How to Tell If Your Cell Phone Is Being Tracked Tapped or Monitored by Spy Software

Modern technologies give us just unlimited possibilities. Now, we have secure smartphones. But are they as secure?

As it turns out, today we’re trying to protect this device that helps us in our daily routine.

So, if you were wondering, ’‘Can cell phones be tapped?’ – the answer is, unfortunately, a big yes.

If you are reading this article, you probably want to learn how to tell if your cell phone is being tracked, tapped, or monitored and see whether it is possible to spy on cell phone activity.

We will provide you with all the tell-tale signs that may alert you someone is tracking your cell phone without you knowing. Sometimes, these may be just subtle signs, so you should always be on the lookout.

How to Know If Your Phone Is Being Tapped?

Being spied on is very scary. The worst thing about it that the authorities aren’t the only ones who can spy on your devices. There are a lot of hackers and other similar threats lurking around the corner and waiting to extract personal information from you.

If you’d like to know how to tell if your cell phone is tapped or detect a keylogger on your iPhone, it doesn’t mean you should be an expert. All you need to know are just several indicators, i.e. the signs that your phone is tapped.

Odd Cell Phone Behavior ⁉

Many people notice that their phone suddenly lights up, shuts down, or makes random beeping noises. From time to time, all cell phones can do strange things.

However, if you notice these activities frequently, that might mean that you have a spy app on your cell phone.

Abnormally high data usage ⬆️

If you find your data usage has suddenly gone up, the chances are that a hacking program is tracking your сellphone.

Usually, low-tech spy apps require a lot of data usage to send the collected information to the source.

Try a complete reset of your iPhone directories program in this case.

Odd background noise during calls 📣

Another tell-tale sign that someone tapped your phone can be in the form of unusual sounds during calls. What does it sound like when your cell phone is tapped?

Well, you may hear background noise, beeping, echoes, or listen to another voice speaking apart from yours and the person you are talking to. If your сell phone is being monitored by surveillance software, then you are likely to hear such sounds.

Unexpected Text Messages 💬

Unexpected text messages with incoherent symbols are yet another plausible sign that your phone is being tapped. Spy software often uses secret coded messages to collect your data usage.

If you’re receiving this type of text message frequently, then you might have been hacked by receiving a text.

Decreased Battery Life 📵

Have you noticed your battery needs to be charged all the time? If a spy app was installed on your mobile phone, it increases your battery usage, and it loses juice much faster.

It’s possible that someone got access to your mobile device. However, keep in mind that your phone battery power life diminishes over time. So, even if you notice an increase in battery drain, it doesn’t always mean that you’re being spied on.

Increased Battery Temperature 🌡️

Increased battery temperature, even when your phone is idle, can point to hacking software operating silently in the background. Of course, this phone tap detector method of spyware detection is not among the most accurate for detecting spy software.

Auto Restart

At times, you would notice that your tapped phones or devices restart without any touch or even when the phone is idle. This may indicate suspicious activities and is a sign of your device being tapped.

Standby Activities

This may go unnoticed but still, it is one of the concerning signs. If you find that your device is in a different state from how you left it, this may suggest that your device’s privacy has been compromised and someone is accessing it without your consent.

Slow in Performance

If you notice that your device has slowed down in performance or that it takes too much of a time to load, you might have been exposed to phone tapping. Ensure that the drop in performance isn’t due to any other activity, keeping in mind that bugged cell phones generally show this symptom.

Weird Ads

If suddenly your phone starts showing unwanted and weird ads, you must recheck your device to test whether it is tapped or not.

How Can Someone Bug My Phone?

Before knowing how to stop someone from spying on my cell phone, I learned that one must know how to bug a cell phone first.

While there are multiple ways in which someone can bug your mobile phone, the easiest and the preferred method is by using spying software.

The perks of using the right spyware are that they can be installed remotely within the target device. Meaning that you would never know if there’s an app spying on your device. To add to this, spyware are light in weight and often go undetected. So no matter how vigilant you are, there are ways in which someone can bug your phone without you knowing.

When I learned how to find spyware on my phone or detect a spy app, I decided to write the guide below.

How to Catch Someone Spying on You?

Manage Android Settings

If you’re an Android user, the first thing you should never do is to root your Android device. By rooting your Android, you are removing all OS restrictions, which means that you can give someone superuser access. It will probably be the best answer on how to stop someone from accessing your phone remotely. This is very risky because:

• You can receive unwanted over-the-air updates
• You’re leaving your cell phone vulnerable to Android spy apps
• You’re enabling malicious apps to install other malware on your phone

You can perform this quick check to see whether there is some weird spy software or malware installed on your cell phone. The method is suitable for a newer OS version.

Step 1: From your home screen, open the app drawer and select Settings.

Step 2: Locate the App management option.

Step 3: Select to view All apps.

Step 4: Thoroughly check the list and look for anything that has the word ‘’spy’’ in its name, or something that has a weird malware-like name. If you find any iOS or Android spyware file names, delete it from your bugged phones.

Even after doing all of the above, you don’t find anything suspicious, here’s another answer to how to detect spyware on Android phone for you:

Step 1: Click open battery settings on your device.

Step 2: Now scroll down the list and look for apps that consume the maximum battery.

If there is a spy app bugging a cell phone, it must be there in this list in all probability.

Note that spy apps run in the background and are the ones that drain the maximum power from the device. If you find that the apps mentioned aren’t the ones that you downloaded, make sure to remove them. This is how you know if your phone is being tapped or not.

Manage iPhone Settings

Just like with Android devices, which become vulnerable through rooting, iPhones are equally as vulnerable when you jailbreak them. Jailbreaking means that you’re removing all iOS security restrictions that were imposed by Apple. You shouldn’t do this because:

• Jailbreaking makes it much easier for hackers to install spy programs on your phone.
• It leaves your iPhone vulnerable to malware.
• It can expose your personal and other sensitive information.
• You can also accidentally brick your cell phone and make it useless.

If you’re worried that, somehow, your iPhone has spying software on it, change your iCloud email address and password. Most remote access spying apps require the victim’s iCloud credentials, so if you change your password, you will lock them out. Moreover, always install all updates and security fixes.

Step 1: Open Settings

Step 2: Open the General tab.

Step 3: Open the Software update tab.

Step 4: Press Install now.

If everything else seems to have failed, then resetting the smartphone to factory settings might be the last way to remove spy apps. It will ensure that all unwanted monitoring software is gone from your cell phone.

Update Your OS

Another way to answer the question ’’is my phone tapped,’’ is to update your device’s operating system. Go to your device’s settings panel and there click on software update. It is noted that updating the software detects if the device has been compromised and whether or not the cell phone is tapped.

In other words, if there is spyware installed, the new OS will automatically detect it. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Open the Software Update section

Step 3: Click Download and Install

Step 4: If updates are available, make sure to install them.

Reset Android Settings

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Open General Management.

Step 3: Locate the Reset option

Step 4: Open Factory data reset

Step 5: Press Reset.

Reset iPhone Settings

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Open the General tab.

Step 3: Locate the Reset option.

Step 4: Select Reset all settings and Erase all content and settings.

Who Is Tracking My Phone?

Out of all the people who may have reasons to track your device, here are the ones that seem relevant and obvious when it comes to phone tracking.

• Employers: While employers have every right to track the company device provided by them to the employees, sometimes they can go overboard. Often, they consider using spyware for smartphones as a safety measure taken to protect data and information of the company. If that’s the case with you, you might be spied on. Make sure to check the phone for spyware.
• Worried parents: Parents are among the most common ones to consider phone tracking to protect their children. Parents are often worried about their kids and if they’re exposed to any dangerous online activities. Hence, they take a step forward to spy on their kids mobile phones.
• Jealous spouses: Wives/husbands often are suspicious about their partner’s late night calls and unexpected messages. Even though they have enough trust, they land in a position where spying seems the best solution.
• The police: Certain legal proceedings or actions require the law enforcement to track victim’s/criminal devices.
• The government: Often, governments also feel the need to track a certain citizen or a group of citizens. If you are in the list, you might have your privacy compromised.

How to Check Your iPhone for Spyware Programs?

The methods for checking whether your iPhone has spy software are pretty much the same as the ones we mentioned in the section above. However, there is one additional way that only works on iPhone devices.

Namely, if you notice an app that is called Cydia on your mobile phone, and you have performed any jailbreaking, that means that you’re likely being spied on.

If you’d like to check whether you have this app on your phone, perform a quick Spotlight search. Sometimes, though, Cydia can be challenging to detect because it’s hidden.

To ensure that your iPhone is Cydia-free, enter 4433*29342 into the Spotlight search field.

If you end up learning that you actually have Cydia on your mobile phone, just delete it or perform a factory reset.

How to Locate Spyware on Android?

If you’d like to learn how to remove spyware from Android, and then remove it, we have an easy solution for you.

The best way to prevent spyware from ever coming into your Android device is to block downloads from unknown sources. Every phone has the option to enable/disable install from unknown sources, which, if enabled, will prevent all non-approved apps, such as mPhone, from being installed on your device.

In case you aren’t sure whether your device has the option checked in, follow the steps given below to do so:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Locate the Biometrics & Security option.

Step 3: You will see a list of all apps and permissions. Open each one and modify the settings if needed.

Step 4: You can do that by sliding the bar.

Use an Antivirus to Remove Spyware

Wondering how can you remove spyware once you have detected a breach in your mobile device? Of all the methods available over the web, the best and the simplest way to remove spyware from your mobile device is by using an antivirus.

Antiviruses have the ability to perform a deep-rooted scan of the device, locating threats and finding the Spyware. You can manually uninstall the Spyware and further protect your device from being attacked again by any kind of spyware. Avast Antivirus is a freely available antivirus that you can download and install within your mobile, safeguarding it against spyware attacks. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Open Google Play Store and type in ”Avast”

Step 2: Download and install Avast

Step 3: Open Avast from your app drawer

Step 4: Press ”Scan Now”

Step 5: Wait for the scan to complete. If there’s any spyware, Avast will notify you and remove it.

What to Do If You Find Spyware? 

In case you come across some spyware, here are some immediate measures you must take to ensure that nothing bad happens: 

Change your iCloud email address and password.

Through spyware, hackers can monitor your iPhone without having to install any specific software.

Uninstall suspicious apps

Check your app list and look for anything that seems out of place. Make sure to check hidden apps as well. Spy software tends to disguise its identity, so always thoroughly check all app info.

Reset passwords for all online accounts

In case you’ve been infected with spy software, the chances are that someone had collected all your passwords. Resetting passwords and other security information is a must in that case.

Check your bank statements.

Unless the authorities have tapped you, the most common goal of planting spy apps on someone’s phone is to steal the victim’s sensitive info. If you’ve ever used your phone to make payments, that leaves enough room for exploitation and theft, check your bank statement for suspicious activity.

If you notice anything, contact your bank and have them block your credit cards. The worst thing about spy software is the fact that it is complicated to spot and that it can cause a lot of damage. So, the key to success is prevention.

💡 Make sure to always have an antivirus solution on your phone to ensure that nothing enters your phone without you realizing it. There are a lot of great service providers on the market, such as Avast, AVG, McAfee, etc.

How to keep your phone protected?

Although knowing all the tell-tale signs and symptoms of being spied on is beneficial, as we have briefly touched on before, prevention is the best way to ensure that your privacy remains intact. Here are some security measures that you should consider implementing:

Always use passwords on your lock screen

Most spy apps and monitoring software require some sort of physical access to your device. If you set up a password, or even biometrics, on your lock screen, you will make things much harder for malicious actors.

Never jailbreak or root your devices.

Jailbreaking and rooting might leave your devices vulnerable to different types of malware that can be used to spy on your activities. The safest bet is to give up rooting and jailbreaking completely. However, if you have to do this for some reason, then be extra cautious when installing anything.

Use security software

Security software comes in different shapes and forms. We advise installing VPNs and antivirus software. VPNs will ensure that all your online activities remain anonymous and private, while antivirus will ensure that there’s no malware on your phone.

Don’t download apps from unverified sources

Downloading apps from unreputable third party providers is hazardous. Although the downloaded apps might seem okay at first, they are usually laced with hidden malware or monitoring software. Only download apps from verified app stores such as Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Install all updates and patches

Always keep your phone’s operating system and firmware up to date. Companies keep up with all the threats, and they simultaneously release updates and patches that will ensure that hackers and other malicious actors don’t exploit your devices.