Tag: software

Google has been improving Android’s security and privacy with each new iteration of Android. It is more difficult now for someone to see your location on an Android phone, depending on your settings. However, since Android itself is a tracking device, there is a chance someone will still see your Android phone’s location. 

It depends on who can see your location before you label it bad. If you are sharing your location with a friend or family, in case of an emergency, having access to your whereabouts is not bad or malicious. Nevertheless, there are apps that can help individuals access these details without your consent. Also, you might have wanted to share your location with someone for a few minutes but forgot to turn it off.

The reason you should be worried about people or apps that have access to your Android phone location is that you are with your device almost all the time. If someone has this information, they can track your whereabouts. Hence, it is necessary to ensure that only trusted people and families have access to this. In this guide, we will explore different location-sharing features on Android. You will learn how to configure and disable them.

Who can see your location on Android? How to ensure no one can track you using your phone 

In Android 12, Google tweaked app permissions. Instead of sharing a precise location, you can share an approximate location or turn it off entirely. Since some apps need your GPS to function properly, like Maps, Weather, Uber, and others, location services will be needed from time to time. Since not every app need permission, there are apps that might be sharing your location without you knowing. 

The best way is to turn off location services entirely 

When you disable location services, all the apps are blacklisted from seeing your whereabouts. While that might seem a good idea, as no one would be able to track you, those you are sharing your location with would not be able to do so either. That, of course, defeats the aim.

Additionally, if you are using Find My Device for your device, with location disabled, you will not be able to locate it if you misplaced or lost it. Most times, you might be able to see the device when you search for it, but there will be no GPS signal, though that might be changing. It’s now possible to locate devices that are switched off, and perhaps it will be possible to discover phones with location services turned off. 

It is easy to turn off location services on Android. Swipe down from the top of your screen to reveal the Quick Settings. Tap on Location to turn it off. You can do that via Settings>>Location. 

How to know apps that see your location 

On the same location page, you can see apps that have recently been able to access your location. You can adjust the permission taping on Apps location permissions. This offers you a chance to take control of apps to give access. There are three options for each app – Allow only while using the app, Ask Every time, and Don’t Allow. Below the screen, you can deny the app your premise location, but only when you didn’t select “Don’t Allow.”

Location Sharing in Maps and Find My Device 

The Find My Device now works as Google Maps for sharing and tracking locations. Once you open the app and visit the people’s tab, you will see everyone who knows where you are. Also, the list of people sharing their location with you, and you can turn it off if you cannot remember who they are.

On Google Maps, the process is probably the same. Open the app, head to your profile picture, and tap on it. Click on Location Sharing and check for everyone seeing your location. If you notice any stranger on the list, tap on the name and select stop. 

Check if someone has their Google account logged in on your device. 

Have you ever thought of that? If someone had their account on your device, they would be able to pull your location history from their end. Head to Settings>>Google Services. Open it and tap on your profile name to see all the Google accounts logged in on your device. 

Google sign-in activity 

If someone has access to your Google account, you will get a notification of someone who tried signing into your account, their location, and type of device. From that information, you can guess who the person might be, as only a close friend or family can know your details in most cases.

Nevertheless, it’s never a good thing for someone to sign into your account without your consent. They can pull your location and that’s not a good thing. Hence, if you ever get a notification of a sign-in from a different device, head to myaccount.google.security. Change your password and enable 2-step verification with your phone number. 

Conclusion 

While we cannot completely stop our Android phone from tracking our location even after disabling location services, there are a few things we can do to limit the amount of information it gets. Ensure only apps that require a location to work have their permission granted. This means that even if someone pulls your location, they won’t have all your information data.

There are only a few ways to know what someone is up to. You can ask them or find out yourself, and the only way you can do that is by reading their text messages. Unfortunately, it is hard to read someone’s text messages without them knowing. However, there are a few ways you can do that without spending money on any subscription.

Most apps that allow you to spy on someone’s messages need a subscription to work. While they work in stealth mode, there are chances the target person might discover it and uninstall the app. By doing so, your money is gone, and you might not get it back. Aside from that, you also lose the person’s trust, but that is either way, using a free means to spy on someone. 

The safest way to find out what someone is up to is to ask them. However, if you are a parent, we understand kids can be difficult. Also, you might want to ensure your child is not being bullied or going through something they cannot discuss with you. Perhaps you want to confirm your suspicion about your partner. Luckily, there are ways you can read someone’s text messages without them knowing to satisfy your curiosity and keep your children safe.

How to read someone’s text messages without them knowing 

Most apps that people use to text each other have parental controls. Parents can use these features to monitor their children, including reading their text messages, only that they might have an idea. However, there are other ways, like linked Devices on WhatsApp and Telegram, Text messages forwarding on iPhones, or using a spy app, but that requires paying some money. 

Spy on someone’s texts using Linked Devices on WhatsApp 

WhatsApp started supporting multiple phones a few months ago. Initially, installing the same account on a new phone logs you off on the old one, but things are different now. You can use the companion mode to get one WhatsApp account on two phones. While that ensures you do not have multiple accounts, it creates an avenue for someone to monitor your messages. 

Interestingly, WhatsApp does not send you notifications about these linked devices. However, before someone can connect your account to their phone, they need your password. Once they bypass that authentication, the only way you can know is by checking linked devices. The good thing is that when you link a device, old chats are synced, and you can see everything.

Hence, if you are wondering what might be going on in your child’s life, you might use this method to get a clue. Below are the steps to link Devices on WhatsApp. On your device, you need a new WhatsApp app without a logged-in account.

• Open WhatsApp on your phone, tap Agree, and continue. 
• Tap more options (three dots at the top right) and click on Link as a companion device. 
• The QR code to be scanned will appear on your screen 
• Head over to the target device’s phone 
• On Android: On the Chat tab, click the three dots and the top right corner, and tap Linked device. Scan the QR code on your WhatsApp to link a device.
• On iPhone: Go to WhatsApp Settings, tap Linked Devices, and scan the QR link on your device to Link a device. 

Someone is probably reading your text on Telegram 

Like WhatsApp, Telegram has a linked Devices feature. Again, once connected, you do not get a notification. The only way to know is by checking your settings and logging off any strange device. Meanwhile, if you want to read someone’s text without them knowing, here is how to use Telegram to do it.

• Launch the Telegram app on your device and click on Start messaging. 
• If you have an account already, tap on the three lines at the top left.
• Click on the drop-down arrow below your profile picture. 
• Tap Add an account. 
• You need to enter the person’s phone number (make sure it is the phone number they are using for Telegram).
• After typing in their phone, click the next arrow at the bottom. 
• A message with the code will be sent to the person’s account. Get the code and enter it to complete the process. 
• Depending on the reason you want to monitor the Telegram account, you might delete the message. 

Call Forwarding on iPhone 

Call Forwarding is a bit complicated as you need the same Apple ID on both phones to do that. However, if you have your kid’s account details or your spouse’s, you can easily forward their messages to your phone. 

Meanwhile, if the target device is not using Messages in the Cloud, you can follow the settings below.

• Head to Settings on the target phone > Apps > Messages. 
• Tap Text Message Forwarding. (turn iMessage off and back on, Tap send & receive and sign again, if you don’t see it).
• Tap to turn on each device you want to allow to send and receive messages from the target phone.
• If the selected device doesn’t have two-factor authentication for the Apple account, a verification code will appear on each device: enter that code into the phone. For more information and how to troubleshoot visit this link. 

Paid ways to read someone’s text messages without them knowing

Parents should use parental control apps like Qustodio and Bark. These apps are designed for parents to monitor their children’s online activities to ensure they are safe on the internet. Additionally, their child is not being bullied or in any form of gang. You can check this link for a detailed guide to the best Parental Control app.

Partners who want to monitor themselves can engage the services of mSpy and uMobix. Aside from giving you access to your partner’s messages, even the deleted ones, you can track their live location, intercept their calls, and access social media, email, contacts, and media files. We have a detailed post where we discussed these apps for couples. 

Conclusion

Parental control apps are designed for parents to monitor the activities of their teens. Before you spy on your partner’s text messages, you need to get consent from them otherwise you might be risking your relationship. However, if you must spy on them, I recommend paying for the services of mSpy or uMobix. Perhaps you should use the free method listed in this post.

There are different reasons your girlfriend might be monitoring your phone. Perhaps trust was broken, or she wants to ensure you are safe. Irrespective of the reasons, no one would like to be monitored without consent. Fortunately, there are ways to find out if someone is mirroring your device. 

It is very easy to know when your phone is being tracked, but we miss the sign. There are many malicious and spy apps your girlfriend can install on your device and monitor all your activities, including phone calls and conversations. Fortunately, there are ways to spot these apps and uninstall them from your device, which will be done in this post.

Why your girlfriend might be monitoring your phone?

Your girlfriend/wife might be monitoring your device for many reasons. For the most part, she wants to make sure you are safe. However, most women monitor your phone because they suspect you might be cheating on them. Most times, this happens when trust is broken, and hence, if you have been acting strange lately, there is a chance your girlfriend is monitoring your device. 

How do I know my girlfriend is mirroring my phone?

Most device monitoring is done using spy apps. These apps are hardly detected as they work in stealth mode. However, there are signs that someone is monitoring your device using any apps. You need to pay attention to what we will discuss in this post. 

• She knows too much: You are supposed to discuss everything with your partner. However, if she knows something before you discuss it, there is a chance she is mirroring your phone.
• Always on her phone when asking you about something: She might be monitoring your apps while asking questions to see what you would say. Always check the expression on her face, especially when you are not telling the truth.
• The relationship has a problem: When you start having the feelings that something is wrong with your relationship. 

Meanwhile, these are ways you can tell if your girlfriend is monitoring your device. You should also look out for other means that suggest your device is being mirrored.

• Battery drain: On average, your Android or iPhone is supposed to give you at least six hours of screen-on time. If your battery starts draining faster, you need to check your apps for malicious ones. 
• Echo when answering calls: Spy apps can record your phone conversations. Because they are interfering with your signal, there might be an echo sometimes.
• Overheating: When your device is not in use, it should cool down. However, if it keeps getting hot, it means some apps are working in the background. It might be a spy app, as they work all the time collecting data. 
• Screen light keeps coming on: When your phone keeps waking itself, even after turning it off, it comes back on after a few minutes. 
• Read messages: If you start noticing some messages are being left on read, and you did not do it, someone is probably mirroring your device. 
• Unusual pop-ups: You might get notifications to grant access to an app, I recommend you decline, especially if you cannot recognize the app.
• Password change notification: When you start getting notifications about a password change, someone might have gained access to your device. 

How to stop my girlfriend from mirroring or monitoring my phone?

Before you stop your device from being monitored, you need to confirm that someone is monitoring you. Do not accuse someone wrongly, especially your girlfriend, as anyone with access to your device can spy on you. Interestingly, there is a possibility of someone spying on your device without physical touch. 

• Check for unknown apps and uninstall them: Spy or mirroring apps are mostly installed. The first thing is to check apps installed on your device. If you notice anyone you did not install, you might want to uninstall it.

• Check your WhatsApp for linked Devices: Since WhatsApp started supporting multiple phones, people are using it to spy on each other. Linked Devices on WhatsApp do not send notifications. There is no way you would know unless you check. 

• Linked Device on Telegram: Yes, Telegram has that option. Open your account, tap the three lines at the top left, and click Settings. Select devices, and you will see all the devices that have access to your account. To terminate the connection, click on the device and follow the screen prompts.

• Call Forwarding on iMessage: Someone can forward your message to their phone using the iMessage forwarding feature. We recommend checking your settings to ensure no one is seeing your messages using this procedure here. 
• Check if Play Protect is Disabled: On Android, there is Play Protect that warns against malicious apps. Before someone can install a spy app on your Android, they must turn it off. Open the Play Store app and tap on your profile picture. Click on Play Protect. If it’s disabled, enable it and scan. It will show you any malicious apps installed on your device. 
• Factory Reset your phone: If you have done all the above, you might want to reset your device. Depending on your device, Go to Settings and use the search bar to look for Factory Reset. Follow the screen prompts to complete the process. Ensure you backup your data as the action will erase everything. 
• New password: Before anyone can install apps on your phone remotely or with access to your device, they must know your password. After resetting your device, change your password to something different, and do not disclose it to anyone.

My girlfriend is tracking my phone and how I stopped it

There are ways to know when our phones have been mirrored but we ignore these things. It should be easy to detect when a spy app is installed on your device if you follow what we listed above. Nevertheless, ensure your password is difficult to guess and no strange app is installed on your device. Before someone can monitor your device successfully, they need to know your password or access your phone to install the app. Also, avoid clicking on strange links, as malware can be used to gain access remotely. 

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Relationships are built on trust, and when trust is broken, it might be hard to get it back. Most times, things are never the same, and the man or the woman might want to know everything. For this post, we are focusing on how you can detect when your boyfriend is mirroring or monitoring your phone. It’s a simple process, but it can be hard to detect when you do not pay attention.

Why is my boyfriend mirroring or monitoring my phone?

There are many reasons your boyfriend/husband might be monitoring you. Perhaps he wants to keep you safe or ensure you are not seeing anyone else. However, when trust is broken, it can lead to your spouse monitoring all of your moments. 

If you have had an issue with your boyfriend recently and you started noticing some changes on your phone, it might be the reason he is tracking your device. Infidelity is another point because he might be mirroring your device.

How do I know my boyfriend is mirroring my phone?

It is difficult to say as these spy apps work in stealth mode. They are likely undetectable, but you need to pay attention, coupled with what we will discuss in this post.

• He knows too much: You are supposed to discuss everything with your partner. However, if he knows something before you discuss it, there is a chance he is mirroring your phone.
• Always on his phone when asking you about something: He might be monitoring your apps while asking questions to see what you would say. Always check the expression on his face, especially when you are not telling the truth.
• The relationship has a problem: When you start having the feelings that something is wrong with your relationship. 

Meanwhile, these are ways you can tell if your boyfriend is monitoring your device. You should also look out for other means that suggest your device is being mirrored.

• Battery drain: On average, your Android or iPhone is supposed to give you at least six hours of screen-on time. If your battery starts draining faster, you need to check your apps for malicious ones. 
• Echo when answering calls: Spy apps can record your phone conversations. Because they are interfering with your signal, there might be an echo sometimes.
• Overheating: When your device is not in use, it should cool down. However, if it keeps getting hot, it means some apps are working in the background. It might be a spy app, as they work all the time collecting data. 
• Screen light keeps coming on: When your phone keeps waking itself, even after turning it off, it comes back on after a few minutes. 
• Read messages: If you start noticing some messages are being left on read, and you did not do it, someone is probably mirroring your device. 
• Unusual pop-ups: You might get notifications to grant access to an app, I recommend you decline, especially if you cannot recognize the app.
• Password change notification: When you start getting notifications about a password change, someone might have gained access to your device. 

How to stop my boyfriend from mirroring or monitoring my phone?

The first thing is to confirm someone is monitoring you and who the person is. You will not like to accuse someone wrongly, as anyone close to you can start tracking your phone with the right tools. 

• Check for unknown apps and uninstall them: Spy or mirroring apps are mostly installed. The first thing is to check apps installed on your device. If you notice anyone you did not install, you might want to uninstall it.
• Check your WhatsApp for linked Devices: Since WhatsApp started supporting multiple phones, people are using it to spy on each other. Linked Devices on WhatsApp do not send notifications. There is no way you would know unless you check. 
• Linked Device on Telegram: Yes, Telegram has that option. Open your account, tap the three lines at the top left, and click Settings. Select devices, and you will see all the devices that have access to your account. To terminate the connection, click on the device and follow the screen prompts.

• Check if Play Protect is Disabled: On Android, there is Play Protect that warns against malicious apps. Before someone can install a spy app on your Android, they must turn it off. Open the Play Store app and tap on your profile picture. Click on Play Protect. If it’s disabled, enable it and scan. It will show you any malicious apps installed on your device. 

• Factory Reset your phone: If you have done all the above, you might want to reset your device. Depending on your device, Go to Settings and use the search bar to look for Factory Reset. Follow the screen prompts to complete the process. Ensure you backup your data as the action will erase everything. 
• New password: Before anyone can install apps on your phone remotely or with access to your device, they must know your password. After resetting your device, change your password to something different, and do not disclose it to anyone.

My boyfriend tracking my phone and how I stopped it

Our phones have a way of telling us when something is wrong, but most times, we do not pay attention. It should be easy to spot when someone is monitoring your activities, especially your boyfriend. Ensure your password is difficult to guess and no unknown apps are installed on your device. If you haven’t updated your device in years, you should do that often.

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With the latest technological innovations, it’s now easy to monitor our loved ones 24/7 just by using our phones. Many parental control apps are available for parents to keep tabs on their children, but they can easily be used for other purposes. Someone might be reading your text messages using these apps or forwarding your text messages to themselves. Also, WhatsApp-linked devices are another option someone could use to spy on your text messages. 

Why you should be worried that someone might be reading your text messages 

When someone gains access to your messages, they will get hold of your sensitive information. This can lead to financial loss, identity theft, and privacy violations.

• Personal data: Someone can get details like name, phone number, date of birth, and password through your text messages. This can be used to steal your identity and other malicious things.
• Financial loss: hackers often target your messages, as they contain valuable things they need. Most times, find out the banks you have accounts with and your login details. They can make purchases or buy things online.
• Account Hack: You might be surprised to see your account hacked even when using strong passwords. The attacker might have gained access by spying on your text messages to find information about your logins. That way, they can access your account, social media, and emails.
• Location tracking: Your location data can be easily revealed in text messages. Someone can track your movement and stalk you, which can put you at risk. 
• Relationship: There are secrets spouses can’t just disclose or confidential information. This can be leaked, causing damage to your relationship if someone gains access to your messages. 
• Malware and viruses: The truth is when someone controls your text messages, there are only a few things they can do to have full access. They can send malware or viruses to reveal more data by compromising your device. 

How to know if someone is reading my text messages 

There are a few ways someone can spy on your messages. This can be using message forwarding on iPhones, Linked Devices on WhatsApp, or spy apps. We will go through the three and you can see how to ensure no one is monitoring your texts. Also, you can turn it off in case someone is spying on you. 

Message Forwarding on iPhone 

Because the iPhone has a great ecosystem and a functional cloud, you can sync information across all your devices. The idea is for convenience, but someone can take advantage of it to spy on you. It’s important to check your iPhone and see if message forwarding is enabled and the phones connected. 

• Head to Settings>>Messages>>Text Message Forwarding 
  • If you can’t see Messages Forwarding, Go back to Settings>>Messages. Turn off iMessage, then back on. 
• Tap Send & Receive>>Use your Apple ID for iMessage. 
• If there is any device you cannot recognize on the list, it might be that someone is intercepting your messages.

One other thing you can try is dialling*#21#. It will bring up details of your calls, SMS messages, and faxes. It should be listed as Disabled, meaning no one is spying on you.

Linked Devices on WhatsApp 

One thing about WhatsApp-linked devices is that you won’t know. You are not sent any reminder that someone has access to your WhatsApp. Hence, we recommend checking if any device is linked to your WhatsApp and logging them out.

• Open the WhatsApp App.
• Tap the three dots at the top right. 
• Click on Linked Devices. 
• If you see any linked devices, and they are not yours, someone has access to your WhatsApp. Check the phone and the last time it was online. You might probably get an idea of who the person is.
• However, if the page is like the one below, then you are clear.

Spy apps

With the Spy app, someone can access your text messages. While anyone can pull it off, it’s mostly people who are close to you that will use this method. It requires physical access to the device or iCloud details. We recommend checking your apps to ensure strange ones are not installed and watching your device behavior.

Signs a spy app might be running on your device

There are a few signs that a spy app targeting your messages might be running. We recommend paying attention to detect this one time.

• Battery Drain: Spy apps work in the background. Even when your device is idle, it keeps working, which causes the battery to drain faster.
• Overheating: These apps require additional resources, and that makes the phone overheat even when not in use.
• Data Usage: If you start using more data, it might be these apps sending your information somewhere. 
• Read messages: If you notice a message has been opened, but you didn’t, then someone using a spy app did that. 

You can check here for more signs to detect a spy app.

Meanwhile, check installed apps on your device to ensure no one is strange. If you are using an Android, make sure Play Protect is enabled.

How to ensure no one is reading your text messages 

Having seen the risks of someone having access to your text messages, we can agree it’s something you should protect. Below are some tips to ensure no one is spying on you.

• Check installed Apps: Check the apps installed on your device regularly. Uninstall anyone that is strange or you didn’t remember installing.
• Ensure Play Protect is enabled: Android owners should ensure Play Protect is enabled in the Play Store. It’s there to detect and uninstall malicious apps.
• Two-factor authentication: We recommend enabling two-factor authentication for your messaging apps. 
• Regular Updates: Both iOS and Android send updates regularly to patch security vulnerabilities. Hackers can exploit some of these security flaws to gain access to your text messages when you don’t install updates.
• Don’t click on suspicious links: If someone sends you a suspicious link, do not click on it as it might be malware.
• Install Apps from App Store or Play Store:  Only download apps from the official sources; App Store for iPhones and Play Store for Android.

Protect your information by ensuring no one is reading your text messages

Your personal information should be for your consumption or people you want to let in. Do not allow a stranger access to these data due to carelessness. Always check your device for strange apps, your apps if they are connected to another device, or if your messages are being forwarded. Also, if a spy app is installed on your device. 

Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps in the world at the moment. It is the home of millions of videos. However, you cannot view them anonymously even if you try, as the platform does not offer such a feature. Of course, there are third-party websites that claim to allow you to watch someone’s Instagram story without them knowing. While that might be true, you risk losing your account, as it goes against Instagram policy to use a third-party website to access your account. 

Nevertheless, there are ways to view IG stories anonymously and without putting your account at risk. Some of them are what you have probably thought of and in this post, I Will guide you on how to start viewing your friends or child’s posts on Instagram without their knowledge. 

What are the reasons for viewing Instagram Stories anonymously?

There are many reasons people do that. For one, your competitors use it to spy on each other, learning how each promotes their business. Parents might view their kid’s stories to know what they post while not watching. You can decide to spy on your friends to see what they are up to without leaving any traces. 

• Competition: Many businesses are on Instagram. They upload stories to keep their customers engaged and tell them about their products. Of course, if a competitor knows you are viewing their stories, they will block you, but they cannot if they do not know it’s you.
• Children monitoring: While you can monitor your child’s Instagram activities using parental control, you might not see their Stories. Of course, they can block you before posting if they know you will be watching.
• Keeping up with friend’s activities: You probably do not want your friends to know you are constantly viewing their stories. In this situation, you might start doing it anonymously. 

How to view Someone’s Instagram stories without them knowing

There are a few ways to hide your identity when watching Instagram stories. You can use a fake account, switch to Airplane mode, or use a third-party app. 

Create a Fake Instagram Account

The easiest and safest way to view someone’s stories anonymously is by using a fake identity. You can hide under a different name to spy on your competitors, monitor your child’s activity on the platform, and view your friend’s stories without their knowledge. It is the best way to view private account once they accept your request.

However, when creating a new account, use a different email address. There are chances you will be suggested to people you know if you use an email tied to your social media account. 

Additionally, use a VPN or connect to a different WI-FI when using the account, as Instgran might ban you for having multiple accounts. 

Airplane Mode to view Instagram story

Instagram views only count when you open the stories. Of course, you need to be connected to the internet before your data can be recorded. Turning on the Airplane just before watching the stories will ensure your identity is not recorded. 

• To do this, Open Instagram and go to the profile of the person you want to watch their stories.
• Wait for the stories to load at the top of their profile.
• Once that is done, turn Airplane mode on to disconnect you from the internet. 
• Tap the story you want to view. When you are done, close the app entirely before disabling Airplane mode.

Use Instagram Story Viewer

There are third-party websites that allow you to view public account stories anonymously. We recommend storysaver.net, as it does not require logging into your account on their platform. You only need the username of the Instagram account you want to view their story. 

• Visit https://www.storysaver.net.
• Once you are on the website, enter the username of the Instagram account
• Click download 
  • Complete the CAPTCHA if required (click download)
• The latest stories for the account you searched for will appear.
• You can watch them on the website or download them by clicking save video.

Conclusion

Viewing someone’s Instagram stories anonymously should not lead to account loss. Avoid third-party websites that ask for your login information before you can watch stories on their website. We recommend creating a fake account, as it allows you to view private accounts when your request is accepted and you can use it to monitor your child’s activities.