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Mobile Spyware Detection Tips

Cell phone spyware

How to Check Your Phone for Spyware

Would you know how to check your phone for spyware if you suspected you were being spied on? Smartphones are essential to our daily lives, serving as our wallets, calendars, communication hubs and vaults for personal information – but they’re often overlooked when it comes to understanding the risks of spyware and other malicious software. Our phones’ convenience is also what makes them prime targets for cybercriminals, and spyware – malicious software designed to spy on your activities – can easily turn your phone into a surveillance device, if given the chance.

In this blog we’ll cover how to detect spyware, how to remove spyware from smartphones, and other mobile security tips that can keep your phone (and everything you use it for) safe and secure.

Understanding spyware on mobile devices

It’s a common misconception that spyware only infects PCs and other desktop devices. While the built-in security in smartphones has gotten better and better over time, cybercriminals have also continued to develop more sophisticated ways of countering those defenses. 

What Is spyware?

Spyware is a type of malicious software that secretly collects information from your device. It can monitor your calls, texts, browsing history, location, and even capture sensitive credentials such as your banking details and other passwords. Unlike some forms of malware, spyware is designed to operate discreetly, so that it can run in the background, unnoticed by the user, for as long as possible. This is one of the reasons why it’s so hard to detect spyware on phones and other devices.

There are various types of spyware, ranging from keyloggers to GPS tracking software. Some are tailored to target specific individuals, whereas others are used by organizations and governments for surveillance purposes. 

How does spyware infect smartphones?

Spyware can infiltrate smartphones in several ways:

  • Malicious apps, disguised as (or piggybacking on) legitimate apps or games, that infect your phone once installed.
  • Phishing links designed to lead the user to accidentally installing the malicious software.
  • Taking advantage of software vulnerabilities in outdated operating systems or apps.
  • Infecting devices through unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks.
  • Physical installation.

Understanding how spyware spreads is the first step to defending yourself from it. But how can you tell if your phone has already been compromised?

Signs that your phone may be infected with spyware

Spyware may be designed to operate covertly, but even the best spies have tells. Here are some of the ways to detect spyware on phones.

Unusual battery drain

Spyware constantly runs in the background, consuming your device’s resources such as CPU or GPS. This increased activity can sap your phone’s battery, and create a noticeable decrease in battery life. If you’ve noticed a change in the longevity of your phone’s battery life, it might be worth investigating further.

Increased data usage

Another red flag is unexplained spikes in your data usage. Spyware can transmit the data it steals back to its creator, but this requires significant bandwidth. Review your data usage regularly to spot any anomalies.

Slow performance and overheating

If your phone develops a habit of overheating, or is suddenly more sluggish than usual, spyware could be the cause. The constant background activity of malicious software puts a strain on hardware, leading to performance issues for your phone and frustration for you.

Strange behavior and notifications

Apps you don’t remember downloading, unexpected pop-ups, or texts from unknown sources could also indicate the presence of spyware. Similarly, if your phone makes unexplained calls, sends texts without your input, or experiences frequent crashes, it’s worth investigating further.

How to Check Your Phone for Spyware

If you suspect your phone might be compromised, follow these steps:

Review installed apps

Carefully examine your list of installed apps and their various permissions. Look for apps you don’t recognize or recall installing. Pay attention to apps with generic names, such as “System Update” or “Device Manager”. Research any suspicious apps you find online to see if they’ve been flagged by other users or cybersecurity experts.

Use safe mode

Booting your phone in safe mode disables third-party apps, making it easier to identify if a malicious app is causing the issue. For Android users, you can press and hold the power button until the Power Off option appears. Tap and hold Power Off, and the option for Safe Mode will appear.

Install security software

Comprehensive security software can detect and remove spyware, often identifying threats that are difficult to spot manually. Look for a reputable app from a trusted provider to scan your device – but avoid downloading free, unverified security apps that might be spyware in disguise.

Steps to remove spyware from smartphones

If you’ve managed to confirm the presence of spyware, taking action as soon as possible is crucial. 

Uninstall suspicious apps

Remove any and all apps you’ve identified as being potential threats. Make sure that you’re fully uninstalling these apps, not just removing them from your homepage. After uninstalling, monitor your phone for signs of improvement in performance and behavior.

Perform a factory reset

If the spyware persists, or you haven’t been able to identify its origins, a factory reset is the most effective solution. This will restore your phone to its original settings, erasing all apps, data and malware. Back up any files you want to save, such as pictures and contact details, before proceeding

Install security software

After removing suspicious apps or resetting your phone, install a trusted security app to safeguard it against future threats. Choose software with real-time threat detection, regular updates, and robust privacy protections. And, for good measure, carry out a scan on your phone as soon as it’s installed to make sure you haven’t missed any potential threats.

Don’t let spies crack your smartphone safe

Your smartphone is a treasure trove of personal information, and keeping it secure should always be a top priority. Spyware is a hidden threat that can compromise your privacy, steal sensitive data, and disrupt your device’s performance. By understanding the risks, learning how to recognize the warning signs, and taking proactive steps, you can protect yourself from spyware and other cyber threats. 

While you’re busy protecting your phone, you can trust SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your PC. For more PC and mobile security tips take a look at our resources.

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Layerin’ Ain’t Just for Winter! Bolster Your Security With Layers of Protection

Virus infection

I thought Spyware and Viruses are the same thing?

A virus is malicious code that copies itself over and over in order to do damage to your computers data while Spyware is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of threats such as Trojans, Ransomware, Keyloggers, Cookies, Worms, etc that may do damage to your PC and/or privacy but do not have the intention of totally destroying your computers data and system unlike a virus.

So your telling me I need an Anti-Virus AND an Anti-Spyware?

Strictly speaking, SUPERAntiSpyware© is not designed to be Anti-Virus software. We target Spyware, a focus that allows us to respond quickly to the ever-growing groups of hostile software we address, with new definitions released multiple times a day, and concentrate on the technology that targets the most common threats in the wild. There are a lot of things that are often called viruses (many trojans, worms, and so on) that SUPERAntiSpyware© will remove, but it won’t remove true viruses such as boot-sector viruses.

Security With Layers of Protection

No one security tool can catch everything out there and protect you, which is why we recommend a layered approach. We recommend if you use an Anti-Virus, you supplement it with SUPERAntiSpyware© and if you only use SUPERAntiSpyware© alone, consider getting an Anti-Virus. SUPERAntiSpyware© has been designed to be compatible with popular Anti-Virus applications such as McAfee, Symantec(Norton), Kaspersky, Bitdefender, ESET NOD32, AVG, Avast, Panda, Avira, and so on.

 

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What Are Cookies?

What Are Cookies and How do they work?

Cookies are files, typically text files which are stored on a user’s device. They are made to contain data specific to the user or website, and can be accessed either by a web server or the users device. Cookies cannot themselves harm your computer in any way. Cookie allow the web server to deliver a web page “suited” to the user, or the web page itself can contain a script which is reading the data in the cookie and so is able to carry information from one visit to the website to the next website.

Typically what this means is that cookies are used to remember logins and keep track of user settings on websites, this information might include the name of the site, particular products being viewed, pages visited, etc. Cookie can be used to track your movement on the Internet ONLY if a site is aware of the cookie and is designed to use the specific cookies. Because of their use in tracking online activity, many feel that this constitutes spyware. Most antispyware applications, including SUPERAntiSpyware, detect tracking cookie in one form or another.

Cookie are not blocked by SUPERAntiSpyware because they are required for most web functionality.  Cookie will come back every time you surf the web, and can be cleaned by running a Quick or Complete Scan.

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“The HoeflerText Font Wasn’t Found” Google Chrome Malware Scam – What it is and how to avoid it!

HoeflerText Font Wasn’t Found ?

You are browsing the web and accidentally land on a website with nonsensical characters instead of letters and you receive a prompt to download a missing font in order to read the website. You are told in order to fix the error and display the text, you have to update the “Chrome Font Pack”. Whatever you do, please do not click that blue Update button!

HoeflerText
Fake Google Chrome Prompt asking you to install the malware

It is a scam designed to trick users into installing malware onto their systems. This malware is ranging from Ransomware, to Trojans, to various adware bundles.

How to avoid it

The fake dialogue box informing you that the “The HoeflerText Font Wasn’t Found” will claim you are using Chrome version 53 even if you are not using that version, which tells you something isn’t right and that the prompt you are seeing is fake.

Make sure you are using the latest version of Google Chrome which you can download by clicking here

Make sure you are also using the latest version of SUPERAntiSpyware with Real-Time Protection enabled, a feature only available for SUPERAntiSpyware Professional users.

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Tax Season is here – Watch out for Identity Stealing Spyware!

Taxes The Season is Here !

Keep your personal information safe this tax season by doing a Free scan with SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition

We want to remind everyone that tax season is the time of increased attacks in the forms of spyware, various methods of phishing , and scams. Spyware and Malware authors significantly increase their activity during the tax season in order to try to steal data and withdraw money from bank accounts, steal credit cards, passwords, and other malicious acts.

Watch out for Identity Stealing Spyware!

During this tax season its important to do a few things to help protect yourself online:

1) Make sure your Operating System and software applications such as web browsers and email clients are up to date.

2) Run a Complete Scan with SUPERAntiSpyware regularly with the latest updates, at least twice a week during this period of increased activity.

3) Be cautious before visiting strange websites, or opening strange email attachments. Think before you click!

4) Manually erase, or use privacy software, to delete sensitive data from you PC. Spyware cannot steal what isn’t there!

5) Lookout for spam phishing email impersonating government, bank, or tax company officials asking for sensitive information.

Do you have any security recommendations that help you stay safe during the tax season? Feel free to leave a comment below!

–SUPERAntiSpyware Team

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Typosquatting: Another front of malware attacks

Typosquatting is a type of internet scam that relies on end users making mistakes, such as spelling errors or entering the wrong domain name when entering a websites URL. It is also commonly known as URL Hijacking. There are many motivations for a hijacker to take the Typosquatting approach to deceiving unsuspecting victims:

1) To redirect web traffic to their own or a competitor’s product.

2) Installing malware to infect the user’s machine, typically with ad-hosting pieces of malware.

3) Freeze the web browser for a fake Tech Support scam, scaring the user into calling a fake tech support number claiming the user has a virus infection. These scams potentially cost the users hundreds of dollars.

4) To steal user information by running a phishing scheme to mimic legitimate website.

5) Making revenue from the user clicking on advertisements (either in plain site or disguised as legitimate search links) on the Typosquat website.

6) To blackmail or strong-arm payment from the company they’re Typosquatting in order to force a purchase of the website from the Typosquatter.

A scammer who runs a Typosquat scam typically registers a website address with spelling close to the legitimate websites address. This is typically something simple like omitting a letter, adding a letter, or using a different Top Level Domain. For example if a user wants to go to our website, they may end up typing superaantispyware[dot]com with double a’s. This will end up showing a user a Typosquatting website such as this:

Another type of Typosquat scam would be due to the person improperly typing out the full URL, typing something like google [dot] om , rather than typing google [dot] com. In this instance, the person typing the .om domain would actually be viewing a page hosted on Oman’s Top Level Domain, rather than the basic .com domain. In some instances, large corporations will buy up as many associated domains as they can in order to prevent this type of mistake (Google, for example, has variants of their site containing multiple o’s and different Top Level Domains); however, not all companies have the foresight and/or money to do this.

It is easy to avoid falling prey to a Typosquatting scam. Here are a few easy things you can do to prevent this.

1) Never open links in emails from unexpected senders, and exercise caution when visiting sites you’re not familiar with.

2) Bookmark your favorite websites so you can easily access them.

3) Use a search engine like Google, Bing, or Yahoo when looking for a specific website if you are unsure about the spelling or if the business’ website is the same as their name. Some car dealerships, for example, use dealer names or slogans as their website.

4) Double check the URL you are typing before loading the page

5) Make sure Real-Time Protection is turned on in SUPERAntiSpyware Professional

6) If you are starting a web-based business, consider buying multiple domains that are similar to your primary site to preemptively stop Typosquatters. Most domain registrars will offer bulk rates when you purchase more than one domain at a time.

While this type of attack is somewhat uncommon by today’s standards, it still happens every once in a while. By practicing safe browsing habits, keeping your web browsers up-to-date, and running regular scans of your machine, you should not be impacted by most of these types of attacks.