Do you suspect someone is spying on you? It's not paranoia; they can. This technology is as old as mobile devices. All a person needs to do is install an app on your device without you noticing, and it doesn't matter if you use an Android phone or an iPhone.
Many people have discovered that their partners have used spyware apps to try to monitor their smartphone activity. Today there are many free spy apps for Android you can easily find on the Internet.
In the corporate environment, phone monitoring is relatively acceptable as long as the phones are owned by the company and are intended exclusively for work use. Besides, the employee must be explicitly warned of the prohibition of private use of the devices provided by the company and that their corporate phone may be monitored by mobile tracking software.
Talking about parental control applications, we must distinguish between those that limit the time of use, the numbers that the minor can call, and access to certain content, and those that monitor all the activities minors carry on their devices. The last option can directly interfere with the child's right to privacy if they are installed on their phone without their knowledge and consent.
Significant signs that someone is spying on you
- The battery drains faster
When trying to detect spyware on your mobile, a good indicator is to analyze the battery usage. More or less, we already know how much battery is consumed per day (if it is not clear to you, you can always check the manufacturer's website).
For example, the Redmi Note 8 Pro has an average battery life of 7 to 8 hours, with the screen always on; otherwise, the battery life can increase up to 21 hours.
If your phone runs out of battery in 2 hours, consider that some apps consume a lot of energy. These can run in the background even if you have closed them. You can follow these steps to find out which app consumes much energy:
Go into “Settings.”
- Click on “Battery and performance.”
- You will see a graph and list with each application's use percentage.
- You can expect to see the screen in the first place, occupying up to 50% of the battery consumption. Spyware is the most energy-consuming. If you notice an app with a name consisting of meaningless characters or letters, you can be sure it's a spy app.
- The cell phone or tablet is too hot
All electronic equipment heats up when used but always within a normal range. In any case, the devices do not heat up if they are not being used.
A spy app increases the temperature of the mobile because it activates the GPS and runs in the background.
If you want to know what is the temperature of your mobile:
- Go into settings and then “Battery and performance.”
- Then select “Battery” (at the top).
- This section will show your device's temperature and how often the battery has been charged.
- You receive strange messages
Many legal apps have their functions related to text messages and calls. Spying apps also use your phone's messaging service.
You could be dealing with a spy app if you receive text messages with verification codes, new passwords, or access requests.
This is possible because the app provides access to your device for a third-party to control your messages, even sending new ones or deleting them. This is a sure way to discover that your smartphone is being monitored, as these are strange signs.
- Interference or poor call quality
Due to technological development, spy applications can record calls. You may notice it in several ways:
- Calls have poorer quality.
- Interference during calls.
If the quality of your calls has always been good, you might suspect spyware. The same reasoning can be applied to interference. However, these are not 100% infallible tests.
- Check the installed applications
If you are one of those who download and install many apps, you probably need to analyze the list of apps on your mobile. And if you suspect you have spyware, you have two ways to find out:
- Via the settings.
- Or the Android store.
There is a list of all installed applications (both downloaded and native) on all devices. The process to follow varies a bit between different brands and models, but it is usually as follows:
- Go into your mobile's settings.
- Search for “Apps” or “Apps and notifications.” You can also use the search bar and type “Apps.”
- All downloaded, and native apps will appear there.
Look for any app that you have not downloaded. This may be the spyware someone has installed on your Android device.
