Are Your Cell Messages Being Monitored? Here's How To Tell

With the invention of new surveillance technology, it's easier than ever for someone to monitor your phone. Monitoring tools are sometimes used for parental controls or to monitor employees' activities on company devices. However, they can also be used to invade your privacy and access your private data.

- Unusual sounds during calls, such as clicking sounds, static, or faint voices

- Decreased battery performance or faster battery drain

- Unusual phone activity when not in use, such as the screen lighting up or receiving notifications while in silent mode

- Trouble shutting down or increased device shut down time

- Websites look different or display strange pop-up ads

- Unusually hot battery

- Receiving unusual texts containing random numbers, symbols, or characters

- Cameras and microphones turning on randomly

- Increased data usage

- Unfamiliar apps in your app list

- Random reboots

- Slowing down or lagging

Strange sounds during calls

Strange sounds during your calls can be a sign that your phone is being monitored. However, it is important to note that these sounds could also be due to a poor signal or random interference. If you hear clicking sounds, static, or faint and distant voices, it may indicate that someone is eavesdropping on your calls.

To check for sounds that your ear may not pick up, you can use a sound-bandwidth sensor on a low frequency. If the indicator pops up several times per minute, it is likely that your phone is tapped. Additionally, you can test this by using your phone around other electronic devices. If you experience interference with a radio or television while on a call, it could indicate that your phone is tapped.

If you suspect that your phone is being monitored, it is important to take action to protect your privacy and personal information. You can try installing mobile security apps or performing a factory reset on your device to remove any potential spyware.

High battery consumption

To test whether high battery consumption is due to spyware, you can check your battery usage data, which is available on both Android and iPhone devices. This will show you which apps are using the most battery power and help you identify any suspicious apps that may be causing the problem.

Another way to test for spyware is to compare your phone's battery performance with that of another phone of the same model and software. If your phone is using significantly more battery power, it could indicate the presence of spyware or a defect in your device.

In addition to high battery consumption, other signs of a monitored phone include unusual sounds during calls, unexpected text messages, increased data usage, and unusual phone activity when not in use.

If you suspect that your phone is being monitored, it is important to take action to protect your privacy. This may include uninstalling suspicious apps, updating your device's operating system, or performing a factory reset.

Increased data usage

If you suspect your phone is being monitored, you can check your data usage on an iPhone by going to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. On an Android device, this can usually be done by going to Connections > Data Usage > Mobile Data or Network & Internet > Mobile Network.

If you notice a spike in your data usage, this could be an indicator that spyware is present on your device. However, it is important to note that advanced spy software programs' data usage may be more difficult to spot, so be sure to check your data usage regularly and carefully.

In addition to monitoring your data usage, there are other signs that may indicate the presence of spyware on your device. These include unusual sounds during calls, decreased battery performance, unusual phone activity when not in use, trouble shutting down, and unexpected text messages. If you suspect that your phone is being monitored, it is important to take action to protect your privacy and personal information.

Phone activity when not in use

Unusual phone activity is one of the tell-tale signs that your phone is being monitored. Here are some things to look out for:

• The phone turning off and on by itself: While automatic updates can cause restarts, frequent, unexplainable reboots may warrant investigation. Spyware may be initiating restarts to install new components or mask its activity.
• Apps opening and closing on their own: Unexpected app activity could indicate rogue software. Spyware might launch specific apps to record data (like calls or keystrokes) or activate the camera or microphone without your knowledge.
• Notifications while in silent mode: If you see excessive notifications while your phone isn't in use, it could mean someone has tapped your phone.
• The screen lighting up when not in use: If your phone screen lights up when you're not using it, it could be a sign of hacking.
• Receiving calls and notifications while in silent mode: If you're receiving calls and notifications while your phone is on silent mode, it could signal that someone has hacked your phone.

If you're seeing any of these signs, and your device is rebooting on its own, it's likely that someone has remote access to your device.

Additionally, you can check your Google Activity to see if there's any unusual activity on your phone. Go to "My Activity" in your Google Account settings to view and manage your activity, such as searches, websites visited, and videos watched. You can also find specific activity using the search bar and filters. If you notice any unfamiliar activity, it could be an indication that your phone is being monitored.

Unfamiliar apps

Identifying Unfamiliar Apps

• Check your installed apps regularly: Take a close look at your phone’s installed apps and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious apps. Spyware apps can sometimes have generic, common names and hide from your standard app list, so be vigilant.
• Look for excessive permission requests: Unfamiliar apps that request permissions that don't match their supposed function, like a "System Update" app requesting access to your camera or microphone, could be spyware.
• Check app store ratings and reviews: Low ratings and poor reviews can be a sign that an app is suspicious.

Dealing with Unfamiliar Apps

• Remove unfamiliar apps immediately: If you discover an unfamiliar app, delete it immediately. On Android devices, go to Settings > Applications > Permission Manager to search for apps you don't recognize, then toggle off admin permissions before removing them. On iPhones, press and hold the app icon for a few seconds, then tap "Remove App" followed by "Delete App" to confirm.
• Get mobile security software: After removing suspicious apps, install mobile security software to help prevent spyware from returning.
• Update your device OS or perform a factory reset: If you can't locate or remove the suspicious app, updating your device operating system or performing a factory reset can help. A factory reset is ideal if there are no new OS updates or if you can't locate the spy app.
• Contact the authorities: If you have proof that your phone has been tapped, remember that tapping and tracking devices is illegal. Contact the authorities to report the incident.

Frequently asked questions