If you think your smart devices are secured enough, think again. Spyware can compromise your personal information without you knowing it. Due to its covert nature, this malware often works in the background, stealing your private information to use it for unscrupulous purposes. To prevent this, we discussed here steps on how to know if you have spyware on your phone, so you can nip this malicious software in the bud.
Since not all of us are programmers and IT experts, it can be difficult to know whether are devices are infected with spyware. Also, older users are more susceptible to this scheme since they aren’t well-versed with technology and the vicious ways it can destroy their lives.
While short, we will try to give you the information in this post on how to deal with the spyware problem. Check and be vigilant as spyware might be lurking on your device as you’re reading this.
How to know if you have spyware on your phone
1. Your battery is draining faster than usual.
Since spyware work in the background, it will consume battery power. Most phone batteries last for 3 to 5 years before it starts showing signs of decline. So if your phone is still new and unusually draining fast, you should have it checked for spyware.
A battery that’s dying too quickly isn’t a good sign. Unless your phone is overused and the drainage is justified, you should be vigilant.
2. There are unfamiliar apps on your phone.
Do you have an app on your phone you don’t remember downloading? If so, it might be spyware hiding in plain sight.
Some of these apps may look like antiviruses with names like Norton Family, Net Nanny, Kaspersky Safe Kids, or any app used for parental control.
While there are legitimate apps with this name, hackers often create a false version to trick you.
3. Your phone is getting very hot.
A phone that’s overheating for no apparent reason could be harboring spyware. It’s because these malicious software work in the background and consume battery power. So even if you’re not doing anything, the spyware can increase your phone’s temperature by up to 50 C or more.
Take note that this sudden increase in temperature can damage your phone. Still, there are other reasons that could make your phone overheat, so it’s not always conclusive for spyware.
4. You’re receiving unusual SMS messages.
Text messages are another vehicle for spyware. You should watch out for outgoing messages that you didn’t send or odd messages that you didn’t open but are already marked read.
This happens because spyware can use text messaging to receive and send data. If you’re not careful, someone can steal your info without your knowledge.
5. Your phone’s autocorrect feature is malfunctioning.
System monitor spyware will record your keystrokes to steal information. To make this possible, the malware will intentionally cause your phone’s autocorrect feature to misbehave. This is to force you to type the words instead of tapping no suggested words.
If this happens on your phone for no reason, you might be dealing with spyware. You can confirm this if the other signs listed here are also present on your device.
6. You confirmed it by setting up a “link trap”.
One way to confirm whether someone is spying on your device is to create a “link trap”. Basically, you just need to use any website link and then shorten it using the bit.ly tool.
After that, send this link to a trusted friend through an online messaging app on your phone. Make sure that you tell your friend in person not to click it. Again, tell your friend in person and never use your phone for it.
It’s because bit.ly logs the number of times a generated link is clicked. So if your friend isn’t clicking the link and logs are showing that it’s been accessed, someone is likely spying on you.
7. Your phone is consuming too much data.
A sudden spike in data consumption can indicate malware on your phone. It’s because spyware consumes a lot of data to send and receive information from your phone.
Try closing all your apps and monitor your data usage. If the data consumption remains high even if you’re not using any app, you should scan for malware or consider resetting your phone.
8. There are weird sounds while making calls.
Extreme spyware forms can also involve eavesdropping on your calls. What hackers do is record your phone conversations. The good thing is that this doesn’t go without noticeable signs.
First, you’ll notice unusual sounds during the call. These sounds are similar to the kind of noise or audio on FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype. If such sounds remain, you’re likely facing a spyware problem.
9. It takes longer for your phone to shut down.
One thing that spyware doesn’t like is your phone being shut down. With this, the spyware will make it hard for you to turn off your phone until you just give up and let it be.
Aside from that, random reboots can also be indicative of spyware. Overall, it’s a very sophisticated form of spying and may require the expertise of an IT professional.
10. There are unauthorized activities on your credit card.
The hallmark sign of spyware infection on your phone is unauthorized transactions on your credit card. This means that the hackers have successfully stolen your personal information and are now using it for their own gains.
You should report it to your bank right away, so they can freeze any future transactions or change your card details.
What is spyware further explained?
Spyware is a type of malware or malicious software. As it’s called, spyware is installed into a device without consent and intended to spy on the person’s personal data, online activities, and so on.
Moreover, spyware is one of the most common threats on the internet today. It’s not surprising because according to a 2017 article by The Economist, “the most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data”.
In this note, hackers created such software that could harvest data from users without being detected. It’s a sneaky plot straight out of a secret agent movie, but it’s far from amusing.
Basically, spyware come in different forms of which these four are the most common:
- Adware. This malicious software tracks your browsing activity to target you with ads that suit your interests. It’s the lesser evil spyware, but spyware nonetheless.
- Internet tracking. Like adware, internet tracking spyware keeps tabs on your browser history, search history, downloads, and more.
- Trojans. Like the Trojan Horse that entered the City of Troy, Trojans are disguised as legitimate files that will access your data without consent. This is dangerous as it can steal your personal information.
- System monitors. This is another evil spyware that records everything on your computer – from the programs you’re running down to your keystrokes on the keyboard. In short, it’s a form of full-on spying, which can steal your passwords and most important data.
How do you get spyware on your device?
Since it’s intended to be undetected, you can get spyware on your phone without your knowledge. Usually, you’ll download the malicious file in the most unlikely scenarios. Here are some to give you an idea:
- Opening and downloading email attachments that look legitimate
- Clicking on unknown links sent through text messages
- Downloading media from illegal sites (pirating)
- Visiting and clicking links on a website with lots of malware
- Downloading and watching pornography
- Accepting pop-ups and prompts without reading it
- Entrusting your devices to shady individuals who will install the spyware
- Downloading web browser tools
- Shady “anti-spyware” packages that actually contain spyware
How to protect your device from spyware
Spyware can be sneaky, but there are ways to prevent it from creeping into your phone. Here are some of the steps you can take to ensure a malware-free device:
- Use legitimate app stores only. You should only download mobile apps from legitimate app stores. Google Playstore and Apple App Store are safer than downloading randomly on the web. While there can still be a few bad apples here, they are quite rare due to the screening steps of these platforms.
- Invest in internet security. We highly suggest that you use a premium antivirus and spyware detector to safeguard your personal information. The likes of Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Norton, and Avast are just some of the reputable names.
- Utilize two-factor authentication. The two-factor authentication feature can save your accounts from getting hacked easily. Also, attempts to hack your account will easily be noticed since it will send you authentication codes that aren’t requested from your end.
- Beware of app permissions. Sometimes, legitimate-looking apps can spy on you when you’re too lenient with the permissions. If the app has excessive permission requests, you should think twice about installing it.
- Don’t click unfamiliar links. Always be careful when receiving text messages and emails with links. You should never click any link that came from random sources. These are likely malware-in-waiting.
- Lock your devices. Spyware can be installed on your phone manually by someone who has physical access to the device. This is why you should always lock your phone and use a strong PIN. There are also apps that take a selfie of anyone who will attempt to unlock your phone.
- Change your passwords. If you believe that your phone has been compromised, you should change all your passwords to another device. Never use your phone to change it since the spyware can easily record your keystrokes and acquire new passwords.
Final words
Spyware is a global threat on the internet. From smartphones to complex network systems, this malware can endanger personal information and millions of dollars. Learning how to know if you have spyware on your phone is a crucial step in stopping these hackers in their tracks.
When in doubt, you shouldn’t hesitate to enlist the help of an IT expert to solve the problem. The earlier you detect spyware, the better.