Consumer scale spyware applications that monitor your private and constantly monitor your private messages, photos, phone calls and real -time location are a constant problem for Android users.
This guide can help you identify and remove the usual supervision applications from your Android phone, including other, including, Cocospy and Spyic, among other things.
Consumer scale spyware applications are often sold under the guise of child monitoring or family tracking programs, but are called “Stalkerware” and “Spouse” for their ability to follow and monitor partners or spouses without their consent. These Spyware apps have been downloaded from outside the Google Play app store, planted on a phone without a person’s permission and often disappear from the starting screen to avoid detection.
Stalkerware applications rely on abuse of integrated Android features commonly used by companies to manage their employees’ work phones or use Android access to diving from someone’s device.
You can notice your phone by acting unusual, executing warmer or slower than usual, or using large amounts of network data, even when you are not actively using it.
Checking to see if your Android device is compromised can be done quickly and easily.
Before you start
It is important to have a security plan and reliable support if you need it. Keep in mind that removing spyware from your phone can warn the person who planted it, which can create an unsafe situation. The Stalkerware Coalition offers tips and guidance to the victims and survivors of Stalkerware.
Note that this guide only helps you identify and remove Spyware applications, it does not delete the data that had already been collected and loaded on its servers. Also, some versions of Android may have different menu options. As is standard with any advice, you follow these steps at your risk.
Make sure Google Play Protect switches on
Google Play Protect is one of the best protective measures to protect against malicious Android apps by examining apps downloaded from Google app and external resources for potentially malicious activity signs. These defenses stop working when the Protect Play is turned off. It is important to ensure that the game protection is switched on to ensure that it is working and scanned for malicious applications.
You can check that the Play Protect is activated through the settings of the Play Store app. You can also scan for harmful applications if a scan has not already been made.
Check if access services have been changed
Stalkerware relies on deep access to your device to access the data, and is known to abuse Android access, which, with design, requires wider access to the operating system and your data for screen readers and other access features to work.
Android users who do not use applications or access features should not see any app in this part of Android settings.
If you do not know a downloaded service in access options, you may want to turn it off on the settings and remove the application. Some stalkerware applications are masked as ordinary search applications and are often referred to as “accessibility”, “equipment health”, “system service” or other innocent voice names.
Check any access to apps to notifications
Like accessibility features, Android also allows third -party applications to access and read your input notifications, such as allowing smart speakers to read loud alarms or your car to display notifications on its dashboard. Giving the notification access to a Stalkerware application allows for continuous supervision of your notifications, which includes the content of messages and other notifications.
You can check which applications have access to your notifications by checking your input settings on Android notice under special app access. Some of these applications you can know, like Android Auto. You can turn off the notification input for any app you do not know.
Check if a device administrator app is installed
Other characteristics commonly abused by Stalkerware are options of Android device administrator, which have similar but even wider access to Android devices and user data.
Device administrator options are usually used by companies to manage their employees’ phones, such as deleting the phone in case of theft of the device to prevent data loss. But these features also allow stalkerware applications to be immersed in the Android screen and device data.
You can find the app device settings in the Settings under safety.
Most people will not have an app administrator app on their personal phone, so be aware if you see an app you do not know, is called something similarly vague and vague as “system service”, “Device Health” or “Device Administrator”
Check applications to uninstall
You may not see an initial screen icon for any of these Stalkerware applications, but they will still appear on your Android device list.
You can view all applications installed in Android settings. Look for apps and icons you don’t know. These applications can also indicate that they have extensive access to your calendar, call records, cameras, contacts and location data.
Prohibition of force and uninstalling a Stalkerware application is likely to warn the person who planted Stalkerware that the application no longer works.
Provide your device
If Stalkerware was planted on your phone, there is a good chance for your phone to be unlocked, vulnerable or that blocking your screen was meant or learned. A stronger lock screen password can help to protect your phone from the intruders. You also need to protect the email and other online accounts using two -factor certificate wherever possible.
If you or someone you know needs help, the National Domestic Violence Line (1-800-799-7233) provides 24/7 free, confidential support for victims of domestic abuse and violence. If you are in an emergency situation, call 911. The Stalkerware Coalition has resources if you think your phone has been compromised by Spyware.
