To see which apps are using the most battery power, head to Settings > Battery (on both Android and iPhone). Battery issues don’t always indicate a phone tap—regular apps, as well as battery age, can also affect battery performance.
More modern spyware can upload large amounts of data from your phone without being traced. To check your data usage on an iPhone, open Settings and tap Cellular. To check data usage on an Android, open Settings and go to Network & Internet (or Connections > Data usage (or select your carrier) > Mobile data usage. [2] X Research source
Pegasus, the military-grade phone tapping software recently in the news for tracking journalists, was installed remotely on iPhones and Androids without installing any software at all. [4] X Research source If you’re being tapped by the government and they are using powerful software like this, there will be no indication that your phone is tapped.
If you’re using an iPhone, a green dot at the top of the screen indicates that your camera is actively recording. If your microphone is active, you’ll see an orange dot. On Android 12 or later, you’ll see a green icon with a camera and/or microphone at the top-right when one or both are active. If you are using an earlier Android version, you can get the same functionality by installing a free app called Access Dots from the Play Store. If you see neither of the above, that does not mean your phone is not recording; unless if your phone has a light wired in with the camera and/or microphone, the camera or microphone can still be recording without your knowledge or consent.
Android: Open the Settings app and go to Security & privacy options > Device administrators. Any apps that have administrator rights appear here. If you see something you don’t recognize, tap it and select DEACTIVATE to delete it. [5] X Research source iPhone: In the Settings app, go to General > Profiles & Device Management (or just Profiles) and then tap an app you don’t recognize. Tap Delete Profile to remove that app’s admin access from your iPhone. [6] X Research source Not all device profiles are removable, requiring a reinstall of Android or iOS to remove.
Some bugs and taps use frequencies close to the FM radio band, so if your radio squeals when set to mono and dialed into the far end of the band, an RF bug might be in use.
The “restricted” side of the box requires a special hex key (Allen wrench) wrench to open. If that side looks to have been tampered with, you might have a problem. There should only be one box for your landline number and two cables going to the box. Any additional cables or boxes can be a sign of a wiretap.
When calling the company, contact them using the phone number you have in your records. Don’t call a phone number provided to you by the repair person at the door.
Resetting your phone could tip off the person monitoring it. If you’re in danger, leave your phone behind and seek in-person help from law enforcement.
If your carrier refuses to help, they could be administering a government request.
If you’re in the United States and are the victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline on the web, or by dialing 1-800-799-SAFE on an untapped line.
A prepaid phone does not stop you from being watched by law enforcement agencies.
