Top 10 signs that your phone is being tracked

According to AGV, here's how to tell if your cell phone is being tracked, tapped, or monitored with spyware:

1. Battery problem

A sudden drop in battery performance is a clear warning that malware is being used to spy on your phone. Collecting your data requires a lot of resource-intensive background processes, so you may notice your phone heating up for no apparent reason or your battery draining faster than usual.

2. Increased mobile data usage

An unexplained spike in mobile data usage is another warning sign that your phone may have been hacked and spyware is listening in on your phone. Data usage spikes from spyware are caused by unauthorized transmission of large amounts of your data to a remote server, either for blackmail, identity theft, or to be sold to other cybercriminals. It is often accompanied by noticeable lag or slower internet speeds when connected over mobile data.

3. Unwanted ads and hidden apps

Pop-ups and other ads can be more than just an annoying nuisance, they can signal that hackers have infiltrated your device. If you notice a series of annoying ads or apps you don't recognize running in the background, take steps to secure your device immediately by running a scan to find and remove viruses from your phone.

Unexplained spikes in mobile data consumption are a warning sign that your phone is being tapped. (Illustration photo).

4. Phone takes longer to shut down

Slow shutdowns are another potential side effect of phone tapping. This is often caused by apps or malware running background processes that require extra time to shut down, forcing your system to wait for them before the device powers off.

5. Email blocked

If your emails aren't being delivered to the intended recipients, or your contacts are telling you that they sent you emails that never made it to your inbox, it's possible that your email settings have been tampered with by a hacker. If so, your other communications may also be being monitored or intercepted.

6. Personal data leakage

If your personal information has been exposed in a data breach, it may be available on the dark web, putting you at risk of fraud and other forms of identity theft. But the danger may not end even if you've secured your affected accounts and logins. A data breach could be a sign that a phone tap has allowed cybercriminals to access your personal information.

7. Phone shows activity when not in use

If your phone lights up, makes sounds, or shows other signs of activity when you're not using it, someone may have remote access to your phone.

8. Performance issues

Performance issues like freezes, errors, glitches, slow response times, or sluggish processing can be caused by software and hardware issues. But they can also indicate that a hacker is doing something bad to your phone, especially if the symptoms coincide with other signs of phone tapping.

9. Strange messages

Not only will phone tapping block your calls and texts, it can also cause you to start receiving all sorts of spam and phishing emails. Avoid clicking on any links sent from unknown numbers and delete suspicious messages immediately.

10. The website doesn't look right

When something seems 'off' while browsing a website on your mobile device, it could be a sign that your phone has been compromised by malware that acts as a proxy between you and your browser and records your activity.

Signs to look out for include things like persistent pop-ups even when you're using an ad blocker, or websites that appear or behave strangely.