Signs that your device is infected with spyware:
Having a high data usage
If your device seems to have higher usage of data than the normal because you don’t really consume a lot of it, there’s a chance that you have a monitoring app on your phone. Monitoring apps or tools will use high amounts of data from your device to the cyber attacker’s device. So, you must pay attention to your data usage. It takes seconds to check it on your settings.
Seeing unwanted apps
When you buy your phone, you’ll see pre-installed apps on it including app store or play store, calculator, and maps. The rest of the installed apps on your phone were the apps that you downloaded manually. But if you are seeing unwanted apps that aren’t downloaded by you, this could be the app that the attacker is using. Spying or monitoring apps are usually disguised as other apps. Cyber attackers could use a fake name or logo of the spying app.
(Also see: “I fell victim to a ransomware attack! Should I pay the ransom or not?”)
Detecting deteriorated battery and phone slowing down
Basically, when someone is spying on you through a spying app, they will take screenshots, record conversations, record a video, and such. Cyber attackers monitor your activities on your device and then send the gathered information to their own devices. These will eat up your battery life and slow down your phone.
Seeing unexpected links on browser history
Seeing links on your browser history that you never visit is a red flag. The next thing you know, there will be pop-ups on your screen. These could be the links where the attacker downloads the spying app.
Having strange sounds during calls
Most cell networks nowadays have evolved and provided noise-free and stable connections unless you are in an inadequate coverage area. But if you keep on hearing strange sounds during calls wherever you are, there might be someone else listening to the conversation between you and your caller. Always listen attentively during calls. The worst thing that could happen is hearing a voice from someone else. Creepy!
Rebooting unexpectedly
Seeing your phone reboot unexpectedly without your manual rebooting could be the best sign to determine whether you have a spyware program on your device. This indicates that there is someone who has remote access to your device.
What to do?
Check if your phone has installed spying apps. Search for app names that have terms like “track”, “spy”, “monitor”, and “trojan”. If you detect one, delete it immediately. The actual name of the spy app would probably appear as a fake name to hide it. So, if there’s a suspicious app on your device, remove it.
You may also do a factory reset in order to delete the third-party apps – these include the spyware apps. Just make sure to have a backup of your important files before doing a factory reset.
For iOS users, change your iCloud password if you suspect that you are being spied on.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to message us. We’d be glad to help!
