How to Tell if Your Phone Has Been Tapped

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Look for the signs that your phone is being monitored

Co-authored by Brandon Phipps and Cory Stillman

Last Updated: September 13, 2024 Fact Checked

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Signs of Tracking

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What to Do if Your Phone is Tracked

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Preventing Tracking

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Video

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Expert Interview

Are you worried that your phone is being tapped or monitored? There are a number of signs that may indicate a tracked phone, as well as several measures you can take to protect against it. It is a scary proposition, but this wikiHow guide can help you stay safe by detecting if your phone is being tracked, and taking action if your suspicions are correct.

Things You Should Know

Listen for unusual sounds during a phone (such as tapping or clicking) or watch out for strange texts from unknown numbers as signs your phone is being accessed via spyware.
The safest way to ensure your phone is not being monitored is to perform a factory reset.
To prevent spyware from monitoring your phone, use a VPN at all times.

Section 1 of 3:

Signs Your Phone is Being Tracked

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Unusual sounds during phone calls. If you hear a clicking or tapping sound during a phone call, it may be a sign that your phone is being tracked or tapped.^{[1]
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- Hearing these sounds during a single call may not be an indication of a tracked phone, but do pay attention to see if you hear the sounds across several calls with different people.
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Phone lights up when not in use. If your phone screen turns on when it is not in use, your phone may be detecting activity from someone attempting to spy on your phone.
- You may also hear your notification ding/vibration, despite no actual notification being pushed from your device.
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Phone lights up when not in use. If your phone shows signs of activity when you are not using it, it could be a sign that it is being tracked. If it makes noises or the screen lights up when it shouldn't be, there may be cause for concern.
- Likewise, be on the lookout for activity from your camera or microphone, indicated by an orange or green dot atop your iPhone's screen.
If you do not have automatic updates set up, and your phone just randomly reboots on its own, it could be a sign that someone is accessing it remotely.
If you notice your device losing battery much more quickly than it usually does, it could be a sign that your device is being tracked. This is because spyware runs in the background on your phone and chews up battery at a rapid rate.
Is your phone taking a bizarrely long period of time just to turn on or off? It could be an indicator of spyware running in the background. Your phone must complete the transmission of all data before it powers off, so if it is sending data to an anonymous source, it may take a while to shut down.
A lot of spyware functions by sending strange codes to your device via text. If you receive texts containing random characters or numbers, it may be spyware attempting to gain access to your phone.
Spyware relies on data to track your phone, so it will use up more of your allotted data as a result. If you notice your data being used up more rapidly than usual, it could be a sign that spyware is present on the device.
Does your phone's temperature feel rather high?
Malware can change a lot of random aspects of your device, but it is quite common for certain malware to alter the appearance of webpages on your phone.
If you see an app downloaded to your device that you do not recall installing yourself, that is a major cause for concern.
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Dial a USSD code. One of the more clever ways to check for certain (but not all) spyware is to dial a USSD code on your phone.
- Call *#21# or *#62# and listen for information on whether or not your phone is being tapped.
  - If calling the code does not return any information, that is a sign that your device is not being tracked.

Section 2 of 3:

What to Do if You Suspect Your Phone is Being Tracked

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Check your phone's recent activity. Both iPhones and Androids can help you understand the recent activity on your device. If there is anything you do not recognize, it may be coming from spyware of some kind.
- iPhone - Look near the battery icon in the top-right corner of your notifications bar. Look for the following:
  - An arrow indicates that Location Services was recently used (or is being used)
  - A green dot means that the camera has been accessed
  - An orange dot means that your microphone has been accessed
  - Swipe up from the bottom of your phone to view the Control Center. The app that performed the recent activity will be listed atop the panel. If you do not recognize it, consider it a threat to your device.
- Android - Navigate to Apps > App battery usage
  - Scroll through the apps and look for any that you do not recognize. Tap on it to update it to update its permissions, force stop it, or remove it from your device entirely.
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Brandon Phipps
Technology Specialist
Brandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions.

Brandon Phipps
Technology Specialist

Detect spyware by reviewing your system settings regularly. Keep an eye out for unfamiliar apps running, your phone turning off randomly, or strange icons popping up. Be aware that certain spyware may be well-hidden and difficult to detect through a basic system review.
Both iOS and Android allow you to use third-party apps to scan for security risks. Run a scan on your iPhone or Android to see if any suspicious spyware is lurking in the background.
If you find spyware on your device and cannot remove it, the only sure way to do so is to perform a factory reset. It is a drastic measure that will completely reset your device, but it may be necessary for your safety and privacy.

Section 3 of 3:

Prevent Your Phone from Being Tracked

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Use a VPN. A VPN makes it harder for spies to find and trace your online activity. It is always a good idea to use a VPN when using mobile data.
- This wikiHow guide can help you find and use the best VPN.
There are several popular anti-spyware tools out there, and downloading one to your phone is a smart idea if you are concerned with your device being monitored. Norton, Malwarebytes, and AVG are all popular and trustworthy options.

EXPERT TIP

Brandon Phipps
Technology Specialist
Brandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions.

Brandon Phipps
Technology Specialist

Malwarebytes is a top choice for scanning your Samsung and Android phones for spyware. It monitors your system to see what apps and services are running in the background and detects anything malicious.
Disabling location services makes it harder for spies to gather noteworthy data on you.
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Use a private browser. Private browsers like Avast, Tor, or DuckDuckGo encrypt your web activity before it reaches your ISP. Consider using one on your mobile device to make your data less accessible.^{[2]
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- Note that using incognito mode in a traditional browser is not the same as private browsing.
Airplane Mode prevents your phone from using data, thereby blocking spies from running spyware on your phone. Consider enabling Airplane Mode whenever your phone is not in use.
Whenever Bluetooth is enabled, it may seek out connections with other nearby Bluetooth devices. Consider turning off Bluetooth whenever it is not in use.
You likely granted many apps various permissions without even realizing. These permissions can allow apps to use your data or see your contacts, messages, calls, etc. Some apps may be trustworthy, but try taking the time to go through your apps and remove any permissions you deem unnecessary. This provides fewer entry points for spyware to break through and track your device.