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Is Someone Spying On Your Phone?
Our Verdict
To determine if someone is spying on your phone, look for signs like data usage increases, battery drain, overheating, or unfamiliar apps. If you suspect your phone has been tapped, use a spyware removal tool or perform a factory reset.
Your cell phone provides a snapshot of your entire life through the storage of photos, messages, and phone calls. This also makes it a prime target for people who want to spy on you.
After researching surveillance practices by governments and workplaces, we noticed that these invasive tactics are being applied to personal devices by individuals through the use of spyware.
Though Android devices are more commonly affected, iPhones aren’t immune. Someone can install spyware onto both platforms, secretly tracking and reporting on your activities.
Mobile spyware, or stalkerware, can be installed onto your phone to monitor calls, messages, emails, location, photos, and browsing history. It may even be able to take photos and record nearby conversations.
Alarmingly, after 4 years of decline, the number of people impacted by stalkerware is on the rise again.
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky detected stalkerware on over 31,000 devices in 2023, an annual increase of 6%. Avast has also reported an increase of over 200% over the past three years.
WARNING: Mobile carriers and Internet service providers also monitor and log your phone’s web activity. Some then sell that web data to other companies. To stop this from happening, we recommend using a trustworthy mobile VPN app.
How to Tell if Someone Is Spying on Your Phone
Spyware is designed to remain hidden. However, a lot of spyware is detectable if you know what you’re looking for.
Here are 10 of the most common signs that someone is monitoring your phone:
1. Unfamiliar Apps
Although the most sophisticated spyware is hidden, it’s possible to misuse parental control and other similar apps in order to spy on others.
If someone is tracking your phone using one of these apps, then the spyware will be hiding in plain sight.
Search your phone for any unfamiliar apps that you don’t remember downloading. Common ones to look out for include Net Nanny, Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family, and Qustodio.
Parental control app icons to look out for if you think your phone is being tracked.
2. Your Device is ‘Rooted’ or ‘Jailbroken’
‘Rooting’ an Android device or ‘jailbreaking’ an iOS device allows users to bypass the official app stores and install unapproved apps.
If your device has been rooted or jailbroken and you didn’t do it, that’s a strong indication that something suspicious is going on.
To check whether an Android device has been rooted, download an app called Root Checker.
If your Android phone has been rooted, then you will see a screen like this when you open the app.
The confirmation screen in the Root Checker Android app indicating a device is rooted.
To check if an iOS device has been jailbroken, look for an app called Cydia that’s used to install software onto jailbroken phones.
Make sure to check your iPhone’s hidden apps by going to the App Library and viewing the Hidden folder. If someone is spying on your phone, it’s likely they’d have concealed this app, making it invisible in both Spotlight search and your main app list.
If you find this icon on your device, then it’s almost certain your iPhone has been jailbroken.
EXPERT TIP: Since iOS 17.4, iPhones in the EU can now install apps from alternative app stores without the need for jailbreaking. Look for alternative app store apps, like AltStore PAL.
3. The Battery Is Draining Fast
If spyware is working continuously, it can drain your battery faster than usual. All batteries slowly degrade over time though, so only a significant and sudden change is grounds for suspicion.
If you do notice a sudden change, first rule out whether any recently installed or updated apps could be responsible. We’re often surprised at how power-hungry some social media apps can be.
Check battery usage by app on an Android device.
4. Your Phone Is Getting Very Hot
If your device is running hot, it may be a sign that someone is spying on you by running spyware in the background.
This is especially relevant if your phone is heating up even when you’re not using it much.
NOTE: Similarly, if your phone suddenly slows down, it could be because of spying. As more of its processing power is used by the spyware app, your phone may become very sluggish.
5. Unusually High Data Usage
An unusual surge in the amount of data your phone is consuming can be a sign spyware is running in the background.
The apps use data to send information back to whoever’s spying on you, so a spike in data usage may indicate foul play.
To check your mobile data on iPhone, go to Settings then Mobile Data. You can see your overall data use, or scroll down to see how much mobile data individual apps are consuming.
Screenshot of iOS mobile data usage stats.
To check your mobile data usage on Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage.
Under Mobile, you’ll see the total amount of cellular data being used by your phone. Tap Mobile Data Usage to see how your data use has changed over time. From here, you can identify any recent spikes.
Mobile data usage stats in Android.
Some Android phones offer the option to “Show Wi-Fi Data Usage” too. Use this to monitor how much data your phone is using while connected to WiFi.
Look out for any sharp increases on the graph that can’t be easily explained.
Don’t immediately panic, though, if you see high data usage, as it’s not always due to spyware. First rule out any legitimate apps by checking their data consumption and behavior.
For example, we were alarmed to see our data use spiking, until we discovered our new podcast app was downloading lots of previous episodes.
6. Phone Is Displaying an Orange or Green Dot
Both iPhone and Android phones will display a green or orange indicator at the top of the screen when an app is using the camera or microphone.
If you aren’t using an app that requires them, then it’s possible that a stalkerware app that’s running in the background is recording audio or video.
iOS displays a green dot at the top of the screen whenever an app uses the camera.
To prevent the app from accessing the camera or microphone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone or Camera > Toggle off any app you don’t recognize.
7. Issues With Shutting Down the Phone
Spyware apps can interfere with a phone’s shutdown process so that the device fails to turn off properly or takes an unusually long time to do so.
In 2014, Edward Snowden revealed NSA technology that prevents phones from switching off fully, to then use them for eavesdropping purposes.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be the victim of this particular form of sophisticated attack, it does show what’s possible in terms of spying with a smartphone.
NOTE: Frequent and seemingly random reboots can also be an indicator that there is spyware on your phone.
8. Odd SMS Messages
Text messages can be used by spyware and malware to send and receive data. If you see outgoing messages that you didn’t send, it could indicate something’s not right.
Look out for unusual incoming messages too. Primitive spyware apps sometimes use SMS to communicate with their base. The message will typically be coded in some way if it is associated with a spyware app.
Apps like Cerberus advertise themselves as anti-theft apps however they can easily be abused as stalkerware when installed on someone else’s devices.
Cerberus anti-theft app on Android can be abused as stalkerware.
The app send hidden commands within SMS messages that can make your phone take a picture and email it to the perpetrator, wipe your SD card, take a screenshot, and many other invasive things.
9. Autocorrect Is Misbehaving
A keylogger is a form of spyware that records all of your inputs. Someone spying on your phone could use a keylogger to capture your messages and login details.
A potential sign that someone is using a keylogger to spy on your phone is an unusual behavior in your autocorrect system. Keyloggers can disrupt autocorrect functions, so if you notice it behaving oddly or slowing down significantly, it could be a sign of spyware on your device.
10. Screenshot Quality
If the quality of your screenshots is worse than expected, that could be the result of spyware.
According to Malwarebytes, this happens because the spyware diverts system resources, leading to performance issues, including how screenshots are processed.
CAUTION: These symptoms are not exclusive to spyware. They can also be caused by other forms of malware. Adware, for example, can slow down your phone and use up data.
Similarly, there are websites that secretly mine your ‘spare’ CPU resources which can consume more than 5% of your battery power in just ten minutes.
In these cases, your device is being exploited but you’re not necessarily being spied on.
How to Confirm If There Is Spyware On Your Phone
If you suspect your phone is being spied on, there are a couple of things you can do to try to confirm it.
1. Scan Your Phone for Suspicious Apps
Certo makes software that checks if your device has spyware apps on it:
- Certo AntiSpy for iOS devices runs on your PC or Mac and investigates your device’s backup, rather than the phone itself. It checks for tracking services, hidden apps, and anything with access to your location, microphone, or camera.
- Certo Mobile Security for Android devices runs on your phone and scans for spyware, among other threats. It can also take a photo whenever someone moves your phone or enters the password incorrectly multiple times. That can help you to identify who is tampering with your device.
Screenshot of Certo Android app scan results.
2. Set a Trap to Detect Unauthorized Phone Access
Use this method to check if your information is being accessed without permission:
- Pick any public web link, such as a news article.
- Sign up to TinyURL, a link shortening service with free link tracking. It’s the only one we found that still offers this for free.
- Create a shortened link, e.g., TinyURL logs each time it’s clicked, so don’t test it yourself.
- Send the shortened link to a trusted friend. Warn them in person not to click it. Include an enticing message or send without context.
- Check your TinyURL stats. If the click count is greater than zero, your phone may be monitored.
Screenshot of TinyURL click counter.
What to Do If You Detect Phone Spyware
If you detect spyware on your phone, it’s crucial to act cautiously.
While contacting the police may seem like the obvious solution, if the phone is tracked, visiting a police station might reveal your location.
Additionally, be aware that removing the spyware could alert the perpetrator, so only take this step if you’re confident it’s safe to do so.
If possible, use a different device to seek help from a charitable organization, such as your local domestic violence hotline.
They can help you develop a safe plan, which may include preserving evidence, securing your accounts, and safely removing the spyware.
However, if you believe you’re in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to contact emergency services right away.
How to Remove Spyware from Your Cell Phone
Whatever phone you have, the most effective option is to do a factory reset.
This will delete everything on the device and restore it to its original settings. You’ll lose all your data and apps on the device in the process, but the spyware will be effectively removed.
If you do a factory reset, back up your data (including photos) first. Don’t reinstall the same apps or software after the reset, though, as you might reinstall the spyware too.
If you have an older backup that predates the spyware, you might be able to restore your phone from that.
If you’d prefer a less destructive approach, you can see other ways to remove spyware from an Android phone or iPhone below.
How to Remove Spyware Apps on Android
- Use a Spyware Removal Tool: The simplest way to remove spyware from your Android phone is to use software designed for the job. It will scan your device for spyware (and other types of malware) and remove it.
Be sure to only use software from a reputable security brand, as no-name apps may themselves carry malware. Here are some safe options:
- Avast Mobile Security, which has a free option.
- Kaspersky Internet Security, which also has a free option.
- Norton Mobile Security for Android
- Remove the App Manually: You may be able to find the spyware app in the Application Manager and delete it manually. To do this:
- Start the phone in Safe Mode: Hold down the power button, then long-press Power Off. Tap OK to Reboot to Safe Mode.
- Enter the Application Manager: Go into Settings > Additional Settings > Application Management.
- Search for potential spyware apps: Try searching for terms like “spy”, “trojan”, or “stealth”. This may reveal suspect apps on the device.
- Review each app manually: Carefully inspect every app installed on your phone, as spyware often disguises itself with innocent-sounding app names.
The FlexiSpy app is labeled “SyncManager” while mSpy is named “Update service”. Look up any unfamiliar app names online to identify potential spyware.
- Remove suspicious apps: Uninstall any app you’re concerned about. If you can’t, it might have device administrator permissions.
To remove them, go to Settings > Security > Advanced > Device Administrators and uncheck the box beside the suspicious app. Choose the deactivation option and you should then be able to delete it.
- Restart your phone: Not in safe mode this time. The app you deleted should be gone.
- Update the operating system: If there’s an update available, applying it can sometimes break the spyware app.
It won’t necessarily remove it, though, and isn’t always guaranteed to work. We therefore recommend you use this approach alongside another.
- Carry Out a Factory Reset: This wipes everything from your phone, including your data, and restores it to its original settings.
Make sure you have copied any data you need from the phone first.
To factory reset an Android phone:
- Go into Settings > System > Reset Options.
- The name of the option you need depends on which phone you’re using. Select Factory Data Reset or Erase All Data (Factory Reset).
- Tap Reset Device and enter your PIN or password to confirm. Your device will be restored to its original settings. This may take some time.
- If you choose to Keep Your Apps and Data, make sure that this backup is not from a time when the spyware may have been on your phone.
The safest option is to Set Up As New.
EXPERT ADVICE: Your login details may have been compromised, so it’s best to set up new passwords for your email, social media, e-commerce, and any other online accounts.
How to Remove Spyware Apps on iPhone
- Remove the Spyware Manually: Aside from obvious spyware, otherwise legitimate parental control apps from the App Store can also be misused to track your location.
To manually review your apps to see if there are any that you don’t recall installing:
- View your installed apps in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Search for suspicious apps: Look out for any unexpected parental control apps, such as mSpy, Find my Friends and Family, and Spy Phone Phone Tracker.
You can also tap on an app to see how much space it occupies.
- Delete potential spyware apps: Tap ‘Delete App’ to remove it. Before deleting, research the app online to determine whether it is actually important to you.
- Update the Operating System: This will reverse any jailbreak and remove any unauthorized apps. Spyware apps are usually sideloaded, as they are not typically available via the App Store.
There are two ways to update iOS:
- Connect your phone to a computer with iTunes installed and then use that to update your device. Click Check for Update.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap Download and Install then Install Now once download is complete.
- Carry Out a Factory Reset: This will also reverse any jailbreak and remove unauthorized apps from your iPhone.
It wipes your phone completely, including your data, and restores it to its original settings. Back up important data, such as photos, from the phone first.
To do a factory reset on an iPhone, you have two options:
- Connect your phone to a computer with iTunes installed. Open that software and select Restore Your iPhone.
There is an option to restore from a backup, which will reinstall the iPhone software but will also restore your backed-up data.
This will remove unauthorized apps and reverse any jailbreak, but any apps downloaded from the App Store, such as parental control apps, may remain.
- On your iPhone, go into Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings.
- Connect your phone to a computer with iTunes installed. Open that software and select Restore Your iPhone.
EXPERT ADVICE: Your login details may have been compromised too. Set up new passwords for your email, social media, e-commerce, and any other online accounts.
How to Protect Your Phone Against Spying
Here are eight ways to protect your cell phone from spyware apps in 2024:
- Keep your phone safe. You can reduce your risk greatly by making sure your phone is only touched by people you trust. While it’s still possible to spy on a phone without touching it, it’s much harder to install spyware without physical access.
- Secure your phone. Lock your device with a secure password, PIN, or fingerprint, and turn on authentication for app installs.
- Only install trusted apps. When you’re choosing apps in the App Store, look for credible apps with a well-established user base. Be especially careful with simple apps such as calculators that could have been quickly put together to conceal spyware.
As we’ve seen with free VPN apps, lots of downloads and good user reviews are not always the most reliable signs of trust.
- Be careful with incoming links. The easiest way to install spyware remotely is to trick the phone’s owner into doing it themselves. In one example, people in Vietnam were sent links to compromised apps in the Google Play Store and deceived into downloading them. Because the apps were in the official store, many users trusted them.
Take care with unexpected SMS messages too, as they have previously been used to crash iPhones and infiltrate Android phones.
- Secure your data. Use strong passwords for all your online accounts. If someone knows your iCloud password, they could access data remotely from your phone using a solution like Cocospy.
- Don’t jailbreak or root the phone. You’re safer if your device retains all the safeguards of the Android and iOS operating systems.
Spyware can be more easily installed on rooted and jailbroken phones, and your device may be more susceptible to malware.
- Keep your phone updated. This is crucial for security, as OS updates patch any new vulnerabilities discovered since the previous release. iOS updates also reinstate the protections removed by a prior jailbreak.
- Manage permissions tightly. Don’t give apps permission to use your location or access your photos without good reason.
Be careful with official apps too. Find My Friends for iPhone can be used to track devices, while Google’s Find My Device and Family Link apps do the same on Android.
Additional Security Tips for Android Users
- Block unverified apps: Android phones let you block software being installed from outside the official Google Play Store. Go to Settings > Apps > Menu (top-right icon) > Special Access > Install Unknown Apps.
Find the suspicious app and deselect All From This Source. This won’t block all spyware, nor protect you from compromised apps in the official store, but it’s a sensible precaution to take.
- Keep Google Play Protect enabled: This feature checks apps before you download them, and checks for potentially harmful apps from outside the Google Play Store. In the Google Play Store, tap Menu > Play Protect and make sure it’s turned on. It should be on by default, but if someone has been tampering with your phone they may have turned it off.
- Run antivirus: Use antivirus software to scan and protect your device from spyware. Avast Mobile Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, and Norton Mobile Security for Android all offer tools that can do this.
- Install AppNotifier to alert you whenever a new app is installed on your phone, or an app is updated.
NOTE: Antivirus apps tend to be more limited on iPhone as iOS apps aren’t permitted to interact with other apps in the same way Android apps are.
To protect yourself on iPhone, you should instead run a security app like Avast Mobile Security for iOS or Norton Mobile Security for iOS to keep you safe from malicious websites.
Can Someone Spy on My Phone Without Touching It?
Most of the time, someone needs physical access to your phone to install spyware onto it.
However, it’s also possible to install spyware remotely by convincing you to download the compromised app yourself. This can be done through phishing emails, corrupted SMS messages, and Trojan horse apps.
Unfortunately, spyware apps aren’t the only way that someone can spy on your phone activity, though.
ISPs, governments, WiFi administrators, search engines, website owners, and hackers all have the capacity to spy on certain aspects of what you do on your phone – without having to install any spyware software.
For example, your ISP (and any government agency that asks to view its logs) can see which websites you visit, how long you spend there, your social media activity, who you send emails to, where you’re located, and much more.
It’s therefore crucial you take steps to secure your phone and protect your online privacy.
How to Protect Your Phone from Remote Spying
Start by using these online privacy and security tools:
- Private web browser: Default browsers like Safari, Chrome, or UC Browser are simply not privacy-friendly. Using a genuinely private browser on your phone, like Firefox Focus, makes it much harder for websites to track your activities online.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN): A VPN is software that creates a secure, encrypted tunnel to the internet. A safe mobile VPN like ExpressVPN stops ISPs, governments, and WiFi snoopers from seeing what you’re doing online. It also changes your IP address so your activities can’t be traced back to you.
Spyware Apps to Look Out For
While Apple and Google have implemented stricter rules, making stalkerware rare on official app stores, the threat persists through alternative channels.
These apps can still be easily found via internet searches and installed on jailbroken or rooted devices.
Despite advertising itself as a legitimate app, FlexiSPY and other spyware apps are routinely flagged as malicious.
Interestingly, during our research into these products, some blocked our IP address upon subsequent visits to prevent us from digging around their websites.
Here are some popular spyware vendors to look out for.
MoniMaster Pro
MoniMaster Pro is one of the most popular spyware apps, with 1.5 million users and over 50 phone tracking features.
Screenshot of the MoniMaster Pro spyware website.
While MoniMaster Pro presents itself as parental control software, it’s telling that it is not available via official app stores.
If you weren’t sure whether you should be suspicious about finding MoniMaster Pro on your phone, blog posts with titles like “How to Check Boyfriends Text Messages For Free on iPhone & Android?” will remove any doubt.
On Android, the file name to search for is com.itos.monitormaster.pro. There’s also a similarly-named free version with “free” instead of “pro” at the end.
With this app, the person spying on your phone can see which apps you use, the locations you’ve visited, and your messages.
Screenshot of MoniMaster Pro dashboard.
FlexiSPY
FlexiSPY presents itself as an employee monitoring and parental control tool and while it is certainly wildly popular for employee surveillance at least, it is very easily abused as stalkerware.
FlexiSPY is not available to download from official app stores, as it is so intrusive.
Screenshot of FlexiSPY website home screen.
If you’re on Android, look for the com.app.flexispypro APK, or head to Settings > Apps and look for “SyncManager” or “Sync Services”.
On iPhone look for “Phone Monitor” or “System Core”.
It will also typically be picked up by antivirus scanners, as it’s known spyware.
We explored its features and found that FlexiSPY logs keystrokes, messages, social media activity and internet browsing; records your screen and calls; and tracks your location.
Worse, it allows for remote control of your phone including taking photos and videos using its camera.
mSpy
mSpy mainly markets itself as parental control software, however as the screenshot shows, it also blatantly claims to be the “ultimate phone spy app”.
Screenshot of mSpy spyware service.
A version of this app can actually be downloaded from Google Play, where it has been rebranded to mLite, a GPS location tracker. Look for com.mspy.lite to see if this is what’s been installed on your phone.
If you come across com.husnain.flexispy.pro or “Update Service” then the full version of mSpy has been sideloaded onto your phone.
Similarly a cut-down version of mSpy is available on the App Store, where it’s described as a “Find My Friends Phone” app.
Installing the full iOS version of mSpy requires jailbreaking your iPhone, so updating iOS to the latest version is an easy way to remove it as the jailbreak will be reverted in the process.
Like MoniMaster Pro, mSpy offers a slick dashboard for a spy to to easily keep tabs on what you are doing on your phone.
Screenshot of mSpy demo dashboard.
Spynger
Spynger markets itself as an app for catching cheating partners. It’s the least transparent of the spyware apps we investigated with no information whatsoever on its website about who operates the app or where they are based.
Screenshot of the homepage of the Spynger spyware app.
It offers an “invisible mode” to avoid being detected while it spys on:
- Keystrokes
- Calls
- Message (including deleted messages)
- GPS location
- Shared photos
- Social media activity
- Google searches
Other features include setting up geo-fences, so the spy can be alerted when your phone enters that zone, screen recording, and even monitoring which WiFi networks your phone has connected to.
Moniterro
Moniterro is more subtle in its branding than Spynger or mSpy but make no mistake, it’s just as intrusive as its rival spyware apps.
Screenshot of Moniterro spyware app home page.
Moniterro offers the same full package of spying options as Spynger and mSpy, including “stealth mode” that renders it “invisible to any user”.
The Moniterro blog is full of posts with titles like “How to Read Text Messages From Another Phone Without Them Knowing for Free” and “Cloning an iPhone: Accessing Hidden Secrets” that facilitate unethical behavior.
