Do you suspect someone is using spyware to monitor your smartphone activity? If so, you will certainly want to know how to find spy apps on your phone and remove them. Although many people spend a lot of time on their smartphones, many don’t know what they can do. And that’s normal because you don’t have to be a mechanic to drive a car either.
However, your phone contains a lot of personal and financial information. This means that if someone installs and uses a phone spy app on your device, it can collect tons of information about your life. And this can leave you vulnerable to security threats. But there are also some advantages of spy apps.
What is spyware and how does it work?
Spyware is software that someone can install on your phone without your knowledge. Once installed, the software collects various data from your device, including text messages, phone calls, emails, and even your location. The person installing the software can access this data remotely.
Usually, this software is in the form of hidden spyware applications. In most cases, someone she knows will install this software on her device, such as a partner in a relationship or a parent who wants to protect her children. However, even hackers can install these apps to steal personal information from their targets.
Spyware creators have designed them to blend in with your other applications. For example, a spyware application can disguise itself as a calculator. Some of these applications do not usually have an icon. So if you see software on your device with no signal, it could be one of the apps spying on you.
Despite this, many spy apps use high-tech features that allow them to collect a lot of information from your device. For example, some apps can activate your phone’s microphone to record conversations. Others can even access your camera to take photos and videos without your knowledge.
Popular types of spyware
There are many types of spyware. However, the most popular are:
- Keyloggers: Record everything on the target device using keyboard movements.
- Adware: These apps monitor the device user’s purchase history and embed the information in advertisements.
- Tracking Cookies: These apps attack the target device’s browser and download history.
- System Monitors: These apps track the activity of the target person on their device.
- Trojan: This software exploits the browser history of the device and can modify the content of the web page or carry out transactions.
Each type of software uses unique tactics to track and steal information from target devices.
Popular Hidden Spy Apps
People can download, install and hide various phone spy apps without the device owner knowing. As hinted, people have different reasons for using hidden apps to spy on their targets.
For example, some people use these apps to spy on their partners because they suspect they are cheating on them. An employer could make sure that employees use phones and other company resources appropriately. Also, parents can use these apps to monitor their children’s activities to ensure their safety. Here are popular hidden spy apps that such people can use.
- SpyStealth: SpyStealth is a spy app for Android and iPhone devices. It cannot be detected and can record text messages, phone calls, emails, and GPS location.
- Spoopza: Spoopza is a hidden app for Android devices. It is also untraceable and can record text messages, phone calls, and GPS location. You can also access the phone’s camera and microphone to capture images and chat.
- FlexiSPY: FlexiSPY works with Android and iPhone devices. It records phone calls, messages and emails and can also access the phone’s camera and microphone.
It is unfortunate to find spy apps on your phone because someone has compromised your privacy or security. For this reason, you should avoid downloading these apps at all costs.
How to prevent your phone from getting spyware
There are many ways to prevent your phone from having a spy app. Some of the best tips include:
- Download and install software from trusted sources.
- Install a security application like Avast to detect and prevent the installation of spyware applications.
- Update your device software regularly.
- Please read the disclosures before or during the installation of the software.
- Do not open or click on attachments or links from unknown senders.
- Use of reputable spyware and reliable antivirus tools.
- Enable 2-factor authentication when possible.
You can avoid having a spy app on your phone by following strict cyber security rules.
Warning signs of spyware on iPhone or Android
Mobile device users block around 24,000 malicious apps every day, which means spyware is a major problem. You can detect these apps and remove them by looking for these warning signs.
- Unusual phone behavior: You have a spy app if your phone cycles off and on or you have an app you don’t remember installing.
- Unusual sounds during calls: If your device makes unusual noises, such as beeps, during calls, someone may be recording them. And this can only happen if they have installed a spy app.
- Data usage spike: Your device has a spy app if your data usage has increased without explanation.
- Rapid Battery Drain – If your device’s battery starts to drain faster than normal, a spying app might be running in the background.
- Rings even when you’re not using your phone – If your phone beeps or makes an unusual sound even when you’re not using it, you might have a spy app.
- Rooting – If you notice that someone other than you has rooted your phone, you may already have a spy app.
- Someone knows a lot about you – If you realize that someone knows more about you than they should, they may be using a hidden app to spy on your phone activity.
How to find hidden spy apps on your phone
Once you notice the above signs, the next step is to find the spy apps on your device. You may have landed on this page after searching for “how to find spy apps on your phone” on the internet. You can use various techniques to find hidden spy apps on iPhone or Android devices. Here are some of them.
- Scan for unknown apps: Browse the list of apps on your device for unknown software. Since your device came with some apps pre-installed, search for apps you don’t recognize on Google to find out their purpose before uninstalling them or deleting their folders.
- Check your app permissions – This can be time consuming. However, it is an effective way to find spy apps on your phone. Ideally, look for apps with access to your device’s location, camera, or microphone data. Such details will help you to know if your device has an app that is secretly tracking you without your permission or knowledge.
- Track Location Symbol: You can find hidden spy apps on Android or iPhone devices by checking the location symbol. If your phone displays a location symbol at the top of the screen, an invisible app may be running and tracking you.
- Google Play Protect: Check Google Play Protect to see if it’s disabled. This Android’s built-in malware and virus scanner detects and prevents the download and installation of malware and viruses. If this feature is disabled, use other methods to find spy apps on your phone. This is because someone might have disabled it in order to install a spy app.
How to remove spyware from your phone
It is not enough to find hidden spy apps on your device. You need to know how to remove them. Here’s how to find a spy app on iPhone or Android and remove it.
- Manual removal: You can try to remove spyware applications manually. To do this, go to your phone settings to find the spy apps on your phone. Once you find the apps, uninstall them like you would any other app.
- Factory Reset – If you cannot find any hidden spy apps on your Android or iPhone, then try doing a factory reset. However, this method will erase all the information on your device along with the spying apps. To do this, go to the device settings and select the reset option.
- Use a third-party app – If you don’t want to reset your phone or you can’t find any spy app on your phone, you can use a third-party app. A popular option is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Android. This app can scan your device for malware and remove any malicious apps.
These methods can help you remove spyware from your device and prevent the installer from spying on you.
Conclusion
No one wants to find hidden spy apps on iPhone, Android or even cricket mobiles. Unfortunately, someone can install these apps on any of these phones and use them to spy on their owners without their knowledge. Fortunately, with these guidelines you can protect your device or find and remove spying apps.
Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education