Monitor Your Android Device
Technology today is so advanced that one always needs to be careful about the kind of information they share and store on their smartphones. While some people are comfortable keeping a manual record of their passwords and bank account details, others tend to have all their lives stored away on their smartphones, including such sensitive details.
The problem here is that while you might think your phone is as secure as is possible, there are various ways in which you can fall prey to someone’s attempt to remotely monitor it. These can include the simplest of tools to more comprehensive spy apps, of which there are several great ones available in the market for someone who wants to take advantage of them.
Let’s dive into these different methods so that you are aware and know how to keep yourself protected.
Using Whatsapp Web is among the most straightforward ways in which someone can spy on all your conversations on the app. One can open WhatsApp Web on both their browsers or download its desktop app to do so. Here’s the window through which someone can use your smartphone to scan the QR code and then gain remote access to your device –
If you notice, we mentioned using your smartphone to scan the QR code. Yes, for someone to use WhatsApp Web to spy on you remotely, they will need physical access to your device. As a result, it’s most likely that this could happen at the hands of someone you spend a lot of time around in person.
The best thing to do when you’re with your friends, family, or even a partner or spouse is to always keep a close eye on your smartphone to ensure nobody takes advantage of you, letting your guard down to quickly scan the code.
However, this method has its disadvantages as it’s very easy for someone to get busted as you can trace which device logged into your WhatsApp web and at what time. Additionally, if you notice someone other than you being logged into WhatsApp web, you can remotely log them out,, and there’s nothing they will be able to do about it.
Find My Device is an in-built Feature offered on Android devices that lets you track its last known physical location in the event that it was stolen or lost. This last known location is the last location it was at before it was turned off (if that is the case).
This is often a very reliable means of finding a lost device, but sometimes, someone can use it to spy on your real-time location too. The worst part is that you don’t really have to “lose” your device for them to be able to use this tool to track your location. While someone could do this to play around with you or as a prank, other people attempting to track your location can also pose a significant risk to your life or wellbeing.
Here’s what the Find My Device interface looks like –
Additionally, another way in which someone can track your physical location is if you accidentally shared your live location with someone but chose the option for it to stay on until you turn it off yourself. If you forget to turn off this live location sharing, the person with access to it can continuously track your whereabouts.
The market is filled with various spy apps today, some of which are free and others that are paid for. While most free apps tend to be ineffective, there are several paid ones that are quite effective. Research conducted by Cell Tracking Apps has analyzed several of these apps to identify their features and the various ways in which they can be used to monitor a device.
Here are some of the various things these spy apps can track –
What makes these apps harder to spot is that most of them can also be made to work undetectably on your device so you will never know that it’s been installed. Here’s an example of what the online dashboard looks like through which a hacker can access all the information on your Android device –
As you can see, there are several ways in which someone can access your Android smartphone’s data remotely and spy on all your activities. It’s crucial that you always look out for the key signs that someone has hacked into your phone or is spying on you. These include keeping an eye out for excessive data usage, new and unauthorized changes on your phone, your phone becoming slower than usual and strange activity on your social media accounts.
In a world where it’s easy to spy on someone, you must find ways to keep yourself and your private information as safe as possible.
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