As kids spend a lot of time online and can’t live without smartphones, it’s natural for parents to seek ways to protect them. The Internet is full of dangers, such as online predators, cyberbullies, and scammers. So, parents try using parental control apps to protect their children.
Monitoring apps, such as mSpy, offer various features to gain a deeper insight into a kid’s digital life. A keylogger is one of those features.
However, not only parents use a keylogger. Scammers also use it, as his software is a brilliant opportunity to intercept another person’s private data. That’s why you need to know how to detect a keylogger on your Android phone.
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What Is a Keylogger?
Keylogging (also known as keystroke logging or keyboard capturing) is a process of recording strokes on a keyboard. A person whose strokes are captured is usually unaware of being monitored.
The software that makes it possible to retrieve data with keylogging is called a keylogger or a keystroke recorder.
If parents install a keylogger on their kids’ Android phones, they can view everything recently typed on their devices: words, phrases, numbers, etc. And this is exactly what scammers want to see: credit card numbers, cardholders’ names, and passwords.
The main advantage of using a keylogger by parents lies in the possibility to set restricted words (such as “drugs” or “alcohol”) and get alerts when a kid types them into the browser search bar or message window.
How to Detect a Keylogger: 5 Signs That Your Phone Is Monitored by Someone
It’s ok if you are a parent who uses a keylogger to prevent a kid from getting into trouble. But what if scammers use the software to retrieve your credit card data or personal information?
No worries here, as you can learn how to find a keylogger on your phone. Just pay attention to obvious signs of intrusion that your device may demonstrate.
1. Weird Text Messages
Scammers often use codes and links to install a keylogger on a target’s phone. If you receive strange texts that make nonsense or the ones that consist of random symbols, a keylogging software might have been installed on your phone by a scammer.
If you receive a strange link sent by an unknown contact, don’t try to open it and delete it immediately.
2. Quick Battery Run Down
Tracking software usually works in background mode and requires additional power to run effectively. If you notice that your phone’s battery drains quickly, it can be a sign that you’re being monitored by a scammer.
3. Device Heating Up
When your device processes multiple apps simultaneously, it can heat up significantly. It’s normal if your phone gets hot when you watch videos, text friends, and browser the web all at once. But if all the programs are closed but the heat remains, consider detecting keyloggers on your device.
4. Device Turns On and Off
Modern mobile phones are well-designed devices that follow certain logic implemented by developers. If your Android phone repeatedly turns on and off without any action from your side, it might be affected by a scammer’s software.
As a keylogger intrudes into your phone’s logic, the device can do abnormal things, such as turning on and off without your command.
5. Slow Performance
All the symptoms covered above work together to make your phone painfully slow, and that’s a sign that you have keylogging software on your phone. With more apps on your phone, everything takes longer to process.
Can a Keylogger Be Detected and Uninstalled Manually?
It’s pretty easy to detect a keylogger on your phone, if you know a few secrets. Here’s what you can do to start a keystroke logger detection right now:
- Check the Downloads folder on your phone. As keylogger is downloadable software, it needs to be located somewhere. The most obvious place to look for it is the Download directory in your device. The keylogger’s file name often consists of random characters and usually ends in APK.
- Use an antivirus software. If you’re not tech-savvy at all, consider using an antivirus that is pre-installed on any Android phone. If you’re not satisfied with the one you already have, install another one, and run a security scan.
- Reset your device. Instead of looking for a keylogger detector for Android, try resetting your phone to default settings. This is one of the most effective methods to get rid of the annoying software. Make sure to back up all important data stored on your device.
Final Thoughts: Does mSpy Have a Keylogger Scanner?
When you know how to detect a keylogger on your Android phone, scammers have no chance to steal your payment data or personal details.
If you’re considering using such software to monitor your kid, consider trying a keylogger from mSpy. Designed to deliver the best monitoring experience to parents, mSpy’s keylogger makes it possible to record every keyboard stroke your kid types on their device.
