even that isn’t clear-cut.

Our phone has become an integral part of our lives. However, you will never know if your phone is tapped.

Many hackers can inject dangerous software to steal your personal data through phone tapping. Here we will discuss with you how to tell if your phone is tapped.

There are some phone codes that will let you know if your calls are forwarded to another number. It will also let you know about the messages as well as data.

When you dial *#21#, it will display the various sorts of diversion status which is happening with the number. This will display the information and you will come to know if your calls or messages are tapped.

Dialing ##002# on your phone will switch off all the redirection from your phone. This will be another way to stay secure.

If you are looking to find out if your calls messages, as well as data, are being redirected, you can dial *#62#.

This can also be very helpful if you happen to lose your phone. Once the phone is switched on, the network operator will automatically receive the location even when a new SIM card is inserted.

In some cases, it will also get hot. High temperature, as well as low power, is an indicator of malicious software.

Another reason for a hot battery will be due to malicious software running in the background. If you are suspicious of the phone not holding the charge, then you need to monitor the phone carefully.

If your mobile phone happens to consume more data and runs slow on data, then there may be something suspicious. It can happen when modern spyware uploads large amounts of data without your knowledge.

When you happen to witness any of these, you will have to find out what actually is the reason behind it. If you don’t find an answer, then there is a possibility of any third party intercepting the messages.

On your iPhone, you will have to tap on Settings followed by Cellular. Unwanted pop-ups and ads can be very irritating.

Keep an eye on the apps of which you are not aware. There can also be apps running in the background which you have not installed.

Also, the ads can be very intrusive and will encourage you to click on them accidentally. The malware generates a lot of ad traffic and increases data usage.

Never click on any of the links which can lead to malware. There can even be a possibility when you will face general performance issues with your phone.

Malware can trick you to download fake systems updates to have complete access to your activities. It can even get root access to your smartphone.

You may think that your handset is getting old due to performance lags. Even though real apps can take power, they will not affect the reaction time of your smartphone.

On your iOS device, you will have to go to Settings. Strange messages indicate that your phone is being tapped.

It can come in the form of a spam or wrong number with randomized digits as well as characters. Some can even have symbols.

Never let your phone be compromised as a hacker will try to install malware on your device. You should always look at the messaging chain and check the media profiles.

If you happen to see any kind of URL code in your email or text, then you should never ignore it. It will cost you when you click on the link.

When there is a malicious app on your phone, the appearance of the website will appear frequently. It is because the malicious app will act as a proxy and communicate between the site and you.

This can even happen when you opt for private browsing. When you happen to go for online banking, you need to enter personal details that can be in the form of a password or other financial details.

Always compare the PC version with that of the mobile version when things look slightly different. Most of us will not be victims of phone tapping.

However, you must always follow basic security measures. It is important to download apps from the official stores of Google and Apple.

When you happen to notice any of the above signs, you will have to be quick to take action.

Welcome to the world of smartphones, where our handheld devices have become an integral part of our daily lives. Whether we use them for communication, entertainment, or even financial transactions, it feels like we can’t go a day without our beloved mobile phones.

One common worry among iPhone users is whether their devices are being tracked without their knowledge. In this article, we will explore the signs that may indicate your iPhone is being tracked and provide you with tips on how to protect your privacy.

If you notice that your iPhone’s battery is draining unusually fast, it could be a sign that your device is being tracked. Tracking software running in the background can cause increased power consumption, leading to rapid battery drain.

An overheating iPhone can be another sign of tracking. If your iPhone feels excessively hot, even when you’re not using it for resource-intensive tasks, it could be a result of tracking software running in the background.

If you notice a sudden spike in your iPhone’s data usage, it may be a strong indication that your device is being tracked. Tracking software often requires an internet connection to transmit the collected data.

Unexpected pop-ups on your iPhone can be a sign of tracking or malware. If you encounter frequent pop-ups from unfamiliar sources, it’s possible that your device has been compromised.

If your iPhone is exhibiting strange behavior, such as apps crashing frequently, sluggish performance, or freezing, it may be a sign of tracking. Tracking software can interfere with the normal functioning of your device, causing it to behave erratically.

If you notice unfamiliar apps appearing on your iPhone without your knowledge or consent, it could be an indication that your device is being tracked. Some tracking software may install additional apps to monitor your activity, gather data, or perform other intrusive functions.

In conclusion, there are several signs that can help you determine if your iPhone is being tracked. These include unusual battery drain, overheating, high data usage, unexpected pop-ups, strange behavior, and unexplained app installations.

This may involve running a thorough security scan, removing suspicious apps, and considering additional security measures such as using a VPN or updating your device’s software. Q: Can I detect tracking software on my iPhone without using third-party apps.

A: While third-party apps can provide additional assistance, you can detect potential tracking software on your iPhone by carefully monitoring your device’s behavior, performance, and app installations. Paying attention to the indicators mentioned in this article can help you identify potential tracking attempts.

A: The legality of tracking an iPhone without the user’s consent varies depending on the jurisdiction. In most cases, it is illegal to track someone’s iPhone without their permission.

It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the laws in your specific region. Q: Can a factory reset remove tracking software from an iPhone.

A: In some cases, a factory reset can remove tracking software from an iPhone. However, it’s important to note that sophisticated tracking software can potentially survive a factory reset.

Q: Can I prevent my iPhone from being tracked.

These include keeping your device’s software up to date, using strong passwords and biometric authentication, avoiding suspicious links and downloads, and being cautious about granting app permissions. Q: Should I consult with a professional if I suspect my iPhone is being tracked.

A: If you have strong suspicions that your iPhone is being tracked, it may be wise to consult with a cybersecurity professional. They can help assess your device for any signs of tracking, provide advice on securing your device, and recommend further steps to protect your privacy and security.

Phones. Foldable Phones.

Mobile Accessories. Smartwatches.

Can you prevent your iPhone location from being tracked. The answer is yes.

However, Aiseesoft AnyCoord can help you. It has the capacity to make fake locations and create virtual routes for iPhones.

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Click the Start button, and plug your iPhone into the same machine with a Lightning cable. When prompted, tap Trust on your iPhone screen to permit connection.

Click the Modify Location button if you want to prevent someone from tracking your iPhone location. There are two ways to hide your location:

To switch your location to another accurate address, type it into the box on the Modify Location dialog, and hit the Confirm Modify button.

When making a call, background noises are usually just a sign of a bad connection. However, there is the small chance that your iPhone has some level of spy software installed in it.

If during a phone call you can hear a beeping noise, static, clicking, or even other voices, it may be possible your iPhone is being tracked. If your camera app is opening without you specifically requesting it, this could signify that spyware apps are tracking and collecting images that are being sent to other devices.

Spyware apps will ask for permissions that are clearly out of the ordinary. When a notes app is asking for camera permission, or a maps app is requesting microphone access, then you might want to investigate.

You understand that your phone knows where you’re located. This is how GPS works, how Find My sees your location and why you get local ads on Facebook and Google.

Thankfully, you don’t have to stand for this kind of data collection. These tactics are legal because the companies behind them give you a choice to opt in or out, but not everyone knows how to change the settings.

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The feature is buried inside your device’s privacy settings and, by default, records your daily routine. Known as “Frequent Locations,” it keeps track of where you are and how long you stay there.

Privacy, security, the latest trends and the info you need to stay safe online. If you find this unsettling, you can turn the feature off.

You can also clear your history here by clicking Clear History. Ending location tracking may sound extreme, so you may prefer to combat the ads themselves.

These tools will not totally stop companies from tracking your phone activities and won’t limit the number of ads you see. Still, they will allow you to reset your advertising ID and unlink any targeted advertising profiles associated with your gadgets.

Google services have come under fire for storing your location data — even if you’ve tweaked the privacy settings on your iPhone or Android gadgets. To turn off Google’s location tracking for good, try these settings:

At the top right, click the three-button menu and Keep activity for. Enable Auto-delete activity older than and choose 3 months, 18 months or 36 months.

You can turn off the different data types saved to your Google account here. Tap or click here for more details on what Google knows about you.

However, it does stop Google from adding your movements to your Timeline. But location data is still being saved on your Web & App Activity.

You have to pause your Web & App Activity toggle to prevent location markers from being saved. When this feature is paused, none of your activity from your Google services will be saved on your account.

But few know about the browsers that allow you to search the internet on a mobile device with much less tracking. This is handy if you want to look up a product, for example, without getting spammed with ads for it later.

Here’s how: Open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu to the right of the address bar and select New Incognito tab. Mozilla’s free Firefox Focus app is another solid option that erases passwords and browsing history after each session.

Alternatively, iPhone users can use the default Safari browser and access a private window for stealthy browsing. Tap the window icon in the bottom right corner.

Tabs in the Private Tab Group aren’t shared with your other Apple devices, even if you’re signed in with the same Apple ID. To close private tabs, tap the window icon, then swipe left on each of the tabs you want to close.

Tap or click here for Google alternatives that don’t track you. When you create an account with a major company (think, Google, Microsoft or Facebook), you feed them data about your location, personality and preferences.

Thankfully, these companies — and most advertising firms — give you tools to opt out of personalized ad tracking. For example, Google and Microsoft have account dashboards for privacy controls and for checking what they each know about you.

Google revamped its ad settings to make it easier to understand and limit ad tracking. Facebook also has options for turning off behavioral tracking to keep it from following you around the web.

The company is also auditing its third-party apps, which are now more accessible to view and control. Tap or click here to see how.

The Digital Advertising Alliance has a consumer choice page that lets you see which participating partners currently target you with customized ads on your phone. When you first visit the website, the Alliance will scan your device.

From there, you can learn more about the practices these companies use for interest-based ads and opt out using opt-out cookies stored in your browser with your preferences. It’s important to note that doing this won’t remove all the ads you see online.

With the rise of virtual assistants like Siri and Google Assistant, our smartphones are no longer used strictly for calls and chats — we can now use our voices to command these gadgets. However, when you utter wake words, the audio file of your voice command is uploaded and saved to Apple, Amazon, or Google’s servers for “processing.”.

Tap or click here to read more about our modern gadgets’ voice control technology and how to stop them from recording you. Before you install apps, always check their permissions posted on their Google Play or Apple App Store pages.

Apple apps will typically show you a permission access pop-up. Sometimes apps ask for more information than they need.

This is why checking your app permissions regularly is good practice. It will give you more privacy control and stop apps from potentially spying, and it can also weed out apps that are continually running in the background.

One more thing you need to do: Here’s how to control your apps’ permissions on Android and iOS. The more we rely on our devices for work, school and our personal lives, the more we have to lose.

That’s why Kim recommends TotalAV. TotalAV’s industry-leading security suite is easy to use and offers the best protection in the business.

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The only slight complication is that the main US mobile carriers run on different networks, meaning you’ll need to dial different numbers depending on whether you’re on a GSM network (like AT&T and T-Mobile) or a CDMA network (like Verizon and US Cellular).

GSM networks. *#002# — Lists all call and data forwarding settings.

CDMA networks. *72 — Lists all call and data forwarding settings.

If you discover your phone is tapped, you’ll need to know how to get your phone’s identification number so you can file a police report. Here’s what you do:

The only difference between the networks is that GSM uses an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number and CDMA uses an MEID (Mobile Equipment Identifier) number. They are virtually identical — the IMEI number is the full 15 digits and the MEID is the first 14 digits (just leave off the last digit).

This diverts your incoming calls — and any resulting voicemails — to another phone number. To find out for sure whether someone else is receiving your unanswered calls, dial either *#61# for GSM networks or *92 for CDMA networks to list conditional call forwarding for your phone number.

Out-of-service (OOS) conditional call forwarding diverts incoming phone calls and text messages whenever your phone is turned off, or if it’s without a network signal. To uncover OOS conditional call forwarding on GSM networks, dial *#62# and deregister unknown numbers using the ##62# reset code.

Out-of-service call forwarding diverts incoming calls if the phone is turned off or has no signal. Conditional call forwarding can also be configured to send calls and voicemails to another number when an incoming call is rejected or the line is engaged.

To prevent rejected call forwarding to any suspect numbers in the future, clear your settings using the GSM MMI code ##67# or the CDMA MMI code *91. Both GSM and CDMA networks let you view and reset all your call forwarding settings using a single MMI code.

Verizon, US Cellular, and other CDMA network customers should dial either *41 or *42 to find all conditional call forwarding settings, and then *43 to clear them. It’s also possible for all calls and messages to be diverted away from your number.

You can find out if your phone has been tapped using unconditional data forwarding with the help of MMI codes. On GSM networks, dial *#21# to list, and ##21# to clear your unconditional data forwarding settings.

A tapped phone typically displays certain tell-tale signs that alert you to the fact that someone’s listening in to your calls, intercepting your messages, or otherwise snooping on your mobile data. Here’s how to tell if your cell phone is being tracked, tapped, or monitored by spy software:

Hoovering up your data requires a lot of resource-intensive background processes, so you’ll likely notice your phone overheating for no apparent reason or draining faster than usual. Unexplained spikes in your mobile data consumption are another warning sign that your phone may have been hacked and that spyware is tapping your phone.

It’s often accompanied by a noticeable lag or slow down in your internet speeds when connecting via mobile data. Pop-ups and other ads may be more than just an irritating nuisance — they could signal that hackers have compromised your device.

Sluggish shutdowns are another potential side-effect of phone tapping. This is often caused by malicious apps or software running background processes that require extra time to shut down and force your system to wait for them before the device powers down.

If this is the case, your other communications might be being monitored or intercepted too. If your private information has been exposed in a data breach, it could be available on the dark web, putting you at risk of credit card fraud and other forms of identity theft.

Data breaches can be a signal that phone tapping has allowed cybercriminals to access your personal information. If your phone’s lighting up, making sounds, or displaying other signs of activity when you’re not using it, someone may have remote access to your phone.

But those issues could also indicate that hackers are up to no good with your phone — particularly if these symptoms coincide with other signs of phone tapping. Phone tapping doesn’t necessarily just intercept your calls and messages, it can cause you to start getting all sorts of spam and phishing messages too.

When something seems “off” while browsing websites on your mobile, it could be an indication that your phone’s been compromised by malware that’s acting as a proxy between you and your browser, and logging your activity. Signs to watch out for include things like persistent pop-ups even when you’re using an ad-blocker, or sites appearing or behaving strangely.

That’s why you should use a comprehensive security app like AVG AntiVirus FREE to root out all forms of spyware and other malware. AVG AntiVirus FREE features email and web shields that can help block phishing attempts, protect your webcam, and prevent unauthorized remote access to your device.

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Call **21* if you use Verizon, US Cellular, or another CDMA network to discover any unconditional call forwarding settings that may be used to tap your phone. If your phone is on a CDMA network like Verizon or US Cellular, dialing the code *72 will tell you whether any of your calls or data are being forwarded to another number.

Dialing ##002# deactivates any conditional or unconditional call forwarding settings on your account and also deletes any data such as messages or voicemails that were previously diverted to another number. This code only applies to phones on GSM networks such as AT&T or T-mobile.

It’s also possible to clear these settings by dialing ##61#. The equivalent codes for CDMA networks such as Verizon and US Cellular are *92 and *93.