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. Keep reading.

Experience the full potential of your digital life effortlessly and securely. As hackers continue to improve their methods, it can be tricky to tell if your phone has been compromised.

One of the most common signs that your phone is being tracked is an unusual battery drain. 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.

So, if you notice that your phone is losing its charge quickly, it is a good idea to check if there is any tracking app installed on your device. If you notice a sudden increase in data usage on your phone, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked.

So, if you notice that your phone is using more data than usual, you should check your phone’s data usage to see if any tracking app is consuming a large amount of data. If you hear unusual background noise while making a phone call, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked.

So, if you hear any strange sounds while on a call, it is a good idea to check your phone for any tracking apps. If your phone’s performance has become slow and sluggish, it could be a sign that your phone is being tracked.

So, if you notice that your phone is not performing as well as it used to, it is a good idea to check for any tracking apps. 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.

So, if you see more ads and pop-ups than usual, it is a good idea to check for any tracking apps on your phone. If your phone feels warmer than usual, it could be a sign that there is a tracking app running in the background.

So, if you notice that your phone is warmer than usual, it is a good idea to check for any tracking apps. Noticed any unfamiliar apps on your phone.

Tracking apps are usually disguised as harmless apps like games or weather apps. So, if you see any unfamiliar apps on your phone, it is a good idea to check them for any tracking features.

Tracking apps can send commands and messages to your phone to control it remotely. So, if you receive any unusual or suspicious messages, it is a good idea to check your phone for any tracking apps.

The signs mentioned above can help you identify whether 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.

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.

Also, you might be interested in how to protect your phone from hackers and cyber threats, check out our great post here. Yes.

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.

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.): To check your cellular data usage on an iPhone running iOS 16, do the following.

Is your smartphone rebooting for no obvious reason or without you manually rebooting it. Someone may have unauthorized remote access to your smartphone.

This would also indicate they have all sorts of other access to your device and the personal data stored on it. It could also mean the latest app or operating system you recently downloaded has a bug in it.

See if you can duplicate the device reboot by using the app that was open when it happened. On your Android device, you can install and run antivirus or anti-malware security software to scan your device.

In the days of analog cell phone networks, weird noises in the background and unstable connections were to be expected. However, today’s all-digital cell networks usually provide connections that are stable and mostly noise-free.

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.

If the victim taps the link, the worm can infect their smartphone. On your Android device, you can install and run security software such as antivirus or anti-malware to scan your device.

Also, be wary of clicking links in these text messages, as such links can also be used to scam you via phishing schemes to steal your personal and/or business information. This is true on both the Android and iOS device platforms.

Or, it could mean that your device is infected with spyware, and the additional load it’s putting on your smartphone is draining the battery quicker than usual. Spyware monitors all of your on-device activities and sends information about these activities back to the bad actors that infected your device.

Taking screenshots, copying and pasting text, recording your conversations, and possibly taking photos or recording video can eat up battery life at an alarming rate. This is especially obvious when your smartphone is supposedly idle.

Then, monitor the battery usage. Sorry iPhone users, your device’s batteries are not removable.

Users running iOS 14 and up can take advantage of a privacy feature that alerts you when an app on your device is using its camera or microphone.

On the iPhone, do the following: On an Android Device, do the following: These instructions are for generic Android 10. The steps will be similar for customized versions of Android 10 or for other versions of Android.

While increased battery temperature can be a sign of multiple technical issues, it can also indicate that unauthorized activities, like spyware activities, are occurring in the background. 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.

Your smartphone, much like a Mac or Windows PC, attempts to shut down all active processes before turning itself off or when it is rebooted. And, much like your computer, occasionally those processes can hang up and either prevent or greatly slow the shutdown process.

You may notice that your smartphone takes longer than usual to shut down right after you’ve finished an active period with your mobile phone. This could mean the spyware is working in the background, saving its ill-gotten information and sending it back to home base.

Again, this can be caused by a harmless app misbehaving, but if it just started happening recently, or is happening more often than not, your device might be infected with spyware. (Did anyone else hear Jeff Foxworthy say that last sentence in their head.

Okay.) 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.

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. Furthermore, the more advanced applications can even steal your passwords, use your camera to physically spy on you, or even lock your cell phone completely so you can’t use it anymore.

If so, how can you remove it. Here’s how.

Your cell phone or mobile device may be running a different version of Android. However, the process should be similar on many versions of Android.

However, keep in mind that many spy apps do not use the actual name of the monitoring tool, but instead use a fake name to hide it. You should delete any unknown apps on your device.

Their tech team, known as the “Geek Squad,” can help you delete any file that belongs to spy software. In addition, you can also use the Google Play Store “Google Play Protect” feature to scan your installed apps for any harmful behavior.

Do the following: 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.

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). This should remove any jailbreak while disabling any spy app requiring a jailbroken device.

I’m just kidding, there isn’t a solution. That’s because there really isn’t any true spyware available for the Windows Phone platform.

(If you do know of any spyware on this platform, please let me know in the comments below.) 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.

Generally, many people that fall victim to spy software are not even aware of the fact that it’s happening. Once you discover that someone has been spying on you, your first reaction may be disbelief (likely followed by anger).

If your cell phone is showing any of the signs listed above that suggest that someone might be spying or using a stalking app against you, I strongly recommend that you follow the above solutions for your Android or iOS device. 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. Sadly, yes.

If you think this is happening, search for and uninstall the apps by following the instructions I discussed earlier in this article. As a rule, it is extremely difficult for someone to remotely install phone surveillance software on an iPhone or Android smartphone without having physical access to the device.

Anything more than that and you’d require physical access. There are no reliable apps that I am aware of that can detect if your phone is being tapped.

To check for these apps, check the permissions for all of the installed apps on your device, following the steps I laid out above. As for iPhone users, keep an eye on the indicator at the top of the screen to see if any app is using your microphone surreptitiously.

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. It isn’t possible to remove the battery from an iPhone.

(Um, especially the part about turning it off.) Whistleblower Edward Snowden said in a 2014 interview that the NSA can listen in on your conversations using the microphone on your smartphone, even if the device is turned off. It does this by using spyware that prevents your smartphone from actually turning off.

Removing the battery from your device is the only way to be sure your device is actually powered down. Spyware comes in various forms.

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, Many times, stalkerware is installed by a nosy spouse to track their partner and their actions.

Organizations also install it on employees’ phones to ensure company-provided devices are used properly. First of all, make sure your smartphone never leaves your sight.

So keeping your phone in your possession will help prevent any spyware from being installed. Also, make sure to lock your smartphone using a secure and unique passcode or password.

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.

It will display the type of diversion and the number to which the information is diverted on your phone screen. *#62# If your calls, messages, and data appear to be diverted, use this code to identify the destination.

##002# 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# This code can be used to determine your IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identifier).

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.

There are several indicators that can point towards the presence of spy software on your iPhone. Some of the most common ones include the following: Hearing background noise when making or receiving a call can be as a result of a poor connection.

This is because some spy software can record phone calls which can cause the noises you hear during a call. These noises can range anywhere from beeping, static, clicking and even actual voices.

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. Although this is an indicator, it is worth noting that your battery life will diminish as your device gets older.

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. If your inbox is filled with too many odd messages that contain some type of code, it is an indication that there’s a spyware tool on your smartphone.

How to tell if your cell phone is being tracked. Check your device’s temperature.

If you have experienced a sudden increase in battery temperatures in idle mode, beware of spying software that’s sending data to another device. One of the quickest way to check if your cell phone has been tracked or not is to check your phone’s browser history.

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.

Use a root file explorer and look into different folders on your device. If you find any files named as “stealth”, “spy”, or “mobile spy”, understand that you are being monitored by someone.

Some of you might thinking about removing these spyware app from your device. However, there’s a huge possibility that by the time you remove a spyware app from your device, someone has already got the most of your important data.

Here are the most effective methods to protect your device from being tracked by other. The best way to restrict people from accessing your location is to use a location spoofing app like iMyFone AnyTo.

With the help of this amazing location spoofer, your true location won’t be able to track anymore. Now, let me show you how to use it to hide your iPhone’s location and stay safe on your iPhone.

Then, launch it and tap “Get Started”. Step 2: Now, connect your iPhone to the PC/Mac via USB cable and confirm the connection by tapping “Trust” on your iPhone.

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.

You can also enter the GPS coordinates to find a specific 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. That’s why it’s never advised to root or jailbreak your device unless you are willing to verify every app before installation.

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. So, it’s always a better strategy to install apps from trusted sources.

The primary focus of these updates is to enhance the security level. So, always make sure to install the latest device updates so that your device does not remain vulnerable to malware.

These types of apps will automatically detect the presence of a spyware app and alert you instantly. As a result, you won’t have to go through the hassle of locating the spyware app yourself.

Let’s take a look. 1 Norton 360 Standard An all-in-one protection app for smartphone.

You get smart Firewall, secure VPN, online threat detection and so on. 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 An overall security solution for people who make frequent financial transactions on their phones.

It also helps you keeping your passwords saved on a secure vault. After knowing how to protect your cell phone from being hacked.

Is there any way to delete tracking apps on my phone. Definitely, you can.

They include the following: One of the easiest ways to stop someone from tracking your iPhone is to change the password you’re using. 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.

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.

To factory reset an iPhone, follow these simple steps: 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 2: With a Backup of all your data, go to “Settings” > “General” > “Reset” and then tap “Erase All Contents and Settings”.

You may need to enter your Apple password to complete the process. Once it is done, the iPhone will go back to the Set-up screen.

The tracking app should no longer be on the device. Tracking apps can be installed on your device without your knowledge.

I bet you have already picked one of the solutions we provided to protect your privacy. Tell us what do you think about this topic and leave a comment down below if you have any questions.

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.

It will also let you know about the messages as well as data. Once you hit it on the screen, it will display the information on the phone screen.

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.

If you are looking to find out if your calls messages, as well as data, are being redirected, you can dial *#62#. By dialing *#06#, you will be able to know the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) code.

Once the phone is switched on, the network operator will automatically receive the location even when a new SIM card is inserted. One of the main signs of phone tapping is that the battery drains frequently.

High temperature, as well as low power, is an indicator of malicious software. However, it can also happen when you use a lot of apps and consume more data.

If you are suspicious of the phone not holding the charge, then you need to monitor the phone carefully. Consider the apps which consume more battery If your mobile phone happens to consume more data and runs slow on data, then there may be something suspicious.

This can primarily happen when you connect to free public Wi-Fi. When you happen to witness any of these, you will have to find out what actually is the reason behind it.

You can easily know data usage on your Android phone by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile data usage. On your iPhone, you will have to tap on Settings followed by Cellular.

You should never ignore them as it can be a sign of someone spying on your phone. Keep an eye on the apps of which you are not aware.

This can be possibly malicious and can gather data. Also, the ads can be very intrusive and will encourage you to click on them accidentally.

This can be basically to generate revenue through pay per click basis. Never click on any of the links which can lead to malware.

You will have to note that your device will become slow if more data is being used. Malware can trick you to download fake systems updates to have complete access to your activities.

In doing so, hackers can receive your information. You may think that your handset is getting old due to performance lags.

To confirm which apps are using more RAM, you need to perform this task. On your iOS device, you will have to go to Settings.

You must never ignore these types of messages. It can come in the form of a spam or wrong number with randomized digits as well as characters.

It can be highly malicious and is used by fraudsters. Never let your phone be compromised as a hacker will try to install malware on your device.

If you don’t remember sending anything, then it is highly suspicious. If you happen to see any kind of URL code in your email or text, then you should never ignore it.

This type of message will rip you off and you don’t have to get redirected to any fraudulent link. When there is a malicious app on your phone, the appearance of the website will appear frequently.

The malware will present a fake page and will keep track of anything you type. This can even happen when you opt for private browsing.

There may not be any differences but there could be a website having a new interface. Always compare the PC version with that of the mobile version when things look slightly different.

Therefore, you can rest and have peace of mind. However, you must always follow basic security measures.

Never get apps from other sources as it will increase the risk of infection. When you happen to notice any of the above signs, you will have to be quick to take action.

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. There are several possible reasons why your phone is being monitored illegally: Your employer, the government, and even your internet service provider (ISP) can also track you.

Likewise, while the management at your workplace can monitor your internet activity to track your productivity, they’re likely to do so on your work computer rather than your phone. Look for the common signs listed below to find out if someone is tracking your phone.

However, in the age of unlimited data plans, few of us bother to check how much data we actually use on our mobile devices. If you suspect that your phone may be tapped, it’s smart to begin keeping an eye on your data.

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: Is your phone suddenly slowing way down.

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. Certain apps may need access to some of your phone’s features.

For example, it makes sense for a social media app to ask for camera access. However, some apps don’t require certain permissions.

For instance, an app built for setting reminders doesn’t need camera access. Related to issues with the phone slowing down, when your phone’s RAM gets overloaded, it can freeze or even spontaneously crash.

Are you suddenly aware of some added noises while calling someone—even when you are in a quiet space. While this is usually not the only sign of infection, it happens when your phone is tracked or traced with stalkerware.

Related to excessive RAM usage, spyware can cause your battery to overheat. If this is happening in conjunction with other symptoms in this list, it’s time to take steps to check your phone for spyware.

Beware if you receive strange texts with links or coded messages from unknown numbers or at unexpected times (e.g., a surprise text message from the IRS—hint: they’ll never text you. ) Never click or engage with these texts.

Tip 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. You could also be redirected to unsafe websites when your phone has been compromised.

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. Within Settings on your device, you can and should regularly review and revise your location-sharing settings for all your apps.

It can also help you block your phone from being tracked. Certain apps, like those for transport, maps, delivery, step trackers, etc., are more likely to have location settings continuously engaged.

Spyware usually appears on your phone as unknown, unauthorized, or suspicious apps. To see if your phone is being tracked, you will need to carefully examine the apps as they appear within your settings on your iPhone or Android.

Reviewing battery usage for iPhone is easy: Go to Settings > Battery, then scroll down to see the usage breakdown by app. The process is similar for Android: Go to Settings > Battery, then tap Battery usage.

Pro tip If you think you may have an old battery or there may be an issue with your battery, you can get diagnostics for your battery on your iPhone by clicking Battery Health within your battery settings. To help rule out potential spyware on your device, go ahead and check who can see your device.

Your best bet from a phone security standpoint is an all-in-one mobile privacy and protection tool. 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.

In these situations, the text may contain strange messages, urgent calls to action, or links that entice you to reply or tap. When you enable location-sharing for an app to access all the features, don’t forget to turn it off again.

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.

As we increasingly rely on mobile devices for personal projects, remote work, business communications, and more, risks from malicious phone attacks are on the rise. 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. The FCC provides tips for what to do if you think your number is being spoofed.

It works like breadcrumbs for the apps to follow. It’s a safe and legal technology—as long as you have enabled location-sharing for those apps.

If you suspect you may be tracked without permission, follow our steps to manage your location-sharing and stop phone tracking. Stalking apps are called spyware and stalkerware.

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.

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. Just tap on “Stop Sharing My Location” to block that person from seeing where you are.

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. Tap on any name in the list to get to an option where you can toggle off location sharing.

To use the ‌Find My‌ app: To turn off Location Sharing in the Settings 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.

Apps can request access to your location, and if you’re using social networking apps like Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook, it’s entirely possible that your actions on those sites could have location information attached.

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.

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. You can find instructions below: Make sure that only YOUR devices are associated with your Apple ID by opening up the Settings app and tapping your profile name.

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.

There are several tell-tale signs that suggest someone is tracking, tapping, or monitoring your phone in some way. The signs can be quite subtle, but when you know what to look out for, they can also be glaring.

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.

Are you receiving calls and notifications on your phone even in silent mode. If you’re seeing those signs and it’s rebooting on its own (and you don’t have automatic updates turned on), it might mean that someone has remote access to your device.

If your phone transmits data to someone, it must complete the process before it shuts down. As a result, if a phone takes longer than usual to turn off, especially after a call, text, email, or web browsing, it could be sending information to a third party.

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. A further indicator of a possible phone tap is the temperature of your battery.

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.

These texts shouldn’t be visible but if the software isn’t working correctly, you’ll be able to see them. If this happens regularly, you could have a spy app on your phone.

That means the phone is using the microphone or camera or an app. 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.

More advanced spy software programs’ data usage will be difficult to spot, but the lower-quality programs usually show significant data use. There’s a large, legitimate, and thriving industry dedicated to snooping on others via spyware.

But fortunately, most commercially available spy software can be found if you know what you’re looking for. 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.

But it’s best not to remove or delete any files unless you really know what you’re doing. And if you find suspicious software, consult an expert that can help you out.

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.

But if you use a jailbroken iOS device, these steps can help you find spyware. 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.

But those features are only effective if your phone has the latest software updates and patches. Turn on automatic updates for your device’s operating system and apps to give the person who wants to tap your phone fewer weaknesses to exploit.

Jailbreaking an iPhone must be done physically, so try to keep your phone in your possession at all times. That said, vulnerabilities have been discovered in the past that allowed someone with access to a network used by the device to download significant amounts of personal data, but you can never be too certain about new vulnerabilities emerging.

Because these apps feature end-to-end encryption, they could offer extra security. Your phone has built-in settings that could, in theory, accept phone calls on your behalf using call forwarding.

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

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. Norton 360 for Mobile includes a built-in VPN with bank-grade encryption to help prevent your phone from being tracked.

It could also reduce the likelihood of somebody tapping your phone. Older apps, or apps that you (or someone else) downloaded onto your phone directly or through a third-party app store, could be full of vulnerabilities ready to be exploited.

Security software is designed to help protect your devices from different types of malware, viruses, hackers, and other malicious intent. If someone is using malware to tap your phone, security software can help locate and remove it from your device.

But be sure to back up your data such as contacts, photos, and music first. You can follow several steps if you believe somebody tapped your phone.

If you’re worried that somebody tapped your phone, it’s a good idea to put it into airplane mode before you go any further. 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: Rebooting in safe mode on iPhone: If you have proof that someone has tapped your phone, contact the authorities.

While it may be difficult for the police to track down exactly who tapped your device, they may be able to provide you with some tips to avoid having your phone hacked again. In today’s online world, strong mobile security is essential.

Plus, it includes powerful antivirus features to help block malware and spyware. Keep your personal data safer with Norton.

We’ve got answers. 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.

If you’ve never spied on anyone, the concept of you being spied upon might seem unlikely. But technology makes spying a lot easier than it ever used to be.

Generally, no. 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.

Not directly. 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.

Someone could call you and try to get you to visit an unsafe site or click on a link that would take you to a page where malware is waiting to be installed, but taps are usually done physically, through malware, or through a provider (when law enforcement compels them to do so). If law enforcement has a warrant and follows all other legal guidelines, they can tap your phone.

Many states have “one-party consent,” which lets one person record a conversation without the other person’s knowledge. 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.

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.

Paying attention to the indicators mentioned in this article can help you identify potential tracking attempts. Q: Is it legal to track an iPhone without the user’s consent.

In most cases, it is illegal to track someone’s iPhone without their permission. However, there may be exceptions, such as in the case of parental monitoring or with the explicit consent of the device owner.

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.

To ensure complete removal, it is recommended to perform a thorough scan using reputable anti-malware software or seek professional assistance if needed. 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.

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.

AirTags, although designed to act as key, wallet and luggage finders, have been misused by thieves and stalkers to track people’s locations, as well as their personal items, without their knowledge. Over the last year, Apple has released several antistalking features to help people find rogue AirTags near them, and that includes an app for Android users.

Here’s how to scan for AirTags on your Android smartphone or tablet. The Tracker Detect app, available in the Google Play Store for free, allows you to use your Android to search for and track items that work with Apple’s Find My network, such as AirTags, and are separated from their owner for at least 15 minutes.

Just hit Scan and search for nearby AirTags. After downloading Tracker Detect, turn on Bluetooth, open the application, agree to the terms and conditions, and tap the blue Scan button to search for nearby items.

Your Android will scan for up to a minute, and if it finds an AirTag near you, it will appear as “Unknown Airtag.” If you don’t find anything, you can try the scan again, especially because the tracker must be separated from its owner for at least 15 minutes to appear.

If the AirTag is with you by accident, meaning it’s not being used to follow you, and “Lost Mode” is enabled, you can tap and hold your NFC-compatible Android to the white side of the tag to get more information on how to return it.

The AirTag can be disabled by removing the CR2032 battery. If you want to shut down the AirTag and stop if from tracking you, Tracker Detect will provide a brief but concise summary on how to disable it: Removing the battery will notify the owner that the AirTag has been disabled, so be warned.

On Tracker Detect, you must manually scan for AirTags each time, which can be a nuisance if you’re constantly worried about being tracked. Maybe in future updates Apple will consider adding more features to the Android app, but until then, Tracker Detect can help provide some relief if you’re being tracked by AirTag.