How to find and remove spyware from an Android phone

Imagine someone quietly watching everything you do on your phone without you ever knowing. That’s the reality of spyware, a stealthy type of malware designed to secretly monitor your activity.

On Android, spyware can sneak in through malicious apps or be installed by someone with physical access to your phone. Once it’s in, it can collect sensitive data like your passwords, browsing history, and banking info.

This guide covers what spyware looks like on Android, how it infects your device, and, most importantly, how to detect and remove it to keep your information safe.

What is spyware on Android?

Spyware is a specific type of malware that monitors your phone activities without your knowledge. However, it’s not just an Android issue – spyware can infect any other device as well.

On Android, a spyware infection can be a result of malicious app downloads – but it can also be installed by someone else. One of the dangers of spyware is that it can gather your personal information, including browsing history and location.

There are also keyloggers – tools used to gain access to your accounts by monitoring what you type. They can be used to steal your banking details or passwords. But that’s not all – perhaps the most unsettling fact is that it can even record your voice or access your webcam.

Name	Spyware
Types	Commercial spyware, keylogger, banking trojan, mobile spyware (stalkerware)
Affected devices	Android, Windows, MacOS, and iOS
Symptoms	Fast battery draining, unknown applications, increased data usage, or weird noises during calls
Damage	Stolen accounts or banking details, private data collection of third parties, device damage (like overheating), privacy invasion

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How to remove spyware from your Android phone

There are a few easy methods that you can use to remove any malicious spyware from your phone. Those include using a trusted antivirus, removing suspicious apps, installing software updates, or updating the operating system. To help you take security into your own hands, I prepared an in-depth, step-by-step guide of each method that’s best for removing spyware from an Android OS device. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

1. Use antivirus

The best and fastest way to remove spyware from your Android is to get an independent laboratory-approved antivirus for Android devices. It scans your device for not only spyware but other malicious files as well. Plus, it even protects you in real time.

Setting up antivirus is very simple. Here are the main steps that you need to do:

1. Download a powerful antivirus from the Google Play store. I suggest TotalAV, now 80% OFF
2. Launch the app and sign up (or sign in). Once you log in, run the Smart Scan

   

3. Once antivirus detects spyware or other types of malware, follow the further instructions to remove it
4. Double-check if there are no other threats. Antivirus should show the status, confirming that your device is protected

   

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2. Remove suspicious apps

Spyware can be a result of an unknown source app download, so sometimes it’s possible to remove it yourself. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to get rid of infected apps on your Android:

1. Reboot your phone into safe mode. You can do this by holding the Power off button until you feel your phone vibrate. Upon rebooting, you should see the Safe mode message in the left corner of your screen

   

2. In your device's Settings, find the Apps or Apps & notifications button

   

3. Go through the apps on the list and see if you find anything suspicious. Uninstall every app that you don’t need or don’t remember installing

   

4. If you cannot uninstall an app due to administrator permissions, you'll need to disable admin rights. To do this, navigate to the Security & privacy section in the Settings

   

5. The administration management window will pop up, allowing you to click Deactivate & uninstall to complete the process

   

6. If using the Security & privacy section, click on More security & privacy and locate the Device admin apps option

   

7. Turn off the administrative rights for the malicious app, then go back to uninstall it

   

8. Restart your phone

3. Update your Android operating system

Updating your operating system can help get the needed security patches for your system that can disrupt spyware activities. Here’s how to install your operating system updates:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone. If there are any pending software updates, you should see a prompt right away. Alternatively, locate the Software update button and check there

   

2. Click on Download and install if there are any available updates
3. Once the required software update is downloaded and installed, click on Restart now

   

4. For automatic software updates, enable Auto download over Wi-Fi in the Software update section within the device’s Settings

   

4. Turn on Google Play Protect

You can take your security to the next level by utilizing Google Play Protect. It is a comprehensive security service integrated into Android OS environments, designed to safeguard you from infected applications and malware.

You can enable it by following these simple steps:

1. Open the Google Play Store app and log in (or sign up). Then, tap on your profile icon in the top right corner

   

2. Locate the Play Protect section and tap on it

   

3. Run the scan to see if the Play Protect feature is able to find harmful apps. If any spyware is detected, make sure to remove it from your device

   

4. To take security to the next level, tap on the gear icon within the Play Protect feature. Then, enable the Improve harmful app detection feature

   

5. Factory reset your Android

If nothing seems to work, a factory reset is the last resort you should take. This will remove all of your apps, documents, files, and the spyware within them from your device.

So keep in mind that this method wipes out your Android clean, so you should back up your data beforehand.

Follow these steps to do a complete factory reset and remove spyware:

1. Go to your Android’s Settings > General management

   

2. In the General management settings, scroll down to find the Reset section

   

3. Back up your data with the given options, and then tap on Factory data reset to fully wipe your device

   

4. Once the phone reboots, restore the data and files that you trust and are not spyware

How to tell if someone is spying on my Android

Spyware is usually very hard to detect, so it might be hard to notice from changed device behavior only. However, there are certain symptoms that implicate a potential spyware infection on your phone.

Here are a few things revealing that your Android has spyware:

• Unknown apps on your Android. Sometimes malware can install apps on your device without your knowledge or approval. Go through the app list on your device and make sure there’s no app that you don’t remember getting.
• Low device performance. When spyware is working on your Android in the background, it drastically decreases your phone’s battery life and slows down your device.
• Increased data usage. Because of the essence of spyware, you may notice a surge in data usage. That’s because a lot of bandwidth is used for collecting and sending data.
• Constant device overheating. Spyware runs processes in the background, meaning it can overheat your device’s system. If you get a caution message in regards to device heat even when you’re not using your Android, it may be due to malicious activities.
• Too many or unusual pop-up ads. Spyware often comes hand-in-hand with adware. So if you’re seeing strange advertisements on your Android, malware may be the reason.
• Unusual messages. Malicious hackers have to command your Android device when they need information. So if you’re receiving weird messages, such as codes, it may be an attacker in action. Following any links in these messages can give cybercriminals access to your device and social media accounts.
• Noise during calls. It sometimes happens that we have bad reception and start hearing strange sounds. But if you continuously hear echoing or beeping, it may be that someone is recording your conversation.

How does spyware get on your Android?

There are quite a few methods for spyware to get on your smartphone. And in most cases, being security conscious can help prevent it.

Here are ways how spyware can get on your Android:

• Malware-filled apps. Make sure you only download apps from sources that are trustworthy. Even malicious apps can sometimes look legit – you can always Google the app to find more information about it.
• Malvertising. Another way of spyware getting into your device is advertising. If you mistake a malicious ad for a legitimate one and click on it, you can end up infecting your device.
• Phishing attacks. Attackers can send you an email or text message with a link that contains malicious content, including spyware. You have to make sure you never press on links coming from unidentified sources.
• Direct device installations. While less common, someone else may install spyware on your device if you leave it unattended.

Can someone spy on your Android phone?

Yes, you can be spied on Android by threat actors, strangers, or anyone for that matter. That’s only possible if someone infects your device with spyware – malicious software used to track, monitor, and gather your and your device’s information.

To gain access to your device, a cybercriminal can try installing spyware through a phishing attack, malvertising, or malware-infected apps. The latter option is most common for Android users, as it’s even possible to accidentally download malware from the Google Play store.

If you find any hints of spyware on your Android phone, make sure you scan your device with a reliable antivirus, such as TotalAV. This will secure you not only from spyware but other types of malicious software.

How to protect my Android from spyware

It’s never enough to get rid of the problem if you don’t change your online habits in the first place.

Here's how to protect your Android from spyware:

• Use antivirus. The main purpose of antivirus software is to remove malware, including spyware. Such antivirus as TotalAV also include a real-time protection feature, meaning you won’t have to worry about threats while browsing or scrolling.
• Don’t click on suspicious links or ads. Never click on links or download attachments that you don’t know the source of – they can be infected with spyware.
• Secure your phone. Set a lock screen password, use biometric authentication, and don’t leave your device unattended. These steps ensure that your device won’t be directly infected with spyware while you’re not looking.
• Keep your Android up to date. Always update your operating system and software so that there wouldn’t be vulnerabilities left for malicious actors to exploit.
• Avoid rooting your Android. Rooting lets you use apps that require root access, which can be beneficial in some cases, but detrimental in others. That’s because you’re opening your device to being infected easier.
• Don’t download suspicious apps. It’s often the case that a user downloads an app that’s malware in disguise and ends up getting spyware. So, always evaluate the app’s legitimacy before installing it.
• Regularly change passwords. Make sure you regularly update your passwords to unbreakable ones. This can be easily done with a secure password manager – it will make it harder for malicious hackers to access any of your accounts.

Conclusion

Spyware is a dangerous type of malware as it can be used to steal your private information, including bank details and login credentials, or even access your webcam without your knowledge. This can result in account or money theft, device damage, or privacy invasion on your Android device.

The quickest way to protect your Android is to get a high-quality antivirus with powerful security features. I recommend TotalAV, which offers excellent malware protection rates and gets rid of spyware for you.

Alternatively, you can remove spyware on Android manually. This can be done by removing suspicious apps, updating your software, or doing a complete factory reset.

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