In an age where smartphones carry everything from personal chats to banking details, digital privacy is more important than ever. But what if someone was silently keeping tabs on every word you type? If this sounds scary, it’s exactly what a keylogger does: a stealthy app that records everything that you type and do on your device. In this guide, we will look at three simple ways to check if your device has a keylogger installed, hiding in plain sight.

What is a Keylogger?

Before we dive into the safety measures, it’s essential to know what a keylogger actually is and why it’s a bigger concern than most people think. A keylogger, also known as keystroke logger, is a type of spyware designed to quietly record everything you type on your device. This includes passwords, credit card numbers, and even personal conversations from your social media apps. If your device gets infected with a keylogger, it can send all of this information to a hacker, even without you noticing.

Keyloggers are a major problem on desktops, especially on computers in large IT offices and even government agencies, as hackers constantly try to steal sensitive information from these places. However, the mass adoption of smartphones among the general public means that even regular citizens are now on the radar of attackers.

Here are some examples of what type of data a keylogger can steal from your smartphone:

• A keylogger can capture your touchscreen input and record what you do on your display.
• Track all of your clipboard inputs, which include everything that you copy and paste.
• Save your screenshots, screen recordings, and even images and videos from your phone’s gallery.
• Some advanced keyloggers also monitor your location, microphone, and camera, turning your phone into a surveillance tool.

Most of these problems are primarily targeted at Android smartphones, as it’s nearly impossible to perform these actions on an iPhone due to Apple’s strict safety measures in iOS. So if you are an iPhone user, you are, in a way, immune and safe from keyloggers as long as you keep your device updated.

Let’s look at some ways in which you can check whether your phone has a keylogger installed, and how you can safeguard yourself.

1. Check for Unknown Apps on Your Phone

One of the easiest ways to spot a keylogger is by scanning your phone for apps that you don’t remember installing. Keyloggers often disguise themselves under generic names or icons to blend in, so it becomes necessary to have a closer look at all the apps that you have installed on your device. Sometimes, these apps do not show up in the app drawer at all, and you need to check hidden apps from your phone’s settings. Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on your phone, and go to Apps.

2. Now select App management. The exact option name might vary by device.

3. By default, your phone will only show the list of apps that were installed by you. Check the list and uninstall any app that feels suspicious to you.

4. You can analyse your safety further by checking the system apps by tapping on the three dots icon.

If you find a fishy app, then you should immediately uninstall it. We also recommend doing a factory reset of your device to remove all the residual files from the harmful app, preventing it from getting re-installed.

2. Monitor Battery and Data Usage

Since keyloggers run in the background, they consume a significant amount of data and battery on your device. By monitoring these two factors, you can get an idea of whether your device is being spied on. Here’s how you can check data consumption on an Android phone.

1. Open Settings on your device and search for Data Usage.

2. Select the Data usage by app menu. Here you can see the list of all apps that consume data on your device.

3. If you notice an unknown app that is consuming too much data, then delete it.

4. You can also check WiFi Data usage by going to Wireless Settings > WiFi > WiFi Data Usage.

5. In the Settings app, navigate to the Battery option and go to Battery usage by app.

3. Use Anti-Spyware Tools on Your Phone

If you are still doubtful of a keylogger being installed on your phone, then you should use professional antivirus and anti-spyware apps. By using a reputed antivirus app, you can safeguard yourself as these tools are trained to detec all types of spyware and malware that circulate on the internet.

Here are some top free anti-keylogger apps that you can install on your Android phone:

• Malwarebytes Mobile Security: a reputed anti-virus company with a track record of 21 years.
• Bitdefender Mobile Security: a globally popular anti-malware software known for high efficiency in its free version and a reputable history of 24 years.
• Avast Antivirus and Security: a cross-platform free anti-virus software with 30 years of service in protecting Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android devices.

FAQs

Q. How do you know if your phone has a keylogger?

Keyloggers run in the background and consume a lot of data and battery. If you notice that your phone is suddenly consuming too much internet and battery, then it’s an indication that a keylogger could be spying on you.

Q. Does a factory reset remove keylogger?

Yes, doing a factory reset is the easiest and most effective way of removing a keylogger from your phone. This is because your device resets all settings, including all the installed apps and files, getting rid of the keylogger or any other spyware.

Wrapping Up

Keyloggers are sneaky and hide easily, but they are completely invisible. With simple steps such as monitoring the installed apps on your phone and checking for unusual data usage and battery drain, you can detect whether a keylogger is installed on your device. It is important to identify them as early as possible to prevent data theft.

You may also like to read:

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• 3 Ways to Find Who Tried to Unlock Your Phone
• How to Block Your Stolen Phone in India Using CEIR
• Things to Check Before Buying an Second-Hand Used Phone

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