Your phone contains some of your most private information: messages, photos, location data, emails, contacts and financial information.

That makes it an attractive target for people who want to secretly monitor someone.

One type of malicious software used for this is commonly called spyware. When spyware is specifically designed to secretly monitor a partner, family member or another individual, you may also hear the term stalkerware.

But here's the important part:

A strange phone symptom doesn't automatically mean you have spyware.

A battery draining quickly could be caused by an old battery. A phone getting hot could be caused by gaming or a demanding app. Unexpected data usage could come from automatic backups or video streaming.

Instead of guessing, look for multiple warning signs and check your phone's security settings.

What Is Spyware?

Spyware is software designed to collect information from a device without the user's knowledge or proper consent.

Depending on the type, malicious monitoring software may attempt to access:

  • Messages
  • Photos
  • Contacts
  • Location
  • Microphone
  • Camera
  • Call information
  • Browsing activity
  • Files

Stalkerware is a related term commonly used for software that enables someone to secretly monitor another person's device.

Some sophisticated spyware can be extremely difficult to detect, so the absence of obvious signs doesn't guarantee that a phone is completely clean.

Signs That Should Make You Investigate

None of these signs proves spyware is installed.

But several unusual changes happening together may justify checking your device.

🔋 1. Unexplained Battery Drain

If your battery suddenly starts disappearing much faster than usual, check which apps are consuming power.

However, battery health, background activity, screen brightness and other ordinary factors can also cause rapid drain.

🌡️ 2. Your Phone Gets Hot When You're Barely Using It

A phone that remains unusually warm while sitting idle deserves investigation.

But again, heat isn't proof of spyware.

Background downloads, poor signal, gaming, video processing and system updates can also increase power usage.

📊 3. Unexpected Data Usage

Spyware that sends information from your phone may use mobile data.

Check your phone's data-usage dashboard for apps consuming unusually large amounts of data.

Look for:

Settings → Network/Internet → Data usage

The exact menu differs between Android devices.

On iPhone, you can check:

Settings → Cellular/Mobile Data

and review data usage by app.

If an unfamiliar app is consuming significant background data, investigate it.

📱 4. An App You Don't Remember Installing

This is one of the more useful things to check.

Go through your installed applications.

Ask:

Do I recognise every app here?

Look for unfamiliar applications, especially ones with extensive permissions.

However, don't immediately delete an unfamiliar app if you suspect someone is monitoring you.

If the person who installed it may be dangerous, suddenly removing it could alert them.

We'll come back to this.

STEP 1: Check Your Installed Apps

Start with the simplest check.

Android

Open:

Settings → Apps → See all apps

The exact wording varies between manufacturers such as Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, Tecno, Infinix and others.

Go through the list.

Look for:

  • Apps you don't recognise
  • Apps you don't remember installing
  • Apps with unusual names
  • Apps that shouldn't need extensive permissions
  • Apps installed around the time suspicious activity began

iPhone

Go through your Home Screen and App Library.

You can also check:

Settings → General → iPhone Storage

This gives you a list of installed apps and how much storage they're using.

STEP 2: Check Which Apps Have Access to Your Location

Location access is particularly important because someone who has access to your location can potentially track where you go.

Android

Look under:

Settings → Security & Privacy / Privacy → Permission Manager → Location

The exact path varies by device.

Review which apps have access.

Ask:

“Does this app actually need my location?”

A weather or navigation app may have a legitimate reason.

A basic calculator probably doesn't.

STEP 3: Check Camera and Microphone Permissions

You should also review which apps can access your camera and microphone.

On many Android phones, this can be found under:

Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager

Then check:

Camera

and

Microphone

On iPhone:

Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera

and:

Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone

Remove access from apps that don't have a legitimate reason to use these permissions.

STEP 4: Pay Attention to Android's Privacy Indicators

Modern Android versions provide indicators when apps access sensitive sensors such as the camera or microphone.

For example, you may see a privacy indicator when an application is actively using the microphone or camera.

If you notice unexpected camera or microphone activity:

Don't panic.

First check which app is responsible.

Then investigate whether that app should have access.

STEP 5: Check Your iPhone's App Privacy Report

If you're using an iPhone, Apple's App Privacy Report can provide useful information about how apps use permissions and which domains they contact.

Go to:

Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report

If it isn't already enabled, you may need to turn it on and allow time for it to collect activity.

It can help you understand how apps interact with:

  • Location
  • Camera
  • Microphone
  • Photos
  • Contacts
  • Network domains

This isn't a “spyware detector,” but it can help you identify unusual app behaviour.

STEP 6: Check Your Google Play Protect Status

Android users should make sure Google Play Protect is active.

Google Play Protect checks Android apps for potentially harmful behaviour and can warn about or remove harmful applications.

Open:

Google Play Store

Tap your:

Profile picture → Play Protect

Then check the security status and run a scan if available.

Keep Play Protect turned on.

Don't disable it just because an unfamiliar app tells you to.

STEP 7: Update Your Phone

One of the simplest security measures is also one of the easiest to ignore.

Install available:

  • Operating-system updates
  • Security updates
  • App updates

Security updates can address vulnerabilities that attackers could otherwise exploit.

Go to your phone's software-update settings and check whether anything is waiting to be installed.

STEP 8: Check Your Google or Apple Account

Sometimes what looks like “spyware” isn't spyware on the phone at all.

Someone may simply have access to your account.

For example, if someone knows your Google or Apple account password, they may be able to access information stored in that account depending on the services and security settings involved.

Google

Review the devices signed into your Google Account and remove anything you don't recognise.

Apple

Review the devices associated with your Apple Account.

If you see an unfamiliar device:

Sign it out and change your password.

Also enable two-factor authentication.

STEP 9: Check for Unknown Device Management

This is particularly important on iPhones.

Go to:

Settings → General → VPN & Device Management

If you see a configuration profile or device-management profile you don't recognise, investigate it.

But don't remove a legitimate work or school profile blindly.

Some organisations legitimately use device-management profiles to manage company-owned phones.

If the phone belongs to your employer or school, ask the relevant administrator before removing anything.

STEP 10: Check Accessibility and Special Access on Android

Some malicious apps attempt to abuse powerful Android permissions.

Depending on your phone, check areas such as:

Settings → Accessibility → Installed apps/services

and:

Settings → Apps → Special app access

Review applications that have unusually powerful permissions.

If an unfamiliar app has access to accessibility services, device administration or other sensitive controls, investigate it carefully.

What If You Find Suspicious Spyware?

Don't immediately panic.

If you believe someone you know installed stalkerware on your phone, think about your safety before removing it.

This is especially important in situations involving an abusive partner, controlling family member or someone who may become dangerous if they realise monitoring has stopped.

Removing the software could:

  • Alert the person
  • Cause confrontation
  • Delete evidence
  • Change their behaviour

If you feel unsafe, consider getting help from a trusted person or a domestic-abuse/cyber-safety organisation using a different device if possible.

If You Decide It's Safe to Remove the App

For an ordinary suspicious app—not a situation involving someone who may harm you—you can take several steps.

1. Disconnect it from your accounts

If the app is connected to an account, revoke access where possible.

2. Remove unnecessary permissions

If you don't need the app, don't leave sensitive permissions enabled.

3. Uninstall the application

On Android:

Settings → Apps → [App name] → Uninstall

On iPhone:

Press and hold the app → Remove App → Delete App

If the uninstall option is unavailable, investigate whether the app has device-management or administrator privileges.

What If the App Won't Uninstall?

Don't keep clicking random buttons.

On Android, check whether the application has been granted special privileges such as:

  • Device administrator access
  • Accessibility access
  • Other special app access

Remove those privileges if appropriate, then try uninstalling again.

If you can't determine what is happening, get help from a reputable phone technician or security professional.

The Strongest Cleanup Option: Factory Reset

If you have strong reason to believe your phone has been compromised and you can't confidently remove the malicious software, a factory reset may be appropriate.

A factory reset erases the device and returns it to its default state.

But there's a catch.

You need to back up important information first.

And you should avoid blindly restoring everything from an old backup if you suspect the backup contains the malicious application or configuration.

Before resetting:

Back up important photos, documents and contacts.

Make sure you know your Google/Apple account credentials.

Save important two-factor authentication recovery information.

Record important phone numbers.

Then reset the device.

The exact reset procedure depends on your phone.

DON'T Do This Before a Factory Reset

Don't forget about your accounts.

If someone may have obtained your passwords, resetting the phone alone isn't enough.

After securing the device, change important passwords—particularly:

  • Email
  • Google/Apple account
  • Banking
  • Social media
  • Messaging accounts

And enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.

Can Antivirus Apps Detect Spyware?

Sometimes—but don't treat them as a perfect guarantee.

Reputable mobile security software can detect some malicious applications.

However, sophisticated spyware can be difficult to identify, particularly when an attacker has exploited a vulnerability or has high-level access to the device.

For everyday Android users, keeping Google Play Protect enabled, installing security updates and avoiding suspicious apps are important baseline protections.

For high-risk situations, professional assistance may be appropriate.

Be Careful With “Spyware Detector” Apps

This is a major warning.

Don't download a random app claiming:

“100% SPYWARE DETECTOR — FIND WHO IS SPYING ON YOU!”

Some apps making these claims may themselves be unreliable, invasive or designed to scare users into paying.

Download security software only from reputable sources and research the developer before installing it.

How Spyware Gets Onto Phones

Spyware doesn't necessarily appear because someone “hacked the phone.”

It can sometimes get there through:

📥 Malicious apps

Someone installs an app from an untrusted source.

🔗 Malicious links

A user is tricked into downloading something.

🔓 Physical access

Someone gets access to an unlocked phone and installs software.

🎣 Phishing

A person is tricked into providing credentials or approving something.

🛡️ Exploited vulnerabilities

An attacker exploits a security flaw.

This is why physical phone security and account security matter just as much as antivirus protection.

How to Prevent Spyware

You don't need to become a cybersecurity expert.

Start with these habits:

🔐 Use a strong screen lock

Use a PIN or password that other people can't easily guess.

📲 Keep your operating system updated

Install security updates promptly.

🛍️ Download apps from official stores

Avoid random APKs or modified applications from unknown websites.

🔑 Use two-factor authentication

Especially for your main email and Apple/Google account.

👀 Check app permissions

Don't automatically approve every permission request.

🚫 Don't click suspicious links

Especially links sent unexpectedly through SMS, WhatsApp, email or social media.

💻 Review account sessions

Check which devices are signed into your important accounts.

🔒 Don't leave your unlocked phone unattended

Physical access can make some attacks much easier.

THE BOTTOM LINE

There isn't one button you can press that says:

“Do I have spyware?”

Instead, investigate the warning signs and review your phone's:

📱 Installed apps

📍 Location permissions

🎙️ Microphone access

📷 Camera access

📊 Data usage

🔋 Battery usage

🔐 Account sessions

🛡️ Security settings

If you find something genuinely suspicious, don't automatically delete it—especially if you think a person with physical access to your phone may be monitoring you.

Your safety comes before removing the software.

For ordinary security concerns, keep your phone updated, use official app stores, enable strong account security and regularly review which apps have access to sensitive information.