How to Know if Your Mobile Phone Is Being Monitored

Mobile phone

If your phone:

  • Has battery issues
  • Automatically installs apps
  • Shows unwanted ads
  • Has performance issues
  • Displays strange texts and websites

Your phone might be monitored.

What Do We Mean?

Having your phone monitored could involve someone listening in on your calls via surveillance equipment.

If monitored, it’s probably done remotely, and not just your calls are at risk.

Your smartphone handles photos, emails, internet browsing, social media, and more. Consider all private data stored: conversations, personal images, and sensitive information.

Your smartphone is essentially a digital representation of you.

Being monitored means the hacker has access to all your data.

Check for signs below if you suspect monitoring.

Phone Battery Issues

Phone Battery Issues
Source: Unsplash

Devices running hot or draining fast may indicate unwanted monitoring software.

First, rule out other causes for overheating on your Android or iOS device.

Smartphones naturally warm up. The concern is if your device heats excessively and powers off.

Check your phone usage and battery drain patterns to determine monitoring.

Sometimes, phones heat up due to:

  • Too many apps open
  • Media consumption
  • Game play
  • Phone case trapping heat
  • Bluetooth connections
  • Sun exposure
  • Faulty battery

If these aren’t the causes, consider monitoring.

Monitored devices heat due to unauthorized background apps.

Such apps record screens, copy inputs, and drain battery life. Watch how long your phone stays charged.

Be wary if your device isn’t old but loses power quickly with minimal use. Secret spy apps might be a reason.

If battery problems arise, consider potential monitoring and watch for other unusual signs.

Do You Experience Spikes in Data Usage?

Monitored phones send stolen information to hackers, consuming much data.

Malicious software operates regardless of your data connection.

Determine which apps affect data usage.

For iOS:

  1. Go to settings.
  2. Select Cellular or Mobile Data.
  3. Find data-consuming apps.

For Android:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Select Wireless & Networks
  3. Select Data Usage
  4. Review list apps.

Estimate monthly phone bills.

If significantly higher than usual, identify the source. Apps might list data use, though malware could be hidden under “unrecognized apps”.

Are Unwanted Apps Installed?

Icon apps
Source: Unsplash

If your phone uses more data than usual, it faces performance issues. While genuine apps affect speeds, they shouldn’t drastically impact your phone if they didn’t previously.

Increased data use often results from malware activities—both background and active.

HummingBad is a major offender.

It mimics Hummer, using fraudulent apps for installation.

This trojan seeks administrative phone access, perhaps by suggesting downloading a false system update.

Once installed, pop-ups begin, and data is sent to hackers.

Such malware also reads messages and sends malicious URLs.

Reports showed 10 million devices infecting in 2016.

Is Your Phone Slower Than Usual?

iPhone Storage
Source: Flickr

Slowdown and increased data usage indicate possible malware—often disguised, like HummingBad.

This trojan installs via fake apps and seeks phone control through counterfeit updates.

Once in place, it triggers pop-ups and sends data to hackers.

HummingBad might also read messages and send malicious URLs.

In 2016, around 10 million devices were affected.

Check Your Memory

Spot apps using excessive space and potentially causing slowdown:

For iOS:

  1. Settings
  2. General
  3. Review iPhone Storage

For Android:

  1. Settings
  2. Device Maintenance
  3. Review Memory

If a suspicious app appears, it could be malware monitoring the phone.

Ensure app sizes match expected uses. A small app should not match Instagram’s size.

Do Websites and Texts Appear Strange?

Security logo
Source: Pexels

Unusual texts or emails with odd URLs are typically scams, yet remain dangerous.

A spying app can modify websites and record data.

Malware creates fake site versions, intercepting data exchanges.

This is risky with login or personal information sites.

Spying apps steal passwords, financial details, or Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

PII offers hackers significant value on the Dark Web.

When monitored, using apps like PayPal could be costly.

Distinguishing fraudulent sites can be challenging.

Differences can be small, like blurred logos or altered layouts. Compare suspect sites to those accessed on other devices.

What to Do If Monitored

If monitoring is suspected, try removing malware.

For iOS:

Update your iPhone or iPad. Restore factory settings afterward, after backing up.

For Android:

Update software.

Review app permissions and limit message access.

Consider antivirus apps.

For both OSes, download apps exclusively from official stores.

Monitor to Protect

Privacy invasions and cybercrime are frustrating.

However, not all phone monitoring is harmful.

Monitoring might be for legitimate reasons.

Companies may track employees for accountability.

You may select a specific app to ensure your child's safety.

Find phone monitoring tools from warehouses in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Nevada, and Utah. Explore The Spy Store for Free Expedited Shipping on US orders over $49.

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