IF you suspect your partner has been snooping through your phone, these tell-tale signs may help confirm your suspicions.
Tech experts have revealed the indicators to look out for to ensure your smart device is secure.
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Digital pros have revealed the warning signs that might indicate someone has installed spyware on your phone.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, explained that suspicious activity on your device may point to monitoring software that tracks your messages, calls, and even your location.
The expert warned that modern spyware can stay hidden from users while collecting personal data and sending it to third parties.
He outlined the top five signs to look out for if you suspect your phone has spyware installed.
BATTERY DRAINING FAST
If you notice your phone battery no longer lasts a full day without a recharge despite no significant changes in your usage patterns,this could indicate a spy app has been installed on your phone.
“Spyware will drain your battery because it’s continuously running in the background,” Porcar explained.
“These monitoring apps never enter sleep mode and they need to constantly maintain active connections to send data to the remote server.”
According to the expert, this stealth activity uses significant power, ultimately causing your battery to drain much faster than normal.
UNEXPECTED PHONE HEATING
“Phones become hot when spy applications consume processing resources,” Porcor explained.
Rather than cooling down when idle, devices with monitoring software installed often remain warm to the touch.
Overheating happens as the spyware makes the processor work harder than necessary during normal operation.
“The temperature increase is in most cases a direct result of unauthorised background processes running on your phone,” the expert said.
INCREASED DATA USAGE
Porcar also revealed that unusual data consumption can also reveal hidden monitoring.
“Check your data usage statistics in your phone settings,” the tech pro advised.
Similar to battery consumption, monitoring apps also drain your date as they send collected information to their controllers.
Signs your phone may contain spyware apps
- Battery draining fast
- Unexpected phone heating
- Increased data usage
- Strange texts or notifications
- Unusual activity when idle
This process requires internet connectivity, using your data allowance.
“These applications will show up as consuming data in the background, sometimes using substantial amounts if they’re sending images or recording audio,” Porcar explained.
Many people first discover spyware when they receive unexpected data limit warnings from their mobile providers.
STRANGE TEXTS OR NOTIFICATIONS
“Watch for text messages containing random characters or codes,” the tech expert warned.
Some basic monitoring apps use SMS commands to control the spyware installed on a device.
These might appear briefly before disappearing as the software attempts to go unnoticed by the user.
“If you notice messages that arrive and then vanish or see notifications from apps you don’t recognise these warrant immediate investigation,” he explained.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY WHEN IDLE
Another sign that your phone may contain spyware is your device behaving strangely when it should be inactive.
“Your screen might light up when you’re not using it or you might hear unexpected sounds during calls,” Porcar said.
According to the pro, this happens because some advanced spyware allows remote activation of device functions including microphones and cameras.
“These features allow someone to listen to your conversations or view your surroundings without your knowledge,” he added.
The expert went on to describe this as “a serious invasion of privacy”.
To combat this, Porcar recommends performing regular security checks on all devices.
“Remove applications you don’t recognise, run security scans using trusted software, and check for apps with suspicious permissions,” he advised.
The digital security expert also noted that it’s important to have strong passwords and keep devices physically secure when you are around people.
“Never leave your phone unlocked around someone you don’t fully trust, and always have a screen lock” he warned.
UK law considers unauthorised surveillance of another person’s device a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act, with penalties including imprisonment in serious cases.
Porcar added that factory resets offer a last resort solution.
“If you suspect your device has been compromised and can’t resolve the issue yourself, a complete reset will remove most types of spyware,” he said.
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