There are several methods to find hidden spy apps on Android phones. Spy app detection methods for Android devices include using tools such as Google Play Protect or anti-virus software, manually searching for and removing spy app files, and factory resetting the Android phone or mobile device. Spy app files are disguised to make them difficult to find. These methods enable users to locate the spying app on the mobile device and remove it.
The main benefits of using Google Play Protect to find spying apps on an Android device include a frequently updated list of malicious apps, a simple spyware removal process, and it is included free on every Android device. The primary benefits of using anti-virus software to find spy apps on a phone are ease-of-use, low or no cost, and the removal of spying apps. The benefit of manually searching for files is that some spy app files can avoid detection by software. The benefit of factory reseting a device is that it guaranties the spy app files are removed as the device is restored to its’ factory settings.
Spy apps for Android phones are capable of monitoring text messages, incoming emails, photos, videos, chat app messages, GPS location, phone call logs, and dating app usage on a target Android smartphone or mobile device.
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The methods below explain how to find hidden spyware on an Android phone in just a few simple steps.
1. Use Google Play Protect to Find Spy Apps
Google Play Protect is designed to identify and remove dangerous apps from your phone. This security feature must be disabled before surveillance software can be installed on an Android device.
The instructions below show you how to verify that Google Play Protect is enabled on your Android device.
Step 1: Reboot Your Phone Into Safe Mode
Rebooting your phone in Safe Mode ensures that only operating system files are loaded.
Why is this step necessary? Some spyware restricts your ability to turn Google Play Protect back on. Booting your phone in safe mode overrides these restrictions.
Follow the instructions below to boot your phone into safe mode.
- Hold your phone’s power button to display the power off and restart options.
- Long press the “Power Off” option, and the “Reboot to Safe Mode” will appear.
- Tap Ok. You will see a “Safe Mode” indication in the bottom left of the screen.
Step 2: Google Play Protect Settings
Follow the instructions below to verify Google Play Protect is enabled.
- Click on the “Settings” icon.
- Scroll down and tap on “Security”
- Tap “Google Play Protect”
- Then tap the cog in the top right corner
- Ensure both “Scan apps with Play Protect” and “Improve harmful app detection.” are enabled.
Unless you previously disabled “Scan Apps with Play Protect”, there is a good chance someone has installed a spyware on your phone.
Step 3: Check for Unknown Apps
The next step is to check for unknown apps. This step involves cross-checking all installed apps to ensure nothing has been installed without the device owner’s knowledge. Follow the steps below to look for unknown apps.
- Tap on the “Settings” icon.
- Tap “Apps & Notifications”
- Make note of any apps you don’t recognize. You can Google them to see if they are legitimate or not.
- Uninstall anything that is suspicious or is known to be malicious.
You can find a list of known spy app names below in the section below covering spy app disguises.
Step 4 Check for Device Admin Apps
Device admin apps are given powerful permissions to access your phone’s data. Verify that there are no suspicious admin apps using the steps below.
- Tap the “Settings” icon
- Scroll down and tap “Security”
- Tap “Device Admin Apps”
- You should see “Find My Device” or “Google Play”.
- Disable any suspicious apps
Step 5: Enable Block Unverified/Unknown Apps
By default, the Android operating system blocks unverified or unknown apps. Spyware installation requires disabling this setting. If any browser app on your phone is set to allow unverified apps, there’s a good chance a spyware app has been installed.
Follow the steps below to block unverified or unknown apps.
- Tap the Settings icon
- Tap “Apps and Notificiations”
- Scroll down and tap “Special app access”
- Scroll down and tap “Install Unknown Apps”
- Verify that all listed apps are set to “Not Allowed”
Step 6: Restart Your Phone
After completing the previous steps, restart your phone in normal operating mode
2. Install Anti-Virus Software to Detect Android Spy Apps
Anti-virus apps have built-in spyware detection and removal capabilities. Below you will find our favorite tools for removing spyware apps on Androids phones and tablets. The top anti-virus software for Android spy app detection include Avast, McAfee, and Norton Mobile Security.
#1 Avast Mobile Security
Many antivirus programs require a subscription before you can use their basic protection features.
Well, that is not the case with Avast.
On top of it being free, this software has excellent antivirus protection, a network security scanner, password manager, browser protection, and more.
This software is particularly effective against spyware.
Avast detects any advertising trackers on your current window. You have the option to block some or automatically block all trackers on all sites, including search engines.
To install Avast Free Antivirus on your Android, simply go to Google Play Store and download the app there.
#2 McAfee
McAfee antivirus software defends against 100 percent of malware downloads.
Not only this, but McAfee is particularly effective against trojans. This means that it is successful in blocking spyware that steals one’s banking credentials.
And lastly, McAfee automatically determines if an ad or a pop-up is dangerous. This way, you would not have to run security scans every time an ad appears on your screen.
To find hidden spyware, go to Google Play Store and download McAfee Mobile Security.
#3 Norton Mobile Security
Norton Security offers outstanding spyware protection.
It has a unique feature called “App Advisor.” This protects your Android device against suspicious apps. App Advisor has privacy warnings integrated into the Play Store.
While Norton is a paid app, it more than makes up for it through its full slate of anti-theft tools. This includes a password manager, web protection, and a VPN.
If you want to subscribe to Norton Security, simply download the app from Play Store and pay through in-app purchases.
3. Searching Manually for Android Spy App Files
Follow the steps below to manually search for spy app files on your Android device.
1. Go to “My Files” or “Files” on your device. To find hidden spyware, start where they can hide from plain sight. The “Files” section of smartphones contains traces of spyware through files that cannot be opened.
2. Click on “Downloads.”
3. Uninstall any suspicious files. Scroll through all the files that you have downloaded. Immediately delete files that you do not recognize.
What Are Android Spy Apps Disguised As?
Android spy apps are disguised as official-sounding operating system apps like “Play Services” or “Update Service”, or “AutoForward SMS”.
4. Using a Factory Reset to Find and Delete Android Spyware Apps
Performing a factory reset is the last resort. If none of the options we listed above works for you, you can do a factory reset.
Remember, a reset removes all of the user data on an Android device, including the spyware. It restores the device to its factory settings.
Backup all your important stuff on your smartphone. You can also back up your files on a PC.
In order for you to perform a factory reset, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Settings. Click Settings > System > Reset options
- Tap Factory Data Reset or Erase all data. The option you will see here depends on which phone you have.
- Confirm. Tap Reset Device.
- Type your PIN. Your phone will ask you to confirm if you want to proceed with the reset.
- Wait for your phone to reboot.
- Choose whether you want to start fresh or restore from backup. If you are choosing to restore from backup, be mindful. Make sure that your backup is made before your phone started showing symptoms of stalker-ware infection.
How to Know if Someone is Spying On Your Android Phone?
There are several signs that a spy app has been installed on a phone. They range from performance issues such as short battery life and strange sounds during calls to screen jitters and other unusual behavior. If your Android device is operating slowly or displaying unusual behavior, it is recommended to use one of the methods above to find and remove it.
How to Block Spy Apps on Android
Blocking spy apps and spyware on an Android phone or tablet can be accomplished using the methods below.
- Install antivirus software. Make sure the software you download is from the website of the developer. Do not download antivirus software from third-party sites. This is to avoid spyware programs disguised as antivirus.
- Set up extra security measures in your phone. Hidden spyware on Android is installed on your phone by someone else. Use a fingerprint login if it is available on your device to prevent people from accessing your phone.
- Change your passwords frequently. Do not use a single password for different accounts. Make your password unique.
- Update your OS. Updating your Android operating system strengthens device security. An updated OS is one way of preventing hidden spyware on Android phones.
- Do not download a pirated app. As much as you want to download a free app, do not do so from a third-party site. Free apps and malware usually come bundled with each other.
- Ensure you are browsing on a secure site. A quick way to know this is to check if the IP address of your site starts with HTTPS instead of HTTP.
- Never click on browser pop-ups. Have you ever seen those pop-ups that say you have won in some random survey? Yes, those are definitely too good to be true. Please do not click on those links because they might secretly download malware onto your Android.
Anti-Virus software and Android security features such as Google Play protect are the preferred method of blocking Android spy apps once they have been found on the device. Changing passwords helps ensure that anyone with physical access to your phone cannot re-install a spying app once it has been removed.
