间谍活动是对个人隐私的可怕侵犯，其大多数形式不仅具有攻击性，而且是非法的。偏执的配偶和伴侣寻找潜在婚外情的最微小证据是很常见的。同样，前任可能会在您的手机上安装间谍软件，只是为了查看您生活中的新鲜事、您的对话以及您最近拍摄的任何照片。
此类个人信息和敏感信息落入坏人之手，可能会对您不利，或使您和其他人处于危险之中，无论您是否有任何隐瞒。
那么，您如何确定您的智能手机或计算机上是否存在间谍软件？我们将向您展示需要注意的迹象、如何检查间谍软件并识别您发现的内容，以及将其从您的设备中删除的间谍软件删除技巧。
您的计算机或手机有间谍软件的迹象(Signs That Your Computer Or Phone Has Spyware)
间谍(Spyware)软件旨在记录计算机或手机所做的一切并发送使用数据，同时保持无法检测到。
间谍软件的一些示例是键盘记录器，它监视和记录您计算机键盘上的按键操作，或者截取您的设备的屏幕截图。
如果您有一种令人毛骨悚然的感觉，即有人在监视您或有人在窃听您的电话交谈，或者您的设备受到了损害(compromised device)，那么这些迹象应该会敲响警钟。是时候探索您的间谍软件删除选项了。
过度使用数据(Excessive Data Usage)
间谍软件(Spyware)安装在您的计算机或手机上时会消耗大量资源和网络带宽。
如果您发现您的每月数据使用量异常高，则很有可能在其上安装了间谍软件。发生这种情况是因为该软件使用数据发送从您的设备收集的使用数据。但是，高端间谍应用程序使用的数据要少得多，因此可能无法在您的数据使用概览中检测到这一点。
电池寿命突然下降(Sudden Drop In Battery Life)
这是计算机或手机上存在间谍软件的另一个指标。如果您发现电池电量以异常高的速度耗尽，则可能是存在间谍软件耗尽电量，尤其是当它通过扬声器或摄像头录制时。
如果你的手机有可拆卸电池，你可以先用不同的电池进行测试，因为你也可能有一个很快耗尽的旧电池。
性能缓慢(Slow Performance)
计算机或手机速度慢的原因有多种，例如您的存储空间已满，或者设备硬件和软件无法同时运行许多应用程序。
但是，如果您已经排除了这种可能性，并且您的设备的增长速度明显比平时慢，那么它可能正在被监控或远程控制(being monitored or remotely controlled)。
尝试关闭和意外重启时遇到困难(Difficulty While Trying To Shut Down & Unexpected Reboots)
间谍软件(Spyware)会危害您的设备并继续在后台运行，因此您可能会发现很难完全关闭您的计算机或手机。有时它可能会在没有明显原因的情况下重新启动，或者没有您的输入，这表明有人可以远程或未经授权访问它。
同样，如果您发现您的设备需要比平时更长的时间来关闭活动进程并关闭，则间谍软件可能是原因，因为它仍在后台主动运行。
通话期间奇怪的背景噪音和奇怪的短信(Strange Background Noises During Calls & Odd Text Messages)
回到使用固定电话时，通常会听到奇怪的背景噪音，因为线路并不总是稳定的。
但今天，网络具有稳定的连接和强大的信号。因此，如果您听到奇怪的咔嗒声，这可能意味着您的手机正在被监控。
如果您收到带有奇怪字符的意外但看起来很奇怪的短信，则可能是您的手机上安装了间谍软件工具。这是间谍软件工具用来与外部通信的“编码语言”，也是间谍软件质量低劣的标志。
电池温度异常(Abnormal Battery Temperature)
电池(Battery)温度可能与几个技术问题有关，但如果您之前的电池没有任何问题并且相对较热，则可能是间谍软件将使用数据发送到其他设备。
如何检查、识别和删除安装在您的计算机或手机上的间谍软件(How To Check, Recognize & Remove Spyware Installed on Your Computer Or Phone)
- 如果您有一台Windows机器，您可以通过“(Windows)开始(Start)”栏检查间谍软件，以仔细检查已安装的程序列表。如果您没有看到任何可疑程序，请按CTRL+ALT+DEL并单击任务管理器(Task Manager)以查看当前在您的计算机上运行的所有进程并识别任何可疑程序。
- 或者，使用Windows搜索栏中的MSConfig并检查是否有任何占用大量内存的奇怪软件。暂时终止其进程，或者，如果您不确定它的用途，请在线搜索它，如果确认是恶意的，则将其从您的计算机中删除。
- 在Mac上，您可以单击Launchpad、Activity Monitor（或通过Spotlight）和Other来检查您机器上当前运行的程序。
- 检查TEMP文件夹并删除可疑文件。您的计算机会创建TEMP文件夹以轻松打开网站或程序，但它不仅包含临时文件 - 恶意软件通常隐藏在此处。如果您在此文件夹中看到任何可疑文件，您可以删除特定文件或从 TEMP 文件夹中删除所有内容(delete the specific files or remove everything from the TEMP folder)。
- 对于Android 手机(Android phones)，请检查您的设置是否允许未知来源下载和安装应用程序，因为这会在未经您同意的情况下发生。为此，请转到Settings>Biometrics and Security（或安全(Security)）。
- 点击安装未知应用程序(Install unknown apps)（或允许未知来源(Allow unknown sources)）。检查您不认识的任何可疑应用程序，尽管有些应用程序使用通用名称来逃避检测，并将应用程序设置更改为“不允许(Not allowed)”。
- 如果您怀疑被篡改或越狱，请从Google Play 商店下载(Google Play Store)Root Checker 应用程序(Root Checker app)，它会检查是否越狱。
- iPhone 越狱或安装间谍软件或恶意软件要困难得多，但有几种方法(ways you ca)可以确定(n)您的 iPhone 是否有间谍软件( determine whether or not your iPhone has spyware)。
注意：(Note: )并非所有形式的间谍软件都需要安装越狱设备。如果您看到不熟悉的流程或应用程序，请在线快速搜索以查看其是否合法。
下一步(Next Steps)
与生活中的大多数事情一样，用你的第六感，尤其是当你怀疑有什么不对劲的时候，并抓住局面的控制权。
- 一旦您检查并清除了您的计算机或智能手机的任何感染，请保留一个积极的间谍软件清除工具和强大的安全套件以进行实时保护。
- 其他要做的事情包括更改密码、启用双重身份验证以及将操作系统更新到最新版本。
- 联系您的金融服务提供商，警告他们您的账户可能存在任何欺诈活动。如果您的计算机或手机包含敏感的商业信息，请公开披露或向执法机构报告可能违反州和联邦法律的行为。
作为最后的手段，在您的计算机或智能手机(smartphone)上执行恢复出厂设置(perform a factory reset on your computer)。您还可以购买新的智能手机(buy a new smartphone)或电脑并收回对隐私权的控制权。
Spyware Removal Tips for Your Computer or Smartphone
Spying is a terrible invasion оf a person’s privacy, and most of its forms aren’t just offensive, but also illegal. It’s common with paranoid spouses and partners looking for the tiniest shred of evidence of a potеntial affair. Simіlarly, an ex could’ve put spyware on your рhоne just to see what’s new in your life, your conversations and any recent phоtos you’ve taken.
Such personal and sensitive information in the wrong hands could be used against you, or put you and others at risk, whether or not you have anything to hide.
So how do you know for sure if there’s spyware on your smartphone or computer? We’re going to show you the telltale signs to be aware of, how to check for spyware and recognize what you find, plus spyware removal tips to get it off your device.
Signs That Your Computer Or Phone Has Spyware
Spyware software is designed to log everything a computer or phone does and sends out usage data while remaining undetectable.
Some examples of spyware are keyloggers, which monitor and record key presses on your computer’s keyboard, or take screenshots of your device.
If you have an eerie feeling that you’re being watched or someone’s listening in on your phone conversations, or you have a compromised device, these signs should ring the alarm bells. It’s time to explore your spyware removal options.
Excessive Data Usage
Spyware consumes a significant amount of resources and network bandwidth when installed on your computer or phone.
If you notice your monthly data usage is abnormally high, there’s a decent chance spyware was installed on it. This happens because the software uses data to send out the usage data collected from your device. However, high-end spy apps use much less data so it may be impossible to detect that on your data usage overview.
Sudden Drop In Battery Life
This is another indicator of spyware on your computer or phone. If you notice that your battery runs out of juice at an unusually high rate, it could be the presence of spyware that’s draining it, especially if it records through your speaker or camera.
If your phone has a removable battery, you can test with different batteries first, because you could also have an old one that drains out quickly.
Slow Performance
There are several reasons for slow speeds on a computer or phone, like if your storage is full, or the device hardware and software isn’t capable of running many apps at a go.
However, if you’ve ruled that out, and your device is growing noticeably slower than usual, it’s probably being monitored or remotely controlled.
Difficulty While Trying To Shut Down & Unexpected Reboots
Spyware compromises your device and keeps running in the background, so you may find it hard to completely shut down your computer or phone. Sometimes it could reboot for no obvious reason, or without your input, which is a sign that someone could have remote or unauthorized access to it.
Similarly, if you notice your device takes a longer time than usual to close active processes and shut down, the spyware could be the cause as it’s still running actively in the background.
Strange Background Noises During Calls & Odd Text Messages
Back when landlines were in use, it was usual to hear weird background noises as the lines weren’t always stable.
Today though, networks have stable connections and strong signals. So if you hear strange clicking sounds, this could mean your phone is being monitored.
If you receive unexpected yet odd-looking text messages with strange characters, it’s possible there’s a spyware tool installed on your phone. This is “coded language” the spyware tool uses to communicate to the external party, but also a sign of poor quality spying software.
Abnormal Battery Temperature
Battery temperature could be tied to several technical issues, but if you haven’t had any issues with your battery before and it’s relatively warm, it could be spyware sending out usage data to other devices.
How To Check, Recognize & Remove Spyware Installed on Your Computer Or Phone
- If you have a Windows machine, you can check for spyware through the Start bar to double-check installed program lists. If you don’t see any suspicious programs, press CTRL+ALT+DEL and click Task Manager to see all processes currently running on your computer and identify any suspicious programs.
- Alternatively, use MSConfig in the Windows search bar and check for any strange software that is consuming a significant amount of memory. Terminate its process temporarily, or, if you’re not sure what it’s for, search for it online, and remove it from your computer if confirmed malicious.
- On a Mac, you can click Launchpad, Activity Monitor (or go through Spotlight), and Other to check the current programs running on your machine.
- Check the TEMP Folder and delete suspicious files. Your computer creates the TEMP folder to pull up a website or program easily, but it holds more than just temporary files – malware often hides here. If you see any suspicious files in this folder, you can delete the specific files or remove everything from the TEMP folder.
- Install anti-spyware software. This is the best way to scan your computer for spyware. It deep-scans your computer drives to identify and remove any potential threats lurking within. If you don’t have one, you can try some of the best free spyware removal tools like SUPERAntiSpyware or Malwarebytes.
- For Android phones, check whether your settings allow unknown sources to download and install apps, as this will happen without your consent. To do this, go to Settings>Biometrics and Security (or Security).
- Tap on Install unknown apps (or Allow unknown sources). Check for any suspicious apps that you don’t recognize, though some use generic names to escape detection, and change the app settings to ‘Not allowed’.
Note: Not every form of spyware requires a jailbroken device to be installed. If you see an unfamiliar process or app, do a quick search online to see if it’s legitimate or not.
Next Steps
As with most things in life, go with your sixth sense, especially if you suspect something isn’t right, and seize control of the situation.
- Once you’ve checked and cleaned your computer or smartphone of any infection, keep an aggressive spyware removal tool and robust security suite for real-time protection.
- Other things to do include changing your passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and updating your operating system to the latest version.
- Contact your financial services provider to warn them of any possible fraudulent activity with your accounts. If your computer or phone holds sensitive business information, make a public disclosure, or report potential violations of state and federal laws to law enforcement authorities.
As a last resort, perform a factory reset on your computer or smartphone. You could also buy a new smartphone or computer and take back control of your right to privacy.
