In this digital world, it is hard to get away with smart gadgets. Everywhere they are spread, and even if you want to cut yourself from this digital addiction, it is not possible to get away from them unless you go to the woods and become a monk or nun. However, this digitization has lots of benefits too but it also has made it possible to invade someone’s privacy and track them down using spyware software. If you are wondering how to detect mSpy on Android, then read this article till the end.
How to Detect mSpy on Android
From normal people to businesses, and even government agencies, all use spyware software to track someone’s movements or to know what they are doing. Even parents use these types of software to know more about their children and save them from danger. However, is it even legal? We will also know the answer to this question in this article. However, certainly, they can be dangerous, and they can be used for criminal activities. mSpy is spyware that somebody can use for the above said legal purposes and also for illegal purposes too. We bring to you a helpful guide that will teach you how to detect mSpy on Android.
Quick Answer
To detect mSpy on Android, you can try checking for any unfamiliar apps. Also you can check for unusual battery drain, look for unusual behavior and use an anti-malware app.
Can mSpy be Detected on Android?
Yes, it is certainly possible to detect this software in your Android device. However, it might seem to you rather a technical method. But let us assure you, it is certainly not very technical, nor it is hard. Read the next heading to know how you can detect the mSpy application on Android.
There are multiple ways that you can use to detect mSpy, and we will recommend you try each of them. Here are the key metrics that can tell you if your device is affected by the mSpy app or not.
- If your device is taking longer time than usual to shut down, then that can mean your smartphone might be affected by spyware.
- If you are not using your data, still by the end of the day your data get exhausted, then that can also lead you to the same conclusion.
- For the camera and microphone, when they are active, you will see a green dot at the top of your screen for Android devices. If you are not using any application that uses these pieces of hardware, and still you see the green dot, then that might mean someone is listening to you or watching your activities.
- If your battery is draining too fast, then that can mean two things either you need to replace it now or another application is using the battery power from the background.
- Does your phone get overheated even if you are not running any application? That indicates there is spyware that is using the processor from the background.
- After opening your phone, if you are noticing different apps that you don’t remember installing, then it is possible that they were installed by the Spyware software.
- If your phone gets crashed now and then, yet, you cannot reach a logical explanation for that, then mSpy might be the culprit who is slowing down and crashing your device.
You can understand if there is spyware or not by the above-said metrics. It is also possible to detect mSpy by using antivirus software like Avast.
What mSpy Can Do?
There are many things that mSpy can do to invade your privacy with their application. But they have two versions, mSpy Android monitoring (their main app) and mLite (their lite app) Family Phone Tracker. However, we only included the features of the main app. Let’s know them one by one,
- Call history tracking
- Track GPS location with accuracy
- Monitor chats
- Track web browsing history
- View installed applications
- View the media content, including images, files, videos etc
Now that you know what the app can do, let’s try to find out if it is even legal.
Also Read: What is Bot Attacks?
Is mSpy Legal?
It is legal. mSpy is actually a parental control software, which means it is legal to use. However, unlike other parental control software, it is undetectable. mSpy is running since 2010, so it is pretty old and also not a scam. If you install mSpy on any device that you own, then that is not illegal. Yet, if someone installs the app on a device that they don’t own, then it is illegal.
Yet, many people use it for illegal activities. So, no matter if it is a legal, scam or not, you should be aware and delete it instantly from your phone as it can lead to monetary and precious data loss of your device. So, to summarize the app itself is legal however how you use it can be illegal or legal.
How to Remove mSpy from Android
If you have doubts that someone might be using software like mSpy to invade your privacy and collect your data, then we have already shared how you can detect it. Now let’s know the methods to remove this software from your Android device.
Note: We used Motorola G71 5G for this tutorial, and it is possible that the phone you are using has a different method to access this setting.
Option I: Use Google Play Store
Many people don’t know, but it is possible to search for viruses or malicious apps through Google Play Store. So, it is one of the easiest and safest ways to know about any spyware and delete them.
1. Open Google Play Store and then tap on the profile picture.
2. Then, select Play Protect.
3. Tap on Scan.
3. Finally select Uninstall.
Note: If on your phone, there are any harmful apps, you will see a page where Google Play Store will ask you if you want to uninstall the application.
Also Read: Remove adware and pop-up ads from web browser
Option II: Use App Manager
There is another way to uninstall the mSpy app without using the Google Play Store. In Android devices, the mSpy application goes by the name of Update services. So, if you can see any application with this name, then you can uninstall the application, and the mSpy will also get uninstalled. Follow the steps below for more detail.
1. Go to Settings and tap on Security.
2. Then navigate to Device administration or Device Admin apps.
3. Now see if there is an option called Update Service to uncheck it. If there are no such options then follow the below steps.
4. Now navigate back to Settings and tap on Apps.
5. Now scroll down and tap on Update service.
6. Finally select Uninstall to remove the app.
Also Read: 19 Best adware removal apps for Android
Option III: Use Third Party Software
There is a good deal of antivirus software available that can help you to delete the mSpy from your smartphone. However, one of the best recommendations is to use Spyware & Malware Detector.
Option IV: Spoof Location
As we already mentioned that mSpy app can track down your location. So, it is a good idea that you use an app to spoof your location. Many apps will help you to create a virtual location, but we will recommend you use Dr Phone.
1. Install the Dr Fone app on the PC.
2. Open the app and select Virtual Location.
3. Connect Android phone to the computer.
4. Now, select the actual location.
5. Select the teleport mode option located in the upper right corner.
6. Enter a place of choice in the upper corner, left field.
7. Select Move Here from the pop-up.
Now creating a virtual location process is done.
Option V: Use Safe Mode
Safe Mode helps you to be confident if the spyware is really the issue, or if is it something else. When you enter safe mode, all the third-party apps will stop working. You have to analyze if the device after entering safe mode is working fine or not. Read our guide on How to turn Safe Mode on or off on Moto X. If the device is not working fine then uninstall the apps in safe mode by following the steps mentioned below.
1. Open Settings, then select Apps.
2. Now, find the app which isn’t downloaded by you.
Note: All third-party apps will be grey.
3. Restart the phone to disable Safe Mode.
4. Finally uninstall the unwanted third-party app.
Option VI: Use Factory Reset
If no other methods are working, then you have no way but to factory reset your device. But we will recommend you try it at the very end, as after you do the factory reset, all of your data will be deleted.
Note: Before your factory reset your Android, you have to back up all of your data. If you do not know how to back up your Android, follow our guide to Back Up Your Android Phone Data.
To factory reset your mobile, read and implement the steps in our guide How To Hard Reset Any Android Device.
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We hope after reading this article, your query, about how to detect mSpy on Android is now solved. If you still have any questions, then don’t forget to ask them in the comment section and our team of experts will look after each of your queries sincerely. You can also suggest us a new topic, and we will try to write a dedicated article on that. Save our site to your bookmarks for future reference. Thank you for reading.
