Yes, it's true that someone can install spyware on your phone without even touching it. What's worse is that users of mobile spying software are not just hackers, but nosey people in your life. After reading this article, though, you'll know how to tell if that's happened. It pays to trust your instincts.
Android. It's possible to find spy software on an Android by looking inside the files on the phone. Go to Settings – Applications – Manage Applications or Running Services, and you may be able to spot suspicious looking files.
For Android phone
Unfortunately, there is no direct way to check if the camera or the microphone of your Android device is being accessed. However, there is a workaround for it. Android users can download an app called Access Dots from the Google Play Store which will notify users the same way iPhone does.
If you want to stop phone tracking, you can change your phone settings, switch to a private browser, configure your app permissions more carefully, or use a VPN.
Spyware can be used by anyone, not just hackers
One popular app, mSpy, boasts the ability to monitor text messages, calls and social media interactions. The app can be installed remotely on an iPhone if you have the proper iCloud credentials. For Android phones, someone will need to install it on the phone directly.
You can use your phone's mobile data to connect another phone, tablet, or computer to the internet. Sharing a connection this way is called tethering or using a hotspot.
For Android phones, someone will need physical access to install it. Once that's done, your messages and more are in another person's hands. mSpy certainly isn't the only app of its kind out there. Other apps to watch out for include SpyBubble, XNSPY, Cocospy, Spyera, EyeZy, uMobix, and Hoverwatch.
Check old group messages
If this person's texting you, there's a chance they've texted you before. Usually, those old texts would show up in the same thread — unless they were part of a group message. Head back to the main list of message threads, scroll up to the search bar and search for the person's number.
A common tell-tale sign of spyware might be a sudden decline in battery life. Since spyware typically operates in the background, it can drain your battery at a much faster rate than usual. If you've noticed that your iPhone's battery isn't lasting as long as it once did, spyware could be the culprit.
Unhide or find all hidden apps on your iPhone or iPad
On your home screen, scroll right until you come to the final page displaying your App Library. Find the hidden app you want either by scrolling down to it or using the App Library search bar. If you just want to access the hidden app, simply tap it to open the app.
When you dial *#21#, you are, in fact, activating a feature access code that quickly tells you the status of call forwarding for your phone. It's a quick way of seeing what, in the case of this particular 'setting interrogation code,' your call forwarding settings. That's it, nothing more or less.
If a hacker installs spyware on your phone then there is a good chance they will be able to access your camera and turn it on/off as they please.
If you're concerned that someone may have installed spyware on your iPhone, run a quick scan with the award-winning Certo AntiSpy. This industry-leading spyware detection tool finds threats and helps you to remove suspicious apps and spyware from your iPhone.
Run a malware scan: There are mobile antivirus solutions available that can detect and remove spyware. This is the easiest solution available, but it may not be effective in every case. Cybersecurity vendors, including Malwarebytes, Avast, and Bitdefender, all offer mobile spyware-scanning tools.
You must ask the recipient to enable the read receipts option in their Messages app. Only then can you see if the person has read your text.
Assuming you're talking about SMS messaging, only if that someone happens to have access to your cellular provider's logs. Otherwise, no, someone can't track your location from a text. That changes if you're talking about other messaging formats.
Directly replying to a spam text message lets a spammer know that your number is genuine. After you reply, they can sell your phone number to other spammers who might bombard you with false promises of free gifts and product offers. Instead, it's best to block and report the number.