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Is Someone Spying on Your Phone?

by on May 28, 2020
in Phones and Mobile, Cell Phones, Tips & How-Tos, Privacy :: 878 comments

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[Editor's note 5/28/2020: Since this article was written nine years ago, many new phone hacking methods have been developed and/or discovered. In addition, cell phone operating systems have evolved significantly. We've created a new article to cover those various hacks in our new story: How to Tell if Your Phone Has Been Hacked. Please go there for the latest information. We're keeping this story active for the issues and useful advice contained in the comments.]

You probably know there are plenty of apps you can install on your smartphone to track its location in case it gets lost or stolen. Apple's “Find My iPhone” is one good one and many security apps, such as AVG Mobilation, can track down a phone in seconds.

But what if someone else is tracking you? Is there any chance your boss or spouse could be spying on everything you do on your phone?

It’s easy to do. Spy apps are plentiful and can imperceptibly track text and e-mail messages, location, Web sites you visit, who you call and what photos and videos you shoot. The problem is these apps are difficult to detect and run invisibly in the background.

I decided to track my son and installed an app on his phone called Phone Control by Laucass (free on Google Play). Of course, secretly intercepting electronic communications without the person's knowledge and consent is illegal, so I told my son I was doing it and that I’d only use it if I had good reason.

Every day I receive emails that indicate my son’s location as he’s using his phone out in the world. I can click on those links in my email to see via Google Maps where he is (although I very rarely do). I could also set up the app to send me data about everything else he’s doing on his phone, but that’s not something I personally need—or want—to do.

Signs your phone may have been compromised

Someone borrowed or took your phone

I had to have my son’s phone in hand to install Android Phone Control. Once activated, however, there’s no icon in the application launcher. The app shows up with the name “Android System” in the applications manager so it doesn’t look suspicious. If you think someone could do something like this when you’re not paying attention or asleep, secure your phone with a passcode that isn’t easy to guess.

(Editor's Note 9/26/12: To confirm you have the spyware and not a standard Android app by the same name, follow these steps to open the spy app (dial the phone number.)

(Editor's Note 8/28/13: See our in-depth study of mobile security apps for more detail on 9 of the most common spyware programs and how to detect them.)

(Editor's Note 12/16/14 (Josh Kirschner): In some of my comments below, I noted the unlikelihood of spying on iPhones that were not jailbroken. However, since many of those comments were made, certain holes were identified in iOS that exploit the iPhone's connection to trusted networks and devices to allow someone with access to the network or device to download significant amounts of personal data. Jailbreaking the iPhone was not required. Fortunately, those holes have been patched in iOS 8. For more information, see: http://www.zdziarski.com/blog/?p=3820]

Your phone is acting weirdly

Taking forever to shut off, lighting up for no reason, suddenly getting much shorter battery life or running hot when you’re not using it may indicate hidden processes are running in the background.

Your data usage skyrockets for no reason

This could be because your phone is checking in with someone else, using GPS and sending them text messages or emails that communicate where you are and what you’re doing.

What to do if you suspect your phone's being monitored

The best thing to do is perform a factory reset, which you can find as an option in your phone’s settings. Know, however, that in doing so you will lose all data stored on your phone, so back it up first.

If you’re using Apple iCloud or Android 4.0, items like your contacts, photos and music are automatically synced and saved in the cloud. But if you have an older phone, you’ll want to make sure to export your contacts before doing a factory reset. There are various ways to do this depending on what phone you’re using and which operating system it’s running. If you’re not sure, get help from your cellular provider; they can make sure to retain your contacts and other important data during a factory reset.

You'll then want to use a strong passcode to prevent unauthorized access to your device. For Android devices, you can also install an app, like AppNotifier (free on Google Play), that will email you when programs are loaded onto your phone.

(Editor's Note 9/26/12: See our updated recommendations for Android antimalware solutions)

(Editor's Note 8/28/13: See our in-depth study of mobile security apps for our latest recommendations on how to protect yourself.)

You'll then have to tackle the issue of who's doing the monitoring. Keep in mind that if your device was issued by your company or is authorized to access your company's email and other data services, you may have given your consent as part of your employment contract or when access was data access was granted.


Discussion loading

USB connection

From Kass on July 23, 2017 :: 10:56 pm

Can you tell me if I plug my iPhone into my computer at work using my own USB cable to charge and list to my music sill this give employer access to my phone files. The phone does ask me if I want to give access and I say no

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Yes, code can be hidden in pics, and used to hack your phone

From Ryan on July 29, 2017 :: 4:00 pm

A lot of phones are still vulnerable to “Stagefright” and other exploits that are compromised pics sent through MMS, email, etc. Often times the person receiving the message doesnt even have to click on the pic in order for the hack to execute. The phone will be set to download and open file attachments automatically by default.

Its a misconception for people to think that changing the settings from the default, “Automatic Download” to a Manual process of Downloading, and opening of attachments, that requires user interaction. Will keep you safe. If the person that is trying to compromise your phone, is someone you know, then you will manually open the attachment anyway, right?  Which will be hacked.

A lot of phones are patched against stage fright at this point.  But you would be surprised how many aren’t. And there are new exploits being found all the time.

Look on Google play. There are Stagefright Vulnerability detectors you there. Most dont fix the problem though. They just tell you whether you are/aren’t vulnerable to it.

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I have a friend that gets code like this from my Google Voice Number

From Ryan on July 28, 2017 :: 9:29 am

It happens while we’re texting only. And it only happens to her. Anyone know what it is?


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£iΛØH&OΞ£çDçΓΔTΔ%Ξé¤P&A4;%rtòò(Rß=2DΔTߣΘéiS+ Φ£9ΩhΛ‘T¡øΦΩHV,.¡è2D*_)
éΞèçH!R$iJéèΩ¤IÆæ$ΦçH)AΦ_r$èΛ)OßΘ$rjS*Lò£Θt)S” (=$$)_).¡ò*E
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Hard times nearly impossible

From Nicole durneb on August 04, 2017 :: 5:03 pm

I have a friend who is being domestically abused by her boyfriend ex-boyfriend and there is been weird situations going on with your phone due to what we believe is a spyware and she’s brought to the police and they can’t help her and there’s a program that is trying to catch him stalking her but they have been not able to catch him I need help trying to find the spyware on her phone it is a Samsung S4 and I think my phone has been acting weird lately too there are more details to why we think her phone is five where he will respond to a text message that she received from a friend by responding without physically seen her text message he then responds with a text message to her responding about the text message… I don’t know if you were able to catch that but that is only one detail of information and giving you please help us because the police can’t or are refusing whatever the problem is.

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Updated information onbthis topic

From Michael wagerd on August 05, 2017 :: 7:03 am

i dont trust what josh says. maybe its that date but if it a android you would have to check what services are running and the infected software will open these services and the permissions that they open will give their rat software able to do everything that possable on the phone. they will be also elavating the services power that will make them look like they are the computer or phone so android it will be google services. The data will be sent through a ssl secure connection and that make it encripted so you wont beable to read it unless you decript the the data with the ca cert that being used for the connection also they now are using cloud services for the data connections what make it a cloud base attack just not a way some will look to find the hack. Fbi computer crimes lab where you might find someone in law enforcement that capable of helping. The police or fbi normal angents wont help and will treat you like your high on drugs if you ask them for help with this problem. computer forensic lab would be who you would google for a none police paid company to have your phone really cjecked out for this. They will be close to 500 a hour and will need some time to work on it so it really expencive to have this done. If there is great need like they are threating your life what i fully aware of the issues this cause from experence. 7 year victem myself from this and noone will beleive or help you with it. I also want to get a suport network for vistems of this. I reall want to make a very very helpful web site that that will go into what you can do to take the power back from these people. They are arrogent and have rape and enslavement tendencys. the best advise is make a security blanket that if anything happen will help people know what going on. So they know where to look if anything does happen.might save your life! Get profectionaall help. Like use every abuse network that you can find. Take it very serous. They might have your facebook account and know all your family and friends. if they make sure they dont have a missing person past. Make sure dont have a record of abuse phycial . They know where your at at all times. Everything your phone know and you do around you phone they know. The camera will shoot them pictires. They can get sound and hear everyt hing said in the room around your phone. Also they are breaking many federal laws. Like taping a phone without a warrent. Hacking and when you hack anything it about 10 federal laws they are doing every time they do it. Make a jurnal of every time you reset and force them out. And if they get in certain files they will just be reinstalled when you reset your phone. But every time they hack in it about 10 federal laws they broke for that act alone. Then the tapping the phone a charge and anyway they dige a very screwed if you make proof of it. Get software that will log ssl connections lear bitshark and use it for pcap logs to be able to find what the ip address is where the data is going. If you phone a dimanic ip address they will need to know what it changed to. So it will need a connection for them to get this data. and reamber log everything you can and back up your device files and logs not online make the data on a burned disk or a removable device. Find out how to use the progeaming tools if it android and pull backup copys of the whole phone. Dont beleive anybody that says your wrong or that it not a very very dangerous situation you and people they know you care about might be in. Depending on this person you might be in a life threating situation or be being blackmailed. Or recorded for sick sex sph site. All depends on who doing this to you and why. They dont understand what the dangers are that you might be in if they blow you and this off.

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@Michael Wagerd

From Ryan on August 05, 2017 :: 12:25 pm

I think you’ve been the most informed responder in this topic so far. Thanks for taking the time keep people informed.

One thing to note though. In many cases the FBI, and other intelligence agencies probably aren’t your friend in these matters. Unless its an Ex Lover, or there is a specific person that you are pretty certain is behind your being stalked.  The intelligence community could very well be in on what people are dealing with. Look into gang stalking people. It’s no joke.

I wont be saying it again. But it needs to be said.  “gang Stalking”

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Very Important Subject: Gang stalking via technology

From Kristie on September 20, 2017 :: 10:48 pm

I’ve been reading people’s concern in hopes to find a solution to their problems. When I read about this gangstalking it immediately got my attention. For the guy who knows so much about computers and having to hear over and over “factory reset”, Are you part if gangstalking? To deny this kind of computer stalking happens I’m wandering if you know a lot more if not engaged in it just by how confident you became to actually start diagnosing the person who brought up gang stalking with mental health issues. I can’t believe how fast you denied this could occur it’s abnormal what you did that I’m sure you know a gang stalker. To diagnose somebody or make a comment about their mental status makes me feel like vomiting. You had no business saying such mean things. I feel like writing articles on gang stalking now.

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My Apologies

From Kristie on September 21, 2017 :: 12:12 am

Hi. I recently sent an awful comment about diagnosing a person with a mental disorder for talking about gang stalking. The truth is my ex and his girlfriend are trying to take custody of my two young children. I see the abuse when I’m court ordered to Skype with my kids. That’s not the issue as far as the stalking and identity theft as every phone I’ve purchased has been used to try and frame me in court. The opposing attorney has brought up evidence that couldn’t have possibly known about unless my ex has access to my phone. It was about me propositioning an attorney when it was an attorney texting me saying they would work as my attorney for free and I went off on this attorney saying I’m not a prostitute leave me alone! Only cause I received a call after my quest on looking for an attorney this attorneys number called me back with a man on the other end whispering that a mass email was sent out that I was a prostitute and they were my client. I immediately Called this Attorney back and sounded crazy taking about the mass email the paralegal was do confused that another bridge burned. I received a phone call from somebody and heard my two year old playing and her voice was like a robotic voice and it’s so scary and painful. I can’t talk about it to anybody cause my ex is claiming I’m crazy to the courts and it’s being done all via technology they’re using my phones email addresses social media sites to drive me nuts my ex and his girlfriend. I’ve had death threats my kids taken and using my technological devices to scare me and react I can talk more about this via email. They’re going to frame me to save my ex from going to prison he has a felony for strangulation on his ex. When I caught him and this affair I was going to go to a women’s shelter due to his abuse. I need to explain more about why they’re using technology to destroy me. The girlfriend is affiliated with gangs and drugs and she has a huge family one relative works as an engineer for AT&T telecommunications interception. She was our neighbor and my ex got involved with her. I know too much that I’m a threat and using technology the way they are is going to ruin my life. My kids are 2 and 18 months severely neglected just to save themselves from my knowledge of the crooks they are. Email me I can explain this craziness I need help though.

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Contact?

From AAA on July 16, 2022 :: 3:54 am

How can I reach you?

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tmobile digits

From lauren prior on October 08, 2017 :: 1:42 pm

Somebody who is abusive keeps track of my texts via tmobile digits. I know this because tmobile tells me(they will send me texts about it) also this person told me what they were doing before hand but I never consented to it. I know the virtual number can I block it?

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Remotly harrased by neighbors with deaths daily

From Remotly harrassed and stalked by neighbors on October 12, 2017 :: 1:31 am

Hello,
This may sound weird but I have researched Florida laws but wanted to see anyone has or is going through my ear of hell. I am currently being stalked by my old neighbors.  I lived in an apartment building and had to move out because I did not feel safe living there.  When I was in this apartment and on the phone, I kept hearing beeping sounds in the phone.  I ignored it the first few times and later realized they were watching me.  I would hear them discussing exactly where I was located in the apartment, what I was wearing and verbally discuss what I am doing in each room. I was being tracked by my neighbors with every move I make. Fast forward…I got a piece of paper and wrote ‘Stop watching me its creepy and illegal’ and they got instantly angry after reading the sign out loud!!! That was my confirmation.  They were watching and describing me in the bathroom and bathroom naked.  This incident started the middle of May 2017 and I am currently experiencing this and now with death threats. Since he hacked into my phone, I moved to another city, threw away my phone and purchased another phone and got a new phone number thinking that would stop them from illegally watching me. Well has hacked into the new phone and new number.  If that is not bad enough he hacked into my sisters iPhone. I have heard them describe my sisters activity down to the detail of what she is doing at all times.  Most of are of her intimate moments. Its VERY CREEPY and invasive. I am documenting all activity with the advice of a PI but the threats to killing me and my sister has grown immensely!!!
Their words exactly is “Where that B is at, I am going to kill her” in addition to that they are describing how they are going to kill me and my sister.  To be exact “I am going to strive to where her sister lives know on the door and soon as she open the door I am going to shoot her in her face” And after they shoot my sister, they are going to walk to the back (which is where I am sleeping) and shoot me in the head, I gonna walk straight up to her and shoot her right in her face”
I have documented these conversations by date and time stamped each day. I don’t understand how no one in the apartment would put a stop to it!! They all are aware of this issue but get extremely ANGRY and ask for the address (which they should have but since he hacked in he would describe everyone in the house)The threat to kill my sister is very concerning and are often repeated. when I lived I called police twice and they recommended me to move for sanity. I agreed and moved. I also have taken the liberty of documenting these incidents with several methods via email, letters and text. I am in DIFFERENT CITY and they still are stalking me with the death threats.

Please provide if any ways of moving forward with legal help as my sister is a target.

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@Remotly harrased by neighbors with deaths daily

From Ryan on October 12, 2017 :: 3:31 am

This sounds like one of two things. Or maybe both, as I believe the two work together. I am dealing with the same issue, and it’s gotten much worse over the past several months.  What you are experiencing is GangStaking. It’s meant to take you completely out of your ability to live a normal life. They keep you scared, and afraid you are going to be murdered nearly all the time. Contant harassment,death threats, fear for loved ones. etc. In my case they are doing even more than that over the past several months. I’ve dealt with this for 7 years now.

Unfortunately it doesn’t have an end in sight. It may not ever stop actually. They re trying to get you to kill yourself, incarcerated, or become institutionalized. The voices you are hearing are not likely actually your neighbors. (Although it could be). No one else will probably even be able to hear them.It’s V2K technology.This is a program being carried out by our Gov, and it’s intelligence agencies. They work with local street gangs, occult, and various religious organizations, to keep you stalked, and harassed 24/7.

Now, the other thing this could be. Is Demons. Call me crazy. But they are very real, and they absolutely engage in these kinds of activities as well. Most believe they actually work with the stalkers.

If you are not seeing a lot of physical stalking around you, and are only hearing things. It could just be a Demon on its own. Which would be your best case scenario.

Look up all this that I’m telling you. There is plenty about this on the intrawebz now.

Hang in there/ Don’t attack anyone that seems to be at fault, because they may not be. You will be pushed to act out, and get in trouble. Don’t kill yourself either. Never do that.

Start talking to God like you would your mother. Every day. If you’re a TI, it may not help get you or any of us out of this. But you will need him.

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Absolutely possible when the person

From Misty Lynn on October 25, 2017 :: 3:01 pm

Absolutely possible when the person has access to all devices and is right there to accept all prompts. Sometimes the “hacker” or stalker rather is much closer than we think.

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oLD PHONE LINES CUT DOWN OR TURNED OFF PERMANANTLY

From dEE on October 29, 2017 :: 7:51 pm

Old GROUND phone line hook up boxes(ON HOMES eXCETRERA)  still have electric in them even though the phone was taken out or the place was closed or abandoned and we found out people are using them to listen to people and also use them to call non long distance AND EVEN LONG DISDTANCE IF THE HAVE A LINE CONNECETOR BOX SET UP ON THE HOUSE… FOR phone calls TO W SWITCH ON ALL LINE ON THAT ROAD!, so in old abandoned homSe or even ones that burnet down… rebuilt somewhere else on the property… the line still works and unless they get caught off to the ground permanently, turned off by an electric phone company they can use that line to hack people in the area or even use it for free phone calls and you might get the charge!

It happened to a friend, they found out who was dong it and the got themselves in big trouble and , SPYING AND ALMOST GOT A 2500.00 DALLOR FINE FOR STEALING AND BREAKING & hooking INTO PRIVATE PHONE LINES! just THINK OF HOW MANY OF THESE ARE STILL OUT THERE EVERYWHERE YOU GO AND WE WONDER WHY U.S.A. IS BEING HACKED AND EVERYTHING ELSE THROUGH UNCUT NON TURNED OFF CUT DOWN PHONE LINES, PROBABBLY ALSO INCLUDING ABANDONED TRIAN LINES THAT STILL WORK BUT NO TRAIN RUNS ANYMORE>>> AND IN EVERYTHING ELSE WE USE AND DO!

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RANDOM GIRL SPEAKING when phone not in use

From R on November 05, 2017 :: 11:43 am

At random times while the phone is not in use, I keep hearing a girl’s voice talking as with some music playing in the background. Every time it sounds a little different but sounds like the same girl. She’s not talking with anyone else that I can tell. Sounds like she may just be sitting in her room doing whatever. Sometimes it sounds kind of porn like, other times just saying whatever comes to her mind for a brief moment.

It is kind of embarrassing when my phone is sitting out and my family here’s it.

When I check for any open apps there are none. I don’t see any processes running that would be related to the problem. There is never any video or advertisements playing.

I appreciate any advice you can give to resolve it.

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Are you in Florida? Sounds

From Ashley Marie on November 24, 2017 :: 3:23 pm

Are you in Florida? Sounds like my ex and his friends.

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hacked

From hacked on November 24, 2017 :: 9:06 pm

What should happen when you dial the #000* as my service provider came tnrough with automated messages saying call cant be co pleted at tnks time a d tk cal them for more i fo. As well as the restof you i am fed up with the hacking, spoofing,fake sites, settings being changed or inaccessible, weird codes and files left on device never put there and some that says audio or other types of files i cant opem. Passwords bei g changes constant, links thatbare not real just images. CIntervertebral Disc Diseaseoding, bullyimg, harrassment and breech of security that has made my life hell. Fake certificates. Encypted websites that say people could be watching in transit? Even the passwords to log in change from pinto password. Recordings played back to me. Apps taking permissions seriously withpictures beimg take without my knowledge. What in the world is going on here. All documents and pics wiped from phone when wasnt online? Ip address targets every computer. Erases documents and external harddrives and such. Bluetooth and wifi turn on whenever it wants. Enough data to last a mth gone in two days. Battery consumption ridiculous. The list goes on and on. Even though all proof gets wiped most people have seen all lf thi I want for this hackimgto stop. How? When all anti virus, malware programs and other apps dont detect it. I am no longer administer for own computer. No one here is crazy, what is crazy is to do this to people knowingly causing harm and making life difficult

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Apple Image Web kit for Developers

From Vincent'so Gal on November 25, 2017 :: 3:26 am

The camera is in the screen itself. They handed them out willy nilly at a lot of tech conferences.  Didn’t check to see if it was mentioned here. CPU went nuts. Try moving an icon over the camera on your screen and it won’t take. Forget about tape over your camera. I was hacked with this in 2014 by my IT boyfriend. Yet, now you can’t find any info on this program. Wonder why? Each we kit has a #.

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My phone wrote a text message as I watched

From Carolina on November 30, 2017 :: 7:23 am

My phone wrote a strange text message whilst I was cutting vegetables on the bench . I heard the clicking sound and watched it write on its own . Some very sensitive things were going on at the time.  I BELEIVE someone has a device to monitor both myself and other family members. Is this possible and how do I get rid of it. Also my battery runs out even when switched off plus it freezes from time to time ... This is very serious .

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Can you provide more detail?

From Josh Kirschner on November 30, 2017 :: 1:27 pm

What type of phone do you have - Android or iOS? Have you taken steps to follow our advice in our article on how to detect and prevent cellphone hacking? https://www.techlicious.com/tip/how-to-tell-if-your-phone-has-been-hacked/

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Private chats hacked by boyfriend

From Nayab on December 15, 2017 :: 8:56 am

Is that possible if my boyfriend is seeing messages with same contact name i have saved please answer.. And I im very worried because no hacking app is in my phone then how?? And my boyfriend checks my phone only for max 1min or 2 min.. Last time.. When he meet me n next day.. I took screen shots and sends to me only 3 day chats
6dec
7dec
8dec please reply

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Please help

From Nayab on December 15, 2017 :: 9:03 am

Sir, I don’t know how my boyfriend can have my private chats he broke up with me because of these chats I had with my male friends.. There is no hacking app in my phone he sends me only chats of 3days
6,7,8 December on 10th of December he had my phone for only 2 minutes please tell me how can I overcome.. Out of this situation

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Being watched on phone

From The person u'd. Spyed on sick perv on December 24, 2017 :: 2:16 am

I was wondering if you can tell me some of the ways a person can install spyware on your phone? Without actually getting ahold of it? And if its a neighbor how can you get confirmation its them? Is their some code or serial # you can get and confirm it? Need your help i cant stand them watching my every move.

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UNTAP MY MOMS PHONE!

From Janet Curtis on January 08, 2018 :: 10:00 pm

mom is 91 and is housing her 40 y old grandaughter from hell.Fresh out of prison shes tapped my families cordless phone. She said she DID that! she wants to hear all calls so moms isolated crying in her room and Im five hundred miles away cant speak to her! we didnt consent we said no. mom even said GET OUT OF MY HOUSE and she just stared at her. forcing us to have to evict her!? moms too old for this bs and so AM I Who UNTAPS PHONES the phone co? the police? no matter who I ask or what searches I do it always says HOW TO FIND out if your tapped OR how to tap geez. isnt there someone that can just answer the ? the police need to come take that off! and the feds need to know shes illegally tapping us all! shes a charming lil liar and refuses to budge I dont even know if moms alive! someone answer that pls! asap!

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i know who it is!

From Janet Curtis on January 08, 2018 :: 10:16 pm

we know who is doing this to my mothers phone and it is DEADLY so why wont the police come remove it and THE HACKER? if police wont who will? hire a pro who would that BE? this advice isnt working at all! impossible? we KNOW we were told and she said it! and shes doing it but my mom is too old to know what to do about it. I dont even know if shes alive that is the hackrs plan! srwal all after she passes Then tell the family She is fresh out of prison and caused our family to be NO MORE so whats the answer? not how to tap or what to look forITS obvious she lives there and confuses and fights with anyone including mom who talks to their own kids!iv searched forever there is never an anaswer this isa cordless phone with three phones and a speaker base. im 500 miles away and I want to put her out NOW! shrs been told toleave she jst stares at her guess she wants to make a 91 yr old granny to take it to court. well that wont happen she even took her car keys for her own good. all of this is to protect her from ME! lil liar. she wants to BE me! calls my mom her mom and says shes now head of household. She was never allowed to come over if not calling first. Now that dad passed she is incorrigable refuses to work I cant find her paroll officer Im out of ideas and not one of these comments ar about this its simple. my niece is tapping our home phone and isolating us all its very sad and creepy. If I were there she would NOt have access to the pc. dad knew about pcs but not my mother so shes given in and up i dont want her to die like this we belong together. this is the longest ive ever gone without contact. i wanna put her rotten but bk in jail. someone answer who will do this inspection removal the DA the cops? this is horrific. and not possible..? its happening for yrs and I MISS MY MOM!

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Name and number Blinks

From Lee on January 23, 2018 :: 11:46 pm

When I go to delete a text message that I have received or sent to a certain individual that name will Blink when it’s highlighted but only for that certain number.  What does that mean?  It will not blink for any other numbers that I have noticed.  I’ve never noticed it before until the other day.

Could someone help me out?

I have an antique tracfone an LG840G

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Trac fone

From Nick nellos on December 10, 2018 :: 2:48 am

1. Call TracFone.
2. Tell them what you think has happened to your phone.
3. Get a new simcard
4. Ask straight to reset pril
5. Never click on any link
6. dlont let anyone use your phone
7. Shut down all email addresses
8.change all pass words .
9. Never click on any links
10 never loan your phone to anyone

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My hacked phone

From Barbarahoggard on January 26, 2018 :: 1:50 pm

Cast icon on my fone even though I didn’t activate it, my husband Nd his friends spying on me, when I fight and get really angry the phone gets cold but otherwise has this icon and gets really hot, can you please help me, I have factory reset it and sadly lost data even though I did do a back up as I needed data that I had or he had deleted from the phone. Please help what can I do as there is no button but the icon just appears when my phone is being mirrored

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I'm not fully following your issue

From Josh Kirschner on January 26, 2018 :: 3:36 pm

Hi Barbara,

The Casting icon can appear on your phone if you’re using a Google device that has your account information associated with it, such as a Google Home or Chromecast. For example, if I play songs over Spotify on my Google Home, I will see a music casting icon on my phone. Or if I cast YouTube from my phone to my Roku. When you look at the casting notification on your phone, what device does it say it’s connected to?

Josh

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Help

From Alesa Butler on February 12, 2018 :: 1:22 pm

My phone only phone calls from job interview that I did not put on my husband get my messages on his phone I found a different set. Of control were you can change settings   Not a vpn said not contracted what should I do

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Self-employed

From Jonathan Clemson on February 18, 2018 :: 5:32 pm

I’m constantly losing my device
and being spied on.. It isn’t
right N I had never ever enjoy for too long as SOON SOMEONE ALWAYS DOES THIS to me. I’m hard of hearing and nobody ever taught me how to use these devices… I have no access to my email address and no ringtones either please help me?

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Seriously!!!

From Erin Richey on February 24, 2018 :: 2:53 am

Wow… This is completely depressing! There’s basically no good solution. I don’t have time to worry about this kind of crap. I can’t be productive at work without my phone. So what the heck am I supposed to do?

This answers a lot of questions… About an extremely narcissistic and controlling ex-husband… And possibly my current boyfriend.

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moms landline

From Janet Curtis on February 28, 2018 :: 7:55 pm

my evil elonious niece has been let out of prison and lives with my mother. she told us she has tapped her landline and she listens in on everyone she has access tto moms pc and she can hear conversations from across the contry my ? remains the same. how do I get police of phone company to get rid of it. then get rid of HER! shes killing the entire family especially mom who thinks she cann call if shes not thetre keeps forgeting. Shes screams she threatens she pushes my mom around she cant stand that shes not her daughter and hates me for NO reason! i ask this every day and all i get is is yr phone tapped heres how to tell…i want an answer pls. get rid of this tap and then get rid of this evil niece. shes just a 40 yr old prison rat that wants control and power

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91 yr olds landline

From Janet Curtis on February 28, 2018 :: 8:00 pm

tapped by the evil grandaughter she got out of prison TTWICE! shes a narcissitic sociopath and listens to all our converstaions so no one talks to my mom anymore she is isolated. im tired of asking this ? All i get is how to tell if yr phone is tapped. SHE TOLD US! who will get rid of it and HER? I was told by police it is a felony and punishable. so who will go take it off? she has access to moms pc and shes KILLING US ALL! moms not got long to live and we have never been aprt before! now we cant write or speak to eah other at all! shes TRAPPED! this niece is the most hateful jealous evil person i never knew! i need answers not is someone spying YES THEY ARE AND ADMIT IT Will the phone company help and then call authorities. this isnt about a cell mom doesnt have a cell she TOOK it away when she found out we were talking my GOD why cant anyone answer this?!???

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I'm very confused by your story

From Josh Kirschner on March 01, 2018 :: 10:15 am

Sometimes it’s a niece, sometimes a granddaughter. You say she lives with your mother, then you say she can hear conversations from across the country. But I’ll try to answer as best I can.

If she is living with your mother and you believe that she is controlling/abusing her, you could talk to adult protective services to see if they can investigate and take action. But if your mother is allowing your niece to live in the home, I’m not sure there is anything illegal about her placing a recording device on the landline, especially if your mother is aware of it - it’s her home too, and there’s nothing illegal about recording your own calls. Some states require two-party consent, but if she’s told you she’s recording the calls, then you’re already aware you’re being recorded when you call.

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it is NOT moms own calls

From Janet Curtis on March 26, 2018 :: 6:34 pm

so because we are aware of it we have to live with it? w said no we do not agree to be recorded!ITS A FELONY to tap someones phoneas far as I know. Thee has to be a way to get rid of it and remove her from my childhood home so I can see and talk to my mother before she dies. yes she hears it all she hears mom say i hate her i should call the cops. I want to slit my writs yet this sociopathic narcissist doesnt care if shes hurting her granny. at all. she likes it. shes been told get out of my house and take that mean dog with you. she just stares at her and says thats never gonna happen??!! ttthis is NOT ok yes it IS moms home for over 60 yrs! shes my best friend and its OK because she knows about it? NO IT IS NOT IT IS rude and deadly. she already called aps on everyone of us that are out of state. but I was in her home 8 months out of the yr taking good care of her. I never screamed at my mom in my LIFE and now her bp is so high this niece is gonna kill her! but since she already said she covered her butt by telling aps i was bad for my moms heatlth and was given MPA I cant do a thin!? what does that mean she knows about it is is her house. she knows about it doesnt like it and there has to be a way to make this lil bitch sto spying on her I WANT IT OFF does the phone co do it do the police do it? this is pure evil and unwanted. how do we get rid of IT AND HER!?>??no one can answer this and it has been 7 yrs! i have always been with or in touch w my folks my whole life! shes gonna die yet there is never a way to et this evil from her house? im afraid someone in the family is gonna really kill this mean woman she never works or pays for anything she is pure evil. no soul no empathy just a creepy do nothing spy it not LEGAL TO DO THIS why doesnt anyone have an answer?

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Josh

From Janet Curtis on March 26, 2018 :: 6:49 pm

Im not following you now. she isnt allowing her to live there she will not GET OUT! she is not to even TOUCH my mothers personal landline at all! but she is and it doesnt mean we are allowing it we want it of. shes 91 how is she supposed to know what shes doing with her landline? how is she supposed to NOT ALLOW HER TO LIVE THERE IF SHE WONT LEAVE! AND SHE SAYS IM NEVER LEAVING ITS A FREE RIDE! why do you say my mother is allowing this? and why do you say if we know about it its ok? it is NOT OK WE KNOW AND WE HATE IT AND I CANT KEEP ASKING OVER AGAIN YES it is her home yes it is her phone she is NOT IN ANYWAY trying to record her private calls or the family that calls her! why do u say elder abuse is the only way when she is committing a crime!? it is NOT MY NIECES HOME TOO what does that even mean? and who has the right to jutt go into someones elses home and tap someone elses phone yes she said she was recording us and we have been warned. so we are to just put up withit really?>??? she doesnt belong there she has to get out and someone the police maybe must DO SOMETHING you cannot go around tapping phones that are not yours. i dont have a clue why youd even say that its her phone too? no it is MY MOTHERS PHONE PERIOD AND I BOUGHT IT FOR HER! I also got her a cell phone that disappeared as soon as the evil one found out she was talking to me. and yes she went bk east to rip off her other aunts and uncles and while there she was able to hear us! And she isnt supposed to use moms computer but she IS and how is a 91 yr old woman supposed to throw her out of her house her chair her room. my deceased fathers room and then just fill the house with all her things while my mom says get out dont bring that here getrid of that dog he scares my dog no matter what she says a narc is just gonna stare at u like what are u gonna do about it. DIE? thats what!

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I'll say again

From Josh Kirschner on March 27, 2018 :: 9:49 am

If your mother is competent and doesn’t want her in the house, and your niece refuses to leave, she can call the police and have her arrested for trespassing. If she is not competent, you, as her daughter, likely can file to become her legal guardian, at which point you can have your niece expelled. You could also talk to adult protective services where your mother lives to see if they can investigate and take action.

In any regard, it is probably valuable to talk to an attorney about this situation and your options since this is far more than a technology issue, from the way you describe it.

For a while my phone

From Eric Robson on March 03, 2018 :: 5:28 am

For a while my phone and email and other things have been monitored now everyone has been doibg the same thing when i use wifi every time i use my phone people know what i gave downloaded or looked at my emails .texts it has been a nightmare people who i thought were my friends

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spyware

From Diana on March 15, 2018 :: 10:26 am

I know for a fact my phone was being monitored. I have since purchased a new phone.  Changed the phone password and icloud password.  I have not done a factory reset.  Is there a chance the spyware was transferred over to new phone with other data? If so can the person access new phone without knowing new passwords?

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Probably not

From Josh Kirschner on March 15, 2018 :: 10:49 am

If you just transferred data to your new phone, spyware wouldn’t go along with it. If you also transferred apps, I’m not as sure. My initial thought is “no”, even if a spyware app transferred, it would still need to be configured on the new device - that’s how the apps I’ve worked with have functioned. However, I’m not 100% on that and would need to do some testing to confirm. Again, though, if you didn’t transfer apps from your old phone you should be fine.

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My ex husband n I

From Ashely on March 19, 2018 :: 12:03 pm

My ex husband n I been seperated for a while now.  We have a two year old baby.  I haven’t seen her in 4 days.  He finally answer the phone after I was blocked n told me a lot of things.  N showed me msgs.  I been texting.  He hacked my phone.  Idk how or wen.  He wants to ruin my life.  Wat can I do?  Is it possible for him to hack my phone tru my email.

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Read our other article for how to check for hacking

From Josh Kirschner on March 19, 2018 :: 1:15 pm

We have a newer article that discusses the various ways your phone could be hacked and how to prevent it: https://www.techlicious.com/tip/how-to-tell-if-your-phone-has-been-hacked/. Read that and follow the steps.

You don’t say what type of phone you have, but these hacks are typically done when someone has physical access to your device to install the spyware or access to one of your online accounts (e.g., iCloud) where your activity is stored.

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What should I do

From Abhinav Pandey on March 20, 2018 :: 8:28 am

What should I do if someone is using my phone number to register on different apps

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Probably just an annoyance

From Josh Kirschner on March 27, 2018 :: 9:53 am

When you register a phone number with an app, it almost always sends you a verification code to confirm the number. So since that person isn’t getting your verification codes (presumably, unless they have access to your text messages), it doesn’t see like there’s much harm they can do by registering your number. It may be annoying to you, but I don’t see an easy way to stop it.

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Weird thing on iPhone

From GaRose on March 30, 2018 :: 6:26 am

When I get a call on my iPhone people say I sound crackled and sometimes when the person is talking the last word they say keeps repeating itself like a skipping record would..
for example if they say “how are you” sometimes it will be like “” how are you you you you you you””” then I lose the call and have to call them back..
apple has replace it once saying it was “compromised “  I can keep replacing my phones but it doesn’t solve the problem.. I was a votive of gun violence last year and afraid I guess it’s him messing with my phone
Plus I don’t have a data plan on the phone but shows data being used somehow

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I know exactly who is

From Thomas Thompson on April 01, 2018 :: 12:17 am

I know exactly who is doing it. My ex. I turn all notifications off but I get one at least every 2 or three mins. I just turn my phone off. He has stolen my internet identity. He uses my emails to sign in to all his apps except ones like My google Busines. I had doxens of names and #s in contacts ive never heard of.I get dozens of calls a day.He controls my maps and calender

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landline wireless

From Janet Curtis on April 09, 2018 :: 7:56 pm

My 91 yr old mother got my evil niece out of prison. She has told her she is listening to all her conversations and doesnt want her talking to her family. She hs been horrible to a point my mom wants to kill herself! she was a drug trafficker and should still be serving her sentence! but my mom doesnt know who her paroll officer is and she refuses to work will NOT get out when asked and does nothing for her free ride there but keep me her best friend and all other siblings away from my mother Yes she hears everything and screams at her for even answering the phone! this is ilegal and the cops would remove her and the tap if my mother wasnt so scared of her retaliation! she is terrified of her! Who can get her help? shes too old to officially evict her and she has taken over the entire house! She brings bikers in her room. (my room there) but Im 400 miles away and cant go home again! She commits felony after felony and never gets punished! we are fed up. we probably wont even know when or if shes DEAD as she will steal all she can for NOT being in the will. she will not allow m mother to even write me and steals the mail. now what? mom knows shes devious but shes still allowing it and giving her chances. shes totally drained and lost her spirit! she thinks its medical but I know its the demon in her home!

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can my military boyfriend access my phone?

From lee22 on April 24, 2018 :: 5:38 pm

am currently dating a military man and therefore distance is an issue.
he therefore once mentioned that he has the ability to easily access the information on my phone and was wondering how much of this true and if so how I can prevent it.

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Yes I believe haking, stealing espessially Your Cool diliberatly,I love my kids and every family sho

From Kristi Craven on May 02, 2018 :: 5:47 pm

my kids and family.We need therapy at times to get along grow closer together and enjoy each other in peace and harmony.Love You all infinity information npi

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