How to Remove Spyware From Any Device

Malicious software like spyware and viruses can damage the devices you use and steal your data. If you have spyware on your device, then this will put your personal information, credit card details, and other data at risk. For these reasons, detecting and removing such malware from your device becomes important. So, we bring to you a helpful guide that will teach you how to detect spyware on your Android phone, iPhone or PC and remove them.

How to Remove Spyware From Any Device

If you detect spyware on your device, you should proceed with the spyware removal process immediately. We have gathered a few measures that can help you easily remove spyware from your device.

Quick Answer

Try uninstalling suspicious apps which you don’t recognize or that you suspect may be spyware. You can also try to restore your system to a previous state before the spyware was installed.

1. Use Spyware Removal Tools

The first very basic way to remove spyware from your system is by using a spyware removal tool. This tool will help you detect hidden spies and eradicate all their traces. To know more about which device is the best for you, you can check our guide on 26 Best Free Malware Removal Tools.

Also Read: Fix Malwarebytes Unable to Connect the Service error

2. Manually Remove Spyware

You can manually remove spyware as well. It would help if you rebooted your device into Safe Mode to do it manually. Rebooting your device in Safe Mode will prevent all third-party apps from running and help you verify your device’s strange behaviour and identify the spyware. To know more about using Safe Mode on your phone to restart it, refer to our guide on How to Turn Safe Mode On or Off on Moto X.

3. Factory Reset Device

If you are still looking for a way then, performing a factory reset will help you thoroughly. A factory reset helps delete your device’s data, including spyware. You must back up all your data, photos, contacts, and media to do so. Make sure to back up data from before you started experiencing spyware issues. To know more about performing it, you can check our informative guide on How To Hard Reset Any Android Device.

How to Detect Spyware on Android Phone

Now that you know how to remove spyware, it is also important to detect the presence of such malicious software on your device. While some people can easily find malware with the help of malware detection tools, others can use some basic signs and symptoms to detect it on their Android phones. Some possible signs of spyware on your smartphone include:

1. Slow Device Performance

The first thing to note down is your Android phone’s performance. In most cases, due to spyware programs, your device slows down and starts operating sluggishly. If the device is free from intensive programs and is still running slow, it possibly indicates the presence of spyware.

2. Presence of Strange Apps and Web Pages

Another common sign to discover how to detect spyware on Android phones is the presence of unknown apps you don’t remember downloading and web pages you have not visited. If you notice any strange activity on your phone, it strongly points towards spyware presence.

3. Disabled Anti-Malware Software

Usually, anti-malware software in your device detects an unknown activity like spyware. If this software is not working for some reason or is malfunctioning, it could be a sign that your device is already infected.

4. Increased Data and Battery Consumption

Next, you might also notice increased smartphone data and battery consumption rates. This is because programs like spyware take up valuable resources and drain your device’s battery faster when searching your phone for sensitive information and uploading it elsewhere.

5. Ads and Pop-Ups

You can detect spyware on Android phones by noticing any unsolicited ads and pop-ups. These random pop-ups and adware make navigating your device difficult and affect the user experience.

6. Strange Text Messages and Emails

Another way of detecting the presence of spyware on your smartphone is by noticing any strange and frequent text messages or emails. These strange messages may take the form of codes, links, or symbols and gain access to your social media accounts.

7. Disruption During Phone Calls

To detect spyware on your phone, try to hear a static sound or a beeping sound during phone calls which will confirm if spyware is present in your device or not. These strange sounds are produced if your calls are tapped or if the spyware infected by your smartphone is recording them.

8. Difficulty Accessing Password-Protected Apps

You might also find it extremely difficult to log in to or access password-protected applications or web pages if there is the presence of spyware on your device. This happens because the malicious program uses a spoofed browser on your login attempt, collects your information, and transfers it to a third party.

9. Strange Behavior

Finally, you can also detect spyware on your phone by noticing unusual behaviour like sudden waking up or the device sleeping. You might also find it difficult to power off or reboot your phone due to spyware or malware.

Also Read: What is Malware and What Does it Do?

How to Remove Spyware from Windows 10

If you suspect strange behaviour in your PC that might indicate the presence of spyware, it is time to learn some tricks and tips to remove it from your Windows 10.

1. Turn On Safe Mode

The first step in deleting spyware from Windows 10 is to turn on Safe Mode. Safe Mode in a Windows 10 PC lets you start your device with the most basic settings and files while troubleshooting minor fixes or bugs like spyware. To turn on Safe Mode on your PC, refer to our guide on How to Boot to Safe Mode in Windows 10.

2. Delete Suspicious Files

Uninstalling suspicious files or strange applications that can probably contain spyware is the best way to eliminate malicious activities on the system. To uninstall a program from your PC, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and then click on Open.

2. Set View by > Category, then under Programs, click on Uninstall a Program.

3. Now, locate the application you want to uninstall.

4. Finally, right-click on it and select Uninstall.

Once done, follow the on-screen instructions for installation of the suspicious program from your PC.

3. Use Windows Defender Offline Scan

To remove spyware from your Windows 10 PC, you can also use Windows Defender offline scan, a free antivirus program by Microsoft. This program helps by scanning and removing threats from your computer. To start the scan with Windows Defender Firewall, follow the steps given below:

1. Open Control Panel app from the Windows Search bar.

2. Next, set the View by option to Small icons.

3. Now, click on Windows Defender Firewall.

4. Select Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the left panel.

5. Select Turn on Windows Defender Firewall for private and public network settings.

6. Once steps are performed, click on OK to confirm.

Now, the firewall will scan for spyware and remove them automatically.

Also Read: 18 Best Free Firewall for Windows

4. Use Spyware Removal Application

There are various malware detection and removal programs available on the internet that you can use for your Windows 10 PC. If you don’t have enough knowledge about them and want more guidance, refer to our dedicated article on 26 Best Free Malware Removal Tools.

5. Reset Windows

Finally, you can try resetting Windows 10 to remove spyware from your PC if none of those solutions has helped you out. Resetting your Windows PC will delete all your files, data, and apps. Therefore, before performing a reset, back up all your important data somewhere safe. However, to save your data during reset, refer to our guide on How to Reset Windows 10 Without Losing Data.

How to Remove Spyware from iPhone

Just like Android phones and PC, spyware can attack iPhones as well. Such spyware mostly stays hidden in an unknown file or an app. Therefore, to eradicate the issue from the root, you can follow the useful solutions listed below:

1. Update Software

The first and foremost step to getting your iPhone rid of spyware is to update the device. Apple updates offer security updates that help protect your device from hackers looking for software vulnerabilities to exploit. To make sure these anti-spyware software patches are benefitted from, update your iPhone to its latest build. You can update iOS by following the steps below:

Note: Ensure a strong internet connection before performing the steps.

1. Open your iPhone and launch its Settings.

2. Now, tap on the General tab.

3. Select the Software Update option.

4. Next, tap on Download and Install.

Also Read: How to Tell If Your iPhone Has a Virus

2. Uninstall Suspicious Apps

To know how to remove spyware from your iPhone, you can try uninstalling suspicious apps or programs from your iPhone. If you see an app not installed by you on your iPhone, move forward with removing it, as it may be a spying or recording app. To uninstall an app on your iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Locate and long-press on the app you want to install.

2. Now, tap on Remove App from the pop-up menu.

3. Next, tap on Delete App to confirm the action.

3. Perform Factory Reset

You can also try performing a factory reset on your device. Even though doing so will delete all data from your phone, it will restore your phone from a backup created before the spyware was installed by wiping it clean. Even though every iPhone is different, you can still learn about this process a lot better and in detail with the help of our guide on How to Factory Reset iPhone X.

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This brings us to the end of our guide on how to remove spyware. We hope that all your questions were answered and you were able to figure out the process of removing spyware from Android, iPhone, and Windows 10. If you have doubts about other topics or queries, please leave them in the comments box below.