Five signs someone is spying on you through your phone

May 20, 2025, 6:45 AM | Updated: 10:55 am

Crazy ex or possibly hackers, whatever the case, modern spyware hides in the background – here’s what an expert on spyware says is a list of five signs someone might be spying on you.

1.  Your battery drains really fast. It could be a sign they’re tracking your location with GPS…or, your phone might just be old.

2.  Your phone heats up. If it’s running GPS or other apps in the background, it can tax your phone’s processor. Some heat is normal, especially in summer. But, it’s a red flag if it stays hot when you’re not even using it.

3.  Increased data usage. Check it out in your settings and see if you’re using more data than expected. A lot of people with spyware on their phone only find out when they get a data limit warning from their cell phone company.

4.  Strange texts or notifications. The expert says to “watch for text messages containing random characters or codes.”  Some of the cheaper spyware apps control your phone with SMS commands. Then, the texts quickly disappear.

5.  Your screen randomly turns on. Like it lights up when it’s sitting on the table and you’re not touching it. It could be a sign someone’s tracking your location, or even listening in.

If you do think someone’s spying on you, run security software to check for suspicious apps or run a factory reset, but only as a last resort.

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