How to Know If Someone Is Tracking Your Phone [10 Signs] (2024)

The development of new monitoring technology has made it easier than ever for someone to watch your phone. Monitoring tools aren't always used for bad things. They may be used to keep an eye on the loved ones as parental controls.

However, there are many ways to abuse these features to obtain personal information and invade the privacy of others. And you may not know that your privacy has been violated. So, how to know if someone is tracking your phone? To assist you in safeguarding yourself and your personal information, we'll address these concerns and more.

Can Someone Put a Tracker on Your Phone?

Yes, it is indeed possible for someone to put a tracker on your phone.

Anyone with a motive and means can track your phone, including individuals with malicious intentions, but also organizations for data collection. They can monitor various details such as your location, calls, messages, and online activity.

These tools are often apps installed on your phone, often without your knowledge, especially spyware. These kinds of apps often hide their presence on your device, collecting your phone data and usage constantly.

In the next section, we will discuss the signs that can indicate your phone is being tracked.

10 Signs to Tell If Your Phone Is Being Tracked

Understanding how to know if someone is tracking your phone is crucial for safeguarding personal privacy. So, how can you tell? We listed 10 signs for you to look out for.

1. Unknown Apps Installed on Your Phone

Even though even the most sophisticated malware is hidden, occasionally, people utilize apps like parental control apps to spy on others.

One of these apps might be used to secretly spy on your phone, in which case the spyware wouldn't be visible.

2. Your Phone Gets Overheated

Are you noticing a rise in the phone's temperature? This frequently happens when charging or playing challenging video games.

But it shouldn't happen when your phone isn't in use, is in your purse, or you're just doing simple things on it. If you notice any strange temperatures on your phone, it may have been bugged.

The presence of malware in the background could be a sign that someone is keeping an eye on you.

3. Higher Data Usage

A sudden increase in the amount of data your phone is using may indicate malware is active in the background.

Data usage that suddenly increases could be a sign of criminal activity because the spy app requires data to send information back to the perpetrator.

To check data usage on Android phones, go to Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > App data usage.

To check data usage on iPhones, open Settings > Cellular.

4. Increased Battery Consumption

Your battery could get depleted more quickly than normal if spyware is running nonstop. But because all batteries eventually degrade, you should watch for a big shift instead of a slow decline.

If you do observe a sudden change before assuming you have a problem, see if any newly downloaded or updated apps are to blame.

5. Your Phone Is Jailbroken or Rooted

Users can circumvent the official app stores and install prohibited applications by "rooting" an Android device or "jailbreaking" an iOS device.

If your device has been jailbroken or rooted and you are not involved, that's a very powerful sign that something fishy is happening.

Some tools can tell whether a phone has been jailbroken or rooted. Root Checker can be downloaded from Google Play by Android users to determine if their phones have been rooted.

On iPhones, users can utilize Spotlight to search for the Cydia application to determine if the device has been jailbroken. Similarly, they can use other jailbreak detections.

6. Sudden Performance Deterioration

Spyware continually steals your information, labors diligently in the background, and consumes your resources. Due to the fact that this sneaky software is operating in the background, devices frequently become slow. If your phone suddenly starts to perform poorly for no apparent reason, be concerned.

7. Unusual and Peculiar Permission Requests

Do you use any applications that request permissions that don't make sense for how they are supposed to work? For instance, a calculator app shouldn't request authorization for voice recording or camera access.

These odd authorization requests might be an indication that the app is trying to spy on you.

8. Unusual Noise During Calls

Though it sometimes seems like it, we are not discussing paranormal behavior. Inexplicable noises can occasionally be heard during conversations on spied-on phones. White sounds, beeping, or plain echoing are examples of this. We all experience poor service occasionally, but it shouldn't be a regular occurrence.

9. Suspicious Requests in Texts

Remember, no government office will ever ask for money or enforce actions through text messages, calls, or emails. For example, institutions like the SSA have clear protocols and will not ask for your money through such channels. So, be cautious if you receive strange texts with links. They could be phishing scams or stalkerware signs. If you've unknowingly clicked on a dodgy link, it's smart to check if your phone is being tracked. And, if you end up losing money due to this, don't hesitate to report it to the police right away.

10. Cameras and Microphones Suddenly Turned On

If your phone's camera or microphone is suddenly activated without your instruction, it could be an indication that your phone is being tracked or controlled remotely. If you notice this happening, you should take careful steps to protect your phone.

What to Do If Your Phone is Being Tracked

If you suspect your phone is being tracked, here are some things you can do:

• Confirm the signs you notice actually indicate your phone is being tracked by someone.
• Consult a professional if you're unsure about the signs.
• Change all your passwords, from lock screen password to passwords for your accounts.
• Uninstall any app on your device that you did not download.
• Consider installing a reliable security app that can detect and remove spyware.
• If you can't remove the tracker, consider resetting your phone to factory settings. But remember to back up your important data first.
• If the situation is severe, like your information being stolen, money lost, or being threatened, you need to report it immediately.

Tips to Prevent Your Phone from Being Monitored

It's always better to be safe than sorry. Securing your phone from potential monitoring can prevent your phone from being monitored. Here are some practical tips:

• Keeping your phone's operating system and apps updated can fix security patches.
• Only download apps from trusted sources like the App Store for iOS or Google Play.
• Increase your device's security with unique, complex passwords, and enable two-factor authentication.
• Be cautious with messages or emails from unknown sources. Never click unclear links or provide personal information.
• Be careful when you allow apps to access your location. Also, switch off the location services once you're done using the app.
• Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks or any Wi-Fi networks that don't require a password.
• Review an app's permissions before installing it in the App Store. You can also see a permission access pop-up when opening a newly installed app.
• Regularly check the apps installed on your phone and delete any uninstalled or unfamiliar apps.

FAQs: How to Know If Someone Tracks My Phone

Parenting Tips: Protect Your Child's Cyber Safety in a Safer Way

Cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content on YouTube or other social media apps, online predators, identity theft, and internet addiction are some of the risks kids could encounter online. Thus, parents should take the proper precautions to keep them safe. Here, we offer some phone monitoring strategies for parents.

• Regularly check your child's phone
• Use built-in screen time monitoring tools
• Share social media accounts with your child
• Educate about privacy settings
• Encourage regular breaks
• Use third-party parental control apps

Monitor Your Child's Online Activity Effectively

Using spyware isn't ethical or legal. Therefore, parental control apps are a better option for parents who want to ensure that their kid's online activities are harmless. These kinds of apps are designed for legal, suitable oversight of children's phone usage.

In this aspect, AirDroid Parental Control is perfect. It offers several features, some of which are as follows; daily usage reports, screen time control, location tracking, remote monitoring, social content detection, safe browser, and more, to monitor your child's phone legally and without invading your child's privacy.