How to Detect Spyware on Cell Phones

Before knowing how to detect Spyware, do you know what Spyware actually is? Spyware comes from two words, namely Spy which means spy, and software which means application. So Spyware is an application that is embedded accidentally or without the user knowing about it on their cellphone. They can find out about our conversations via telephone, chat on social media, or messenger, and even have access to the passwords we enter or personal photos and documents. 

Spyware carries out behind-the-scenes activities that aim to collect important information contained in cell phones which will later be sent to certain individuals/people/organizations for use. Usually, information collectors use this information for negative or criminal purposes that endanger their users.

How to Detect Spyware, How does it feel like there are spies on our cellphones?

Before we can find out how to detect Spyware on our cellphones, think about how it would feel if there was Spyware on our cellphones. Is it normal, or are there certain differences? 

Broadly speaking, there are two types of Spyware that we can find in the world. The first is Commercial Spyware which is usually installed illegally on someone's device or cellphone. To install this Spyware, you must make direct contact with the device. For example, you have to hold the cellphone, insert the chip, or install it via a USB cable. Second, there is Spyware   which can be activated directly remotely (without physical contact with the device). 

Once we fall victim to Spyware, we cannot know and feel any difference. From the perpetrator's side, they can monitor us for 24 hours as long as our cell phone is connected to the internet. They can see what we do in each application. They can even access our cameras and see what we are doing. They can tell where we are because our GPS is on. 

Easy Ways to Detect Spyware for Lay People 

So how do we as lay people know how to detect Spyware and escape from these applications? First, we have to detect applications running behind the screen by looking at several indicators such as cellphone battery, internet speed, and the speed of other applications that we use every day.

Spyware applications when viewed in general are also cellphone applications. It needs cellphone power, internet, and bandwidth to run even behind the scenes. So, if we detect that the battery is draining quickly, the internet connection is slow in the areas we usually use, or the cellphone lags, we should suspect Spyware on our cellphone.

The second way to detect spyware is to look at data usage. We should check the data usage when we do not open or run any application. If the cellphone detects high data usage even though we are not running anything, we should suspect that there is Spyware on our cellphone. 

Next, check your cellphone and its activity again. Have you often received unclear messages lately? Or hear strange sounds when receiving or making telephone calls. If you experience one of these two things along with other indicators, you may be under surveillance. Backup data and immediately reset your cellphone to clean all types of spyware on your cellphone.