Yes, you can tell if someone might be watching you through your phone by looking for signs like the camera/mic indicator light (green/orange dot) turning on unexpectedly, rapid battery drain, high data usage, unfamiliar apps, or weird background noises during calls; these suggest spyware or unauthorized access, though some signs can be normal app behavior. Checking app permissions and installed apps for anything suspicious is crucial, and using antivirus software can help uncover hidden threats, says Norton.
5 signs your phone is possibly being tracked
On Android, you can open the Settings menu and go to “Apps”, where you can review your apps individually. You can also navigate to Security & Privacy > Privacy > Permission manager to see which apps have access to your camera and microphone.
Yes, resourceful cybercriminals have ways to mirror a victim's phone without their knowledge. Once the device is mirrored, the attacker can spy on the victim's screen, tracking their every action.
Assess the situation: Pay close attention to your surroundings and any suspicious behaviour you observe. Look for signs of stalking/surveillance, such as individuals loitering nearby, unusual vehicles parked outside your home or workplace, or repeated encounters with the same people.
On Android 12+, you may see a small green dot when the camera is being used (and some devices also show a camera icon). If you see this indicator when you're not using any camera-based apps, someone else might be accessing it. However, skilled hackers can use your camera without triggering the light.
Let's dive into eleven simple steps to detect spyware.
Three-finger gestures on iPhone primarily activate accessibility features like VoiceOver (for screen reading and navigation) and Zoom (magnification), allowing scrolling, zooming, and text manipulation (copy/paste/undo) with specific taps and drags, though some text actions work without VoiceOver enabled for quick editing. Common gestures include three-finger double-tap to toggle VoiceOver speech, triple-tap for the screen curtain, and pinching/spreading with three fingers for copy/paste actions, notes this YouTube video.
In most cases, no one can watch you through your phone without your knowledge. However, if your phone is infected with spyware, it's possible for someone to access your camera or microphone and track your location.
How to stop your phone from being tracked
Use a Protective Case
They not only keep your phone safe in general but they may help protect your camera lens. You want to look for a case with a raised bezel, which essentially means that the case has a sort of ridge that surrounds the camera lens.
Dialing *#21# on your phone checks the status of your unconditional call forwarding, revealing if your calls, texts, or data are being redirected to another number without you knowing, often without leaving traces on your phone bill; it's a standard network code to see your carrier's call forwarding settings, not a definitive "hacking" tool, but useful for detecting unauthorized forwarding.
Press *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#* to see if anyone is watching your movements. These are Utility Net Monitor Codes. Dialing these codes can tell you if you're being tracked or monitored through your mobile phone.
What Does ##002# Really Do? 🔐📞 ##002# instantly cancels all call forwarding on your phone — busy, unreachable, or no-answer. It's a simple way to reset settings and protect your privacy.
Can I run a test to see if my phone is hacked? Yes, running an antivirus scan using a mobile security app like Norton 360 Deluxe can help you identify malware infections that could be granting hackers access to your device or data.
You can double-tap or triple-tap the back of iPhone to perform actions such as taking a screenshot, turning on an accessibility feature, running a shortcut, and more. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, then choose an action.
*3001#12345#* on an iPhone activates the hidden Field Test Mode, a diagnostic tool for network engineers and power users to see detailed cellular data like signal strength (dBm), cell tower info, and network quality, accessible by dialing the code in the Phone app and pressing call, often after turning off Wi-Fi for accurate cellular readings.
Touch ID is an electronic fingerprint recognition feature designed and released by Apple Inc. that allows users to unlock devices, make purchases in the various Apple digital media stores (App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple Books Store), and authenticate Apple Pay online or in apps.
Call trace allows you to dial the code *57 to trace the phone number of a call that was received. This service is used to trace harassing calls which warrant law enforcement or legal action. If you do not intend to take legal action, then an alternative is to use Call Return with *69.
Monitor the applications running in the background of your device and check whether there are any unknown applications. Notice significant increases in device temperature and decreases in battery life. These often indicate your Android device is being accessed remotely.
Explore these 12 indicators of compromise and steps to take if a breach is suspected.
Here are some ways you can tell your phone is being tracked: Unusual location activity: You see unexpected location alerts, unknown devices linked to your account, or unfamiliar apps with location access. Checking your location history or app permissions can help confirm this.
Even when someone's head or body position doesn't give away their gaze, our peripheral vision steps in. Studies show that humans can detect another person's gaze with remarkable accuracy, even in less-than-ideal conditions.
Spies frequently have pathological personality features that pave the way to espionage, such as thrill seeking, a sense of entitlement, or a desire for power and control. In addition, healthy countervailing traits—such as a calm temperament or strong sense of responsibility—may be either weak or entirely absent.