When you’re talking about a topic as important as cell phone spying, it’s essential to keep a few things in mind. For starters, a cell phone is not just a phone – it’s essentially a digital assistant. It’s where you have your most private of conversations. It’s where you store photos you don’t want anyone to see. It’s how you access your credit card or bank account information while on-the-go. The results of it falling into the wrong hands would be catastrophic.
Now, when you realize that your phone doesn’t literally have to fall into the wrong hands to compromise all of this information, you begin to get a better idea of just why it’s so necessary to be proactive about preventing cell phone spying whenever you can.
Arm Yourself With the Right Equipment
If you really want to prevent cell phone spying, one of the most important things you can do is use the power of modern technology against your would-be spies. Items like the Lawmate RD-10 RF and Camera Detector, for example, offer law enforcement-grade RF detection and camera lens finding capabilities in one convenient unit. Even if someone doesn’t have access to your device itself, your calls could still be monitored by way of a camera hidden somewhere in a room like an office. Devices like the Lawmate will help you make sure that doesn’t happen.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication requires two forms of input – a password and a secondary, unique numerical code – to allow you to log into a device. Even if someone guesses or cracks your password, they would still need access to a SECONDARY device that ISN’T your phone in order to actually see the content contained on it. Enable two-factor authentication on any account that supports it as quickly as you can.
Monitor Device Access
Have you ever logged into your iCloud account on someone else’s phone to share a song or video with them? If you have, they could be using that access to monitor everything you’re doing – including reading your texts and seeing your photos. Open the “Settings” app on an iPhone and click the “iCloud” banner at the top of the screen. Look for devices with access to your account that you’re unfamiliar with and remove them as soon as you can.
The same goes for Google, too. You can log in and see which devices are currently using your account. Find one that doesn’t seem right or might need to be updated or removed, go ahead and make the change.
Update Your Devices
Many people don’t realize that software updates do more than just add new features or fix broken ones – they also help close security loopholes that people might be using to spy on you. As soon as Android or iOS updates become available, you should download and install them. End of story.
Use Fingerprint Identification
Cell phones which use the fingerprint reader for security should definitely be used as such. PIN numbers can sometimes be guessed but patterns are little harder to figure out. As for fingerprints, though, nothing is more difficult to replicate or spoof.
Beware of Location Services
Many apps require your permission to access certain built-in functions of your phone. Before you can send a snap on Snapchat, for example, you need to give it permission to use your camera. Many people don’t realize just how often apps use your location information, even when you’re not actually using the app itself. Uber is particularly notorious for this. Go into the “Settings” app on your phone and look at all the apps that currently have access to your location information.
If there’s anything that you don’t recognize or don’t feel comfortable with, be sure to disable it immediately. Remember that your cell phone has a GPS built inside – which means that a rogue app could be sending your location to someone without your knowledge with a range of down to just a few meters.
