Author: Lianna Arakelyan

With the amount of private information stored on your phone, along with the volume of your sensitive online transactions, it is vital to secure your device. In this modern world, your phone is used daily sending messages, watching videos, browsing the Internet, interacting on social media, and more. It would be an absolute nightmare if someone had access to all your personal data. 

Sadly, someone can spy on you! It could be a spouse checking if you have an affair, a co-worker that wants to access files, or a hacker seeking your account numbers. Don't let a strong password fool you into a false sense of security because a determined spy will find ways to crack it. There are also spying apps to monitor your cellphone activity without your consent and knowledge. Sounds scary, huh?

Being Vigilant About Privacy Protection

Thankfully, there are ways to protect your privacy online. Set a lock-screen password to bar phone access. It is also crucial to install strong alphanumeric passwords with symbols for all your accounts. Additionally, be vigilant in filtering the sites you visit. Avoid click baits, don't install unverified apps, and transact with SSL encrypted sites only. 

Investing in a VPN for all devices is a sound choice because it provides you with the privacy benefits of a proxy server. A Virtual Private Network permits browsing with a safe connection. You're bypassing your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and route your device's connection through the VPN. With your VPN as an intermediary, you can use the Internet without prying eyes, giving peace of mind and allowing access to regionally restricted areas. 

However, note that not all VPN providers are created equal. Some are shady, so they share your personal information with third-party agencies. Choosing a reputable VPN is paramount. For best results, use your VPN with your browser's Incognito mode. Most browsers provide a private browsing mode. They have different names like InPrivate Browsing in Internet Explorer and Incognito Mode in Google Chrome. Even with these protocols, you must never be complacent!

Warning Signs That You're Being Tracked

There are signs that should give you a hint that your phone is being tracked. They should serve as alarm bells that your phone is infected with spy software. Some are hard to spot, but awareness will help you know if your phone is compromised. When you see a mix of these variables, you must take the necessary steps to secure your phone. 

1. Unusually High Data Use

If you are suddenly paying for too much mobile data when you've been mindful of your consumption, chances are spy software are running in the background. These operate in secret sending collected information from your phone. 

2. Device Shows Activity on Standby

If your phone exhibits signs of activity even when it is on standby mode, consider this a red flag. Standby mode means everything is "asleep" and waiting for your commands. Your phone should not light up or make weird noises when on standby mode. 

3. Unexpected Reboots

If your cellphone keeps on doing unexpected reboots without your prompt, then something is very fishy. With sudden reboots, this is and an indication that someone most likely has remote access to your gadget. 

4. Odd Sounds During Calls 

Today's networks are very advanced, so there should be a secure connection and hearing odd noises during calls is abnormal. If you hear strange sounds in the background, there is a strong possibility that your calls are tapped. 

5. Receipt of Strange Text Messages

Receiving strange, unexpected text messages with weird symbols and random numbers exhibit that a spyware tool is embedded on your phone. Spyware is known for using this kind of code language to remain in contact with its remote base. 

6. Battery Drains Fast

When your phone battery suddenly has diminished performance, this can be a sign that your phone has spy software. Since they are working in the background to monitor your calls and all activities, they eat up your phone's energy. Recording drains the battery, so this is something suspicious, especially when your phone is supposed to be idle. 

7. Batt is Too Hot on Idle

Should the temperature of your phone battery increase on idle mode, it could be spyware. Your phone is too busy actively sending data to another device, so your battery is working hard, causing it to warm up. 

8. Increased Shut Down Duration

Phones that take too long to shut down mean that many active processes are running. This is the reason for the delay. If your device is taking longer than usual to restart, the delay is caused by the data-transmitting the activities of the spyware that need to be cut off. 

9. Hard to Shut Down the Device 

When your device is running many processes at the same time, the backlight will not switch off to a completely black screen. This is strong evidence that suggests a spy app is installed in your gadget. 

10. Cellphone is Super Slow

Modern cellphones can accommodate different processes at the same time. However, if your phone is suddenly exhibiting a drop in performance and speed, it could be due to a remote software that's monitoring your use. 

Final Move: Finding Spyware 

People fall prey to spy software and are not even aware they are hacked. You don’t want your pics, passwords, messages, etc. breached. If you detect a combination of these signs plaguing your phone, you should be alarmed. That means it is time to find software that can bust these spy apps embedded in your phone. Whether iPhone or Android, you can download applications that identify spy apps so you can delete them. You can also check your phone settings and see which app is up and running. 

In addition, for iPhones, you can change the iCloud password account. If you spot suspicious apps, delete and block them. You can also update the iOS or operating system of your device to get rid of this pesky nuisance. A last-resort option could be to restore the factory settings of your device. This move will delete all third party-apps, including spy software. Just make sure you backup your contacts, photos, and critical files. Remember, it is always best to be safe than sorry because you didn't do anything to protect yourself.