Is there anything creepier than imagining your phone is being tracked and that someone or a group of people can detect where you are, what you’re doing, and what services you’re seeking online? Unfortunately, it isn’t that hard for someone to gain access to your device and track you. That’s why it’s important to know some of the most common signs of being tracked so that you can immediately take action if you suspect your phone is no longer private and secure. These are the three scary signs that your iPhone is being tracked, according to security experts.
Data Usage
An unusually sharp increase in data usage, beyond your regular capacity, may indicate that someone is tracking you via your phone, according to Stavros Zavrakas, founder of Orthogonality. “Periodically check your mobile data usage to ensure you are staying within the limit,” Zavrakas recommends.
Unknown apps
“We don’t usually check what apps are phone has once we have downloaded them, however, new, unknown apps on your device might indicate that you are being tracked,” Zavrakas says. “You must regularly review the apps on your phone and their setting to ensure no unfamiliar app is there in case of you being tracked.”
Background noise
Hearing background noise during phone calls can be due to a software installed on your phone to track you. “Some software record calls to gather information from you, which may lead to unusual disturbances such as beeping or muffled voices during the call,” Zavrakas says.
In addition to these three major warning signs, Tech Expert Jared Floyd, founder at Ajax Creative, cautions to be on the lookout for these signs, as well:
- Your phone’s battery drains quickly, even when it is not in use.
- You see unfamiliar names or phone numbers in the call log or SMS messages.
- Your location keeps showing up on maps, even when you turn off the GPS function.
- You keep getting ads for businesses near your home and work addresses, even though you don’t have an interest in those businesses and haven’t searched for them online.
“If any of these signs are present, then there may be a reason to suspect that someone is tracking your phone’s location,” Floyd says. “The best way to protect yourself from this is by installing anti-tracking software on your device to monitor what information your phone is sharing, and delete unwanted data.”
