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You can detect spyware on an Android phone by recognizing the following signs: your phone suddenly becomes slow, the battery drains quickly, unknown apps appear, it overheats frequently, you receive strange messages or it makes strange noises during phone calls. Spyware is malicious software that is installed on your device without your knowledge. Once the spyware is installed, a cybercriminal can spy on you and collect private information such as passwords or credit card numbers.
Read on to learn the six most common signs of spyware and how to remove it from your Android phone.
Chart describing the different signs that your phone has spyware
1. Your phone is suddenly slow
Spyware can cause your Android phone to slow down unexpectedly because it runs in the background and consumes a lot of power. A sudden drop in your phone's performance can be attributed to spyware because it can cause your phone Cell Phone Number Database to freeze, websites to take longer to load, and problems when shutting down the phone. If you are not using power-hungry apps and still notice a drop in performance, your Android phone may be infected with spyware.
2. Your phone's battery or data drains quickly
Since spyware runs in the background of your phone and takes up a lot of space, you may notice that your phone battery or cellular data drains quickly. If you regularly check your phone bill and see that you spent more money than usual, it could be a sign that spyware is causing your phone to use more data to run quietly in the background. Your phone battery won’t last as long if spyware has infected your Android phone, so be sure to monitor your battery usage, even on days when you don’t use your phone.
3. You see apps or settings changes that are unfamiliar to you
If you notice apps you don’t recognize or changes you didn’t make to your phone’s settings, your Android phone may be infected with spyware. For example, if you see an app you’ve never used in your app library, it may have been installed on your phone without your knowledge and may contain spyware. Sometimes, apps that contain spyware are disguised to look like legitimate apps that you may have downloaded. Go through your phone and delete any unknown or suspicious apps and files.
4. Your phone is constantly overheating
While older devices typically overheat as the hardware deteriorates, sudden and constant overheating of your Android phone could indicate that it has been infected with spyware. Spyware running in the background uses up your phone’s resources and memory, so this increase in data usage can cause your phone to heat up, even if you’re not using resource-intensive apps. Remember that normal phone usage can cause overheating, but the intensity and suddenness of the overheating can indicate if your phone has spyware.
5. You receive strange messages and emails
The presence of pop-ups, error messages, and phishing emails can also indicate that your Android phone has been infected with spyware. These types of unusual messages are most likely caused by adware , which is a type of spyware that shows you unwanted ads in order to gather information about your online activity. This type of malvertising targets your interests to determine what type of personalized ads you will click on, which can lead to spyware being installed on your device. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of random pop-ups or phishing messages, your phone may already be infected with spyware.
6. Your phone makes noises during phone calls
If you’ve noticed unusual sounds during your phone calls, don’t dismiss them as strange background noises, as these could be signs that your phone has spyware installed. The types of strange noises you may hear during a phone conversation include beeping, static, or even distant voices. While a poor signal can sometimes be the cause of these types of sounds, hearing strange background noises during phone calls can also be a sign that your phone is being tapped, which could allow cybercriminals to listen in and record your conversations if spyware is installed.
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發表於 2024-12-22 13:36:01