Signs you may have tracking apps or spyware installed
Does it stay lit when you try to turn the screen off, or light up when you're not doing anything? Is it slower running apps than normal? Are there unfamiliar applications running in the background? Does it take forever to shut down?
Go to Settings – Applications – Manage Applications or Running Services, and you may be able to spot suspicious looking files. Good spy programs usually disguise the file names so that they don't stand out but sometimes they may contain terms like spy, monitor, stealth, and so on.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. The list shows the apps that requested permission to track you. You can turn permission on or off for any app on the list. To stop all apps from asking permission to track you, turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track (at the top of the screen).
Manage activity tracking permissions
Go to Privacy settings to see a list of apps that requested to track your activity. On iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security* > Tracking. On Apple TV: Go to Settings > General > Privacy > Tracking.
Regardless of whether you use an iPhone or an Android smartphone, it is possible for someone to install spyware onto your phone that secretly tracks and reports on your activity. It's even possible for someone to monitor your cell phone's activity without ever even touching it.
On top of knowing which websites you visit and apps you use, smartphones can also access location data. That means advertisers can serve you content based on places you've been. For many people, this is the main reason to turn off app tracking on Android.
Both Android and iOS phones can be subject to malicious software capable of tracking your location, reading your texts, and listening in on phone calls.
It is possible for someone to find your location by texting you if they have access to your phone's location information or if you share your location with them. For example, if you receive a text message with a link to a location, clicking on the link could allow the sender to track your location.
Significant Locations tracks the places you visit most often and saves them onto your iPhone. Turning it off will improve your battery life and help you maintain your privacy.
Can Someone See Your Location on Airplane Mode with WiFi? If your phone is only in airplane mode, anyone who has access to your GPS can see your location. One way to ensure your location is hidden from others and third parties is to disable the GPS feature on your iPhone or Android.
Signs that spyware is on your phone
You may experience unexpected handset battery drain, overheating, and strange behavior from the device's operating system or apps. Settings such as GPS and location functions may unexpectedly turn on or you may see random reboots.
Unfortunately, there is no direct way to check if the camera or the microphone of your Android device is being accessed. However, there is a workaround for it. Android users can download an app called Access Dots from the Google Play Store which will notify users the same way iPhone does.
Ignore and delete all suspicious text messages, emails, or calendar invites. Phishing emails and smishing texts via SMS or WhatsApp are among the most common types of fraud. Your iPhone could be hacked if you reply, call the numbers, or click on any malicious links.
Open the Phone app and tap on the Keypad. Dial *#21# and hit the green call button. Note: This doesn't work with every carrier and every model, so results may vary. You'll get a screen with details on the activity of your calls, SMS messages and even faxes.
Spyware can be used by anyone, not just hackers
The app can be installed remotely on an iPhone if you have the proper iCloud credentials. For Android phones, someone will need to install it on the phone directly. Once that's done, your messages and more can be intercepted.
When you turn your phone off, you're temporarily deactivating all of its functions, including wireless communication. By cutting this off, your phone cannot be tracked via cell tower triangulation or GPS.
Yes, you should be able to remove a hacker by doing a factory reset on your phone. Keep in mind that this solution will remove all of your data, including contacts, third-party apps, photos, and other files. You will need to set up your phone entirely from scratch.
There are other signs of a hacked phone, such as reduced screenshot quality, unusually high data usage, and apps crashing randomly. If you notice any of these signs, you can take immediate steps to protect your device by downloading a security tool that can scan your device for risks and remediate threats.