In our article on how to tell if your phone is tapped or being monitored, we gave nine surefire signs to help. The next obvious question pops up once you’re sure your phone is tapped. What do you do? Here are hacks on what to do if your phone is tapped or being monitored?
There are people out there who are hungry for the information you have.
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They could be apps, friends, business partners, spouses, and even acquaintances.
It would be best if you were sure your privacy is protected, and you aren’t being monitored.
There are different ways to tell if your phone is being monitored.
The methods range from using simple codes and checking your phone’s settings.
We have broken these into steps for you, and here are the best ways to go about it.
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What to do if your Android phone is tapped or being monitored
If you own an Android phone, there are specific things to look out for if your phone is tapped or being monitored.
Spyware installed without your knowledge is what you’ll be checking to find.
To check for Spyware;
- Go to Settings
- Find “Advanced Settings”
- Click on Application Management
In the folder for “Application Management,” go through the apps for anything suspicious.
Look out for words like spy, malware, monitor, stealth, or generally anything weird.
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In most cases, monitoring apps have less suspicious names.
If you’ve noticed all the signs that your phone is tapped and you can’t find a suspicious app, you might need to visit an electronics store.
You’ll also need to check that “Unknown Sources” isn’t enabled in your settings.
This setting allows the installation of any and every app on your phone, safe or not.
Apps that are not verified by Google Play Store can gain access to your phone.
If “Unknown Sources” is enabled without you knowing how this is another way to tell if your phone is tapped.
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Here’s how to check if you have “Unknown Sources” enabled;
- Go to Settings
- Open Additional Settings
- Go to Security and Privacy
- Uncheck the “Unknown Sources” option
Unchecking the “Unknown Sources” option stops apps that aren’t verified by Google Play Store from being downloaded.
Less reliable spy apps stand no chance against this technique.
On the other hand, the best spy apps would bypass this form of security.
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What to do if your iPhone is tapped or being monitored
There’s only one way to have your IOS device tapped.
Whoever is trying to monitor your phone will have to jailbreak the phone first.
It is the only possible way to install Spyware on IOS.
Jailbreaking an iPhone automatically bypasses Apple’s setup security.
It goes against all of Apple’s applications and software restrictions.
Check your iOS device for apps that aren’t familiar
If you come across unfamiliar apps, check your apple store for the app.
All your apps should be available on the store, and if a certain one isn’t, your phone is jailbroken.
There’s a legitimate way to install Spyware without jailbreaking the phone.
Although created for the sole purpose of parental control, people use the mSpy app for nefarious purposes.
On a non jailbroken phone and the Appstore will the legitimate be found.
If you didn’t install this app, it’s a red flag.
Someone could have installed the app on your phone to monitor your activities.
A spouse or a colleague, the list is endless.
All the person needs is your iCloud password, and they are in on your actions.
By changing your password, you cease your privacy back from snoops and stop all of the app’s monitoring activities.
A less likely possibility could arise from vulnerabilities in IOS security.
Apple has fixed vulnerabilities now, even though they were common in the past.
Snoops could gain access to your device by connecting to the same network as you using spy software.
As a result of continually arising vulnerabilities in security, one still needs to be careful.
Looking into your IOS security settings isn’t as easy as it is on an android, but there’s a simple way.
All you have to do is to update to the latest OS version via iTunes, which will eliminate the jailbreak and take out unverified apps.
NOTE: Be sure to back up your data first!
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Numbers to dial to see if your phone is tapped or being monitored
You probably now have good reasons to think that someone has gone through your phone.
All the signals point out that Spyware is inhabiting your phone.
The other sure ways to tell if your phone is being monitored is with specific codes.
Some of these codes also put an end to any redirection set up on your device.
1. Check Your IMEI Number with *#06#
You’ll need to know your IMEI number to investigate a potential threat and suspicious activity.
Your IMEI is unique to your phone and is the best bet at tracking your device, but if someone knows this number, they could use it against you.
2. Check Diversions with *#21#
Using this code will show if a spy software on your phone has been diverting your calls, texts, data, etc.
As a result, diversions happen even before the calls or messages deliver.
Once you dial this code, it will show the status of each diversion alongside the numbers.
Hopefully, the list is empty.
3. Check Redirections with *#62#
Redirections are a lot simpler than diversions.
Diversions are a lot complex because they happen before the call or text sends.
Dialling this code will show you if your phone is tapped and a spy app is blocking your calls.
If redirected calls, texts, and data show up on the list on the screen, dial ##002#. It’ll remove all redirections automatically.
4. The Utility Netmonitor Code
It gets interesting from here.
This code comes in handy when you want to find out where whoever is tracking your phone.
If the spies use cell towers and base stations, then it is especially useful.
For iPhone, the code is *3001#12345#*
For android, dial *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#*
Once you dial this code, follow these steps;
- Select UMTS Cell Environment
- Click on UMTS RR Information
- Copy the number you see
Go back to the main menu and;
- Select MM InformationClick on Serving PLMN
- Jot down the Local Area Code (LAC) that it displays
The exact location of your phone’s connection will show if you visit a net monitor website and input these two numbers.
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The final resort
When the chips are down, factory resets are the last resort, and a factory reset will uninstall all third-party apps.
The third-party apps will include monitoring applications and Spyware.
Factory reset on Android
To reset on android, follow these steps;
- Go to Settings
- Click on Backup and Reset
- Select Factory Data Reset
- Select Erase All Apps
Factory reset on iPhone
- Open Settings
- Go to General
- Select Reset
- Click on the Reset All Settings Option
NOTE: Back your phone data up before you reset on both iPhone and Android phones.
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What Next?
These steps are the best to take if you’ve ever thought of what to do if your phone is tapped or being monitored.
If, after following these steps, you’re confident your phone is tapped, then take the listed steps to stop the spy software.
When you realize your phone is tapped and being monitored, it can come as a shock.
Tech has enabled things for snoops, and security is now entirely a choice. Take your privacy back for yourself.
Found this interesting? Share!
When I entered *#62# and dialed…it said carrier message call forwarding connection problem or invalid MMI code what does this mean
What if code *3001#12345#* comes up as error performing request unknown error on an iPhone that is up to date with iOS?
how to protect my imei a stalker has hacked to find my location