What to do if Your Phone is Tapped or Being Monitored
If you think your phone is tapped or being monitored what do you do, the first thing to do is to check for spyware. Next, you should do some damage control, like notifying your contacts of what happened and reporting it to authorities. Lastly, implement steps to prevent your phone from being tapped again.
let’s address the important question that arises once you’ve confirmed that your phone is indeed being tapped: What should you do about it? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some useful tips and tricks to handle this situation effectively.
It’s essential to understand that there are individuals out there who may have a vested interest in gaining access to your personal information. These could be various entities such as applications, friends, business associates, partners, or even people you simply know. Therefore, ensuring your privacy is safeguarded and avoiding any sort of monitoring is of utmost importance.
Fortunately, there are several methods you can employ to determine if your phone is being monitored. These approaches encompass a wide range of techniques, from using simple codes to examining your phone’s settings.
To make it easier for you, we have broken down these steps into manageable actions. Let’s dive into the best ways you can address this issue.
Table of Contents
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.
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.
In most cases, monitoring apps have fewer 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 the 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.
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 the 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.
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 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.
For more privacy & security tips on your iPhone, read our comprehensive article on How to tell if someone is remotely spying on your iPhone.
What about when my phone is off or out of service?
Out-of-service (OOS) conditional call forwarding diverts incoming phone calls and text messages whenever your phone is turned off, or if it’s without a network signal. To uncover OOS conditional call forwarding on GSM networks, dial *#62# and deregister unknown numbers using the ##62# reset code. (How to Forward Calls Without Having the Phone on You in 2023)
There is no universal MMI code for OOS conditional call forwarding on CDMA networks, but Verizon One Talk customers can view and modify their OSS settings by dialling **62* and following the on-screen instructions. (How to deactivate call forwarding on MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9Mobile)
How can I find out if all my calls and data are being forwarded?
It’s also possible for all calls and messages to be diverted away from your number. This kind of unconditional data forwarding is difficult to detect because no trace of incoming calls or messages is ever displayed on your phone, and won’t even show up on your phone bill.
You can find out if your phone has been tapped using unconditional data forwarding with the help of MMI codes. On GSM networks, dial *#21# to list, and ##21# to clear your unconditional data forwarding settings. CDMA network customers can view and modify these settings too by dialling **21*.
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 way 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 spy software on your phone has been diverting your calls, texts, data, etc.
As a result, diversions happen even before the calls or messages are delivered.
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 more 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#*#*
