Having so much personal information on the phone, it is important to protect against spyware.
Smartphones are powerful devices, with an incredible capacity to share and manage data. And having this much information stored and exchanged on the phone can also make users wonder who else can have access to their private lives.
The good news is that a smartphone cannot be hacked in like a regular computer, by stealing the IP address.
When using the carrier data package, the phone’s IP address can change three or four times during just one hour. This means it would be completely useless for someone to steal the IP address. However, the carrier has control at any time on the IP address used by the phone.
When using public Wi-Fi networks, it would be better to refrain from accessing apps and websites that involve sensitive information, such as financial data or passwords.
It is also important to install antivirus and firewall apps, which both could increase the security of the smartphone.
Legit Android Spyware
One example of Android tracker is an app that collects the location of the device from WiFi or GPRS. This type of app can be used by a company to verify the work phones of their employees during working hours.
Another app is specially designed for parents to check the location of their children. As the world we are living in is more and more dangerous, the worried parents find comfort in knowing where their child is.
The GPS Phone Tracker is another family safety product that can be used to find family members and get directions to their location. The app provides a location map with people that accept the invitation to share, with the sole condition that everyone must have the app installed on their phones.
There are other apps that allow the user to play spying games, but in general, they are more for fun and cannot be viewed as a privacy concern.
A more problematic app is the Couple Tracker, which allows partners to verify the texts and actions of one another.
Malicious Spyware
Not so long time ago, a new malware started to attack Android phones. Its name is Godless, and it targeted devices using Android 5.1 and earlier versions. The malware hides inside popular apps such as WiFi programs or games.
Godless manages to enter the OS of the smartphone and obtains administrator access. This allows it to install other unauthorized apps, among which spyware.
The simple solution is to install mobile security software that would protect the user from undesired malware and spyware infections.
How to Avoid Getting Spied
One general rule is to lock your phone. A person who can log into the Google account can install apps that track the actions on the device.
In order to avoid spyware, users are always recommended to download apps from the official Google Play Store. The software uploaded there has been previously verified to be safe for users.
Another method is to control the digital footprint, which means controlling privacy settings, deleting cookies, using online privacy tools, and being careful when accepting sharing permissions.
However, in case a user has reasons to believe that someone tampered with their phone, there is a solution. The Anti Spy Mobile app can be used to detect spying apps that are installed on the smartphone, which could give the owner a chance to uninstall them.
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