How to know if someone is spying on you through your phone’s camera?

Hacker threats and cybercriminal attacks are becoming more intense and advanced every year. Today, online criminals no longer limit themselves to simply stealing sensitive data, but are also aiming to obtain as much as possible from every unsuspecting victim who falls into their trap.

According to several studies conducted by online security companies, a rapidly growing trend is spying via phone cameras. There are signs that a scam is underway, but more experienced hackers can use systems that work in the background.

Are you worried it could happen to you and want to take action? Or are you worried someone is already spying on you? Here’s how to identify criminals on your smartphone and protect yourself.

How They Can Spy on You Through Your Phone Camera

Due to recent developments in hacking technology, gaining control of smartphone cameras is now easier than you might imagine.

This criminal activity typically begins via malware or spyware. What has changed and evolved is the route of spread of this malicious software. While until recently it was difficult to fall into the trap and the victims were most often elderly or inexperienced users, today anyone could fall into the clutches of a hacker.

The use of artificial intelligence and the ability to clone any service or website makes it much more difficult to distinguish fake sites and apps from genuine ones. Simply receiving a text message with a link, an email with an attachment, or a WhatsApp message is enough to trigger the fraudulent process.

Even incoming calls could be a weapon used by online criminals to trigger a scam that also targets your camera. By trusting what the artificial voice says, you risk downloading spying apps without knowing it.

How to tell if someone is spying on you through your phone’s camera

But how do you actually tell if someone is spying on you through your phone’s camera? There are several signs that your device’s sensor has been compromised by a virus.

First, pay close attention to the top of the screen. Newer smartphones display a bright green dot whenever an app is using the camera or microphone.

If you notice that the light comes on even though you’re not using any components, then an illegal act may be taking place in the background.

Another warning sign is sudden overheating or a battery draining much faster. Among the possible causes is malicious software secretly recording images.

Watch out for abnormal browsing data traffic. Are you almost out of data despite having Wi-Fi at home? There’s a risk that spyware is sending all the recorded data to an external server.

There are also some visual and system signals that could be a big help. Try opening your phone’s gallery: are there photos and videos you never took or recorded? Then there’s almost certainly an app that did it for you.

The problem can also arise if your phone suddenly starts to run slower, with apps freezing and crashing unexpectedly. Finally, if you notice that the camera or other apps open automatically, it’s advisable to take action because your smartphone may have been compromised.

How to protect yourself from spying via your phone’s camera

Are you convinced that someone is spying on you through your phone’s camera? Then it’s time to protect yourself. Do it as soon as possible because in just a few minutes, your information could end up in the hands of malicious people.

First, you need to check the permissions you’ve given to apps. Which apps have access to the camera and microphone? To check, on Android go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Manage Permissions, on iPhone go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.

Check the list of apps that have access to the camera. If they don’t explicitly request it to work, remove all permissions before it’s too late.

On Android smartphones there’s another feature that can be useful: the privacy dashboard. Accessible via Settings > Privacy, it shows you which apps have recently used the camera without your consent. Notice any suspicious behavior? Delete the apps in question immediately.

These are the preliminary actions you should always take, even if you don’t actually suspect someone is spying on your camera.

There are many others that can help you later. As you surely already know, it’s essential to always have antivirus software installed on your device. Use one that’s as secure and reliable as possible, even if you pay for it. There are several that periodically scan your phone for spyware or malware.

Remember to keep your operating system up to date, as Google and Apple release security patches that fix any security vulnerabilities and implement new protection standards. The same goes for applications you’ve installed on your phone.

When opening the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, try to avoid suspicious apps and those from unofficial sources as much as possible. This is especially true if you find an .apk file from an external website. After completing installations, always check what permissions are requested and refuse to grant access to the camera when unnecessary.

Finally, there’s one last tip that might come in handy, a classic that’s always been considered for both PCs and smartphones. Have you ever thought about covering the camera when not in use?

Without necessarily having to apply a strip of tape to the sensor, there are numerous covers that have a sliding component that can be positioned in front of the sensor when it’s not active.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Come capire se ti spiano dalla fotocamera del telefono?