When your iPhone's microphone is on or was recently accessed, a small orange dot appears in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. If your camera is in use or was recently recording, you'll see a green dot.
According to Lifehacker, your iPhone automatically tells you when the phone or microphone is active—you just have to know where to look. When your phone is taking a video recording, a green dot will appear in the top-right corner of the screen. For audio recordings, an orange dot will be visible in the same place.
Check which devices are signed in to your account by going to Settings > [your name]. If you see a device you don't recognize, tap on that device name and select “Remove from Account.”
Yes, it is possible to spy on an iPhone without installing software. Some apps can monitor an iPhone remotely, using just the iCloud credentials associated with that iPhone. This method does not require physical access to the iPhone or installing any software on it.
Signs That Someone Has Remote Access to Your Phone
The battery drains quickly even when not in use. Higher data usage than usual. Noises in the background when you're on a phone call. You receive unusual messages, emails, or notifications.
If a hacker breaks into your iCloud account then they will be able to see photos and videos taken with your iPhone camera, if you sync this data to iCloud. However, they will not be able to directly access your camera to perform any sort of real-time monitoring.
Listen for a quiet buzzing or clicking noise to detect a recording device. Hidden cameras are designed to be as discrete as possible, but many will still emit a slight sound when they are working.
Your phone is listening to you so it can hear your voice commands and assist you through assistant apps and personalized ads. For example, when you ask Google Assistant or Siri to find something, this information is used for targeted ads. It's no different from typing something into Google Search.
When apps use your camera or mic, a green indicator will show at the top right corner of your screen. Swipe down and tap on the indicator. Tap once to check which app or service is using your camera or microphone. Tap again to manage permissions.
The green dot indicates when an app on your iPhone is using either the camera or the camera and the microphone, Apple explains. The orange dot means an app on your iPhone was using just the microphone.
For Android phone
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.
Federal Recording Laws
They prohibit secret recording on your private property or other public spaces where one has a reasonable expectation of privacy. You can sue someone for recording you there without your consent, as that's a gross infringement of federal law.
Check your phone's gallery, especially the screenshots folder. If you notice screenshots of your own pics or your messages, then that's a clear indicator that something is installed on your phone. Also, check your voice notes and look for recording that you didn't make on your phone.
How do you know if a security camera is recording? A security camera is on and recording if it has a light blinking. This is usually red, but may also be green, orange, or some other color. The light is known as a 'status LED'.
Federal law requires one-party consent, enabling you to record a conversation in person or over the phone, but only if you are participating in the conversation. If you are not part of the conversation but you are recording it, then you are engaging in illegal eavesdropping or wiretapping.
Code to check if phone is tapped: *#21# Code to show unknown connections and tracking (for Android): *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#* Code to show unknown connections and if someone is tracing you (for iPhone): *3001#12345#*
Assume you're under surveillance if you see someone repeatedly over time, in different environments and over distance. For good measure, a conspicuous display of poor demeanor, or the person acting unnaturally, is another sign that you might be under surveillance.
Android. It's possible to find spy software on an Android by looking inside the files on the phone. Go to Settings – Applications – Manage Applications or Running Services, and you may be able to spot suspicious looking files.
Long story short: yes, someone can monitor your phone to keep tabs on all your activities. This includes phone calls, texts, browser activity, photos, videos, apps, and more. This is often done via spyware, a form of malware designed for monitoring a device's activity remotely.