How To Detect Spyware On Android Phones And Remove It For Good

What is Spyware?

Spyware is malicious software that secretly collects information from your device — personal details, private messages, passwords, browsing habits — without you ever knowing it’s there.

It typically gets onto your device through deceptive means: a phishing email, a malicious website, an app that isn’t what it claims to be, or someone installing it directly while your phone is left unattended. Once installed, it runs silently in the background.

It’s used by cybercriminals, abusive partners, and even commercial surveillance companies, which is why it’s important to know what you’re up against.

Types of spyware

Not all spyware works the same way. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common types you might encounter on Android:

• Consumer spyware — Usually downloaded from third-party websites and often marketed as a tool to “catch a cheating spouse”. If someone has brief physical access to your phone, they can install it in minutes. It can give them access to your messages, photos, location, and even phone calls.
• Family Monitoring apps — More widely available than consumer spyware and even sold on the official Google Play Store. They’re marketed at parents but can be misused by anyone. They typically allow location tracking and app control, often without the device owner’s knowledge.
• Malicious/Trojan apps — Disguised as legitimate apps and distributed via phishing attacks, malicious websites, or occasionally the Play Store itself. Certo’s own researchers analyzed Oblivion in early 2026 — an Android RAT sold for $300/month on open web forums that requires zero technical skill to deploy.
• Keyloggers — Record every keystroke you make, silently capturing passwords, messages, and login details as you type them. This means that even if your accounts are protected by strong passwords, a keylogger can hand them straight to an attacker.
• Mercenary spyware — Sophisticated, commercially developed spyware such as Pegasus, typically used to target journalists, activists, and high-profile individuals. It can silently access messages, calls, photos, and even your camera and microphone. Extremely difficult to detect without specialist tools.
• Linked device abuse — Certo has documented cases of abusers exploiting WhatsApp’s Linked Devices feature to silently read all messages with no app install required, just a few seconds of physical access.
• Adware & Tracking cookies — Less severe but still a privacy concern. Adware bombards you with unwanted ads and harvests personal data, while malicious tracking cookies monitor your browsing habits and can be used to build detailed profiles on you.

How does an Android device get spyware?

Here are some common ways spyware ends up on Android devices:

• Downloading apps from untrusted sources: Installing apps outside the official Google Play Store can expose your device to spyware. Some third-party app stores or websites may host hidden spy apps disguised as legitimate ones.
• Phishing scams: Cybercriminals often use phishing emails or SMS messages that trick users into downloading malicious apps or granting permissions to install spyware.
• Infected attachments or links: Clicking suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources can lead to spyware infections.
• Fake app updates: Some websites might prompt users to download updates for popular apps, but these “updates” are often a spying app in disguise.
• App permissions: Some apps, even if downloaded from the Google Play Store, might request more permissions than they need. Granting these permissions can sometimes allow spyware-related activities.
• Malvertising: Cybercriminals sometimes disguise spyware as legitimate advertisements. Clicking on a deceptive ad could lead to spyware being installed on your device.
• Direct device installations: Someone with access to your phone could install a spyware app while it’s left unattended.

How To Detect Spyware on an Android Phone

A spyware infection on Android devices can manifest through various symptoms:

1. Check your battery usage

⚠️ What to look for:

A sudden, unexplained decrease in your device’s battery life, especially if you haven’t changed your usage patterns significantly.

✅ Action to take:

Here’s how to check your battery usage on an Android device:

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Tap on Battery (or Battery & device care on some phones).
3. You’ll see an overview of your battery level and usage.
4. Tap on Battery Usage (on some devices) to see a detailed breakdown of which apps and services are using the most battery.

Fig 1. Checking battery usage on Android.

2. Monitor your data usage

⚠️ What to look for:

Unexpected or significant increases in your data usage, especially when you haven’t changed your typical phone habits.

✅ Action to take:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Tap on Connections (Network & internet or Mobile network on some devices).
3. Tap on Data usage (Mobile data usage on some devices).
4. Here you’ll see an overview of your total data usage for the current billing cycle. You can also see which apps are using the most data.

Fig 2. Checking data usage on Android.

3. Look for suspicious files on your device

⚠️ What to look for:

Check your Downloads folder for any unfamiliar files you don’t remember downloading. Also, keep an eye out for hidden files and folders, particularly in system directories — these can be a sign that something is trying to conceal itself on your device.

✅ Actions to take:

1. Check the downloads folder

1. Open the Files app (or your file manager app).
2. Navigate to the Downloads folder.
3. Look for any files you don’t recognize or remember downloading. If you see anything suspicious, research the file name online to see if it’s associated with malware. Pay close attention to any files with an .APK extension.

2. Look for hidden files and folders

• Some malware tries to hide by creating files and folders that start with a dot (e.g., .hiddenfile).
• In your file manager app, check the settings to enable the display of hidden files and folders.
• Look for hidden files in unusual locations, especially system directories.

Fig 3. Finding a malicious file on Android.

4. Check for unfamiliar apps on your home screen

⚠️ What to look for:

Carefully examine your home screen for any apps you don’t recognize or remember installing. Pay close attention to apps that appear to be system or utility apps but have unusual names or icons.

✅ Action to take:

If you find an unfamiliar app, research its name and developer online. Some known examples of spyware apps that you should delete immediately are:

• mLite
• Update Service
• Sync Service
• Phone Tool
• Sync Services

If you can’t verify the legitimacy of an app, consider uninstalling it.

Fig 4. Finding a spy app on Android.

5. Check app permissions on your phone

⚠️ What to look for:

Apps that have been granted sensitive permissions — such as access to your camera, microphone, or location — that don’t need them to function. A simple calculator app, for example, has no business accessing your contacts or microphone.

✅ Action to take:

Follow these steps to view your app permissions (they may differ slightly depending on your device):

1. Go to Settings.
2. Look for Security and Privacy, Privacy, or Permissions.
3. Tap Permission Manager.
4. Tap on categories like Location, Microphone, and Camera.
5. Look for apps with permissions that seem excessive or unrelated to their function.

Fig 5. Reviewing app permissions on Android.

8. Monitor your text messages and emails

⚠️ What to look for:

Strange text messages and emails, especially those containing suspicious links, coded symbols, or requests to install unknown apps.

Be extra cautious of messages that masquerade as authentication requests from social platforms or other services you use.

✅ Actions to take:

• Regularly review your message history for any unexpected or suspicious activity.
• Never click on links or download attachments from unknown senders.
• If a message claims to be from a service you use, verify its legitimacy by contacting the service directly through their official channels.
• Block suspicious numbers and email addresses to prevent further unwanted messages.

9. Check if your phone is rooted

⚠️ What to look for:

Signs that your device has been rooted — a process that gives users privileged, administrator-level control over Android. Some spyware requires root access to dig deeper into your device and access data it wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach.

✅ Actions to take:

Use a Root Checker App:

1. Download a root checker app from the Google Play Store. Some popular options include Root Checker, Root Checker Pro, and SU Root Checker for Android.
2. Open the app and follow the instructions to check your device’s root status.

Check the Build Number in Settings:

1. Go to Settings > About phone or Settings > System > About phone.
2. Look for Build number and tap on it repeatedly until you see a message saying “You are now a developer.“
3. Go back to the main Settings menu and look for Developer options.
4. In Developer options, look for Root access or a similar setting. If you don’t have this setting or it says Disabled then your phone is likely not rooted.
5. Once you’re done, you can turn off Developer options.

Use a Terminal Emulator App:

1. Download a terminal emulator app from the Google Play Store, such as Termux or Alacritty for Android.
2. Open the app and type the command su and press enter.
3. If you get a “#” prompt, your phone is rooted. If you get a “Permission denied” message or a “$” prompt, your phone is not rooted.

10. Run a spyware scan

⚠️ What to look for:

In addition to the manual checks we’ve discussed, use a mobile security app to scan for any deeper threats that might be lurking. Pay close attention to any alerts or warnings it provides.

✅ Action to take:

1. Download and install Certo AntiSpy from the Google Play Store (it’s free!).
2. Run a full system scan using the app.
3. Follow any prompts or recommendations provided by the app to remove any detected threats.

Fig 8. Finding spyware with Certo for Android.

11. Check your WhatsApp Linked Devices

⚠️ What to look for:

Any active sessions in WhatsApp that you don’t recognize — particularly devices you haven’t personally linked.

✅ Action to take:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots (menu) in the top right corner.
2. Tap Linked Devices.
3. Review the list of active sessions. You’ll see the device type, location, and when it was last active.
4. If you see anything unfamiliar, tap on it and select Log Out to immediately revoke access.

Fig 9. Checking Linked Devices on WhatsApp for Android.

How to Remove Spyware from Your Android Device

If your checks have turned up something suspicious, it’s time to act. The steps below walk you through the most effective ways to remove spyware from your Android device.

1. Remove strange apps on your device

Unfamiliar apps are one of the most common signs of a spyware infection. If you find something you don’t recognize or remember installing, don’t ignore it — here’s how to remove it safely.

Step 1: Reboot to safe mode

1. Press and hold the power button on your device until the power menu appears.
2. Touch and hold the Power off option in the menu.
3. A prompt asks whether you want to reboot into Safe Mode. Tap OK.
4. our device will restart, and you should see the words Safe Mode at the screen’s bottom-left or bottom-right corner.

In Safe Mode, your device will disable all third-party apps. This means you can only use the system apps that came with your device. This mode is beneficial for troubleshooting, as it can help you determine whether a third-party app is causing issues on your device.

Step 2: Remove suspicious apps

1. Go to your Settings app and select Apps or Manage Apps.
2. Browse through the list and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious apps. To get more information about a specific app, do a quick Google search on its name to determine whether it’s trustworthy.
3. If you find a suspicious app, tap Uninstall. If the Uninstall button is grayed out, proceed to step 3.

Fig 10. Viewing installed apps on an Android device.

Step 3: Check and remove device admin apps

1. If you cannot remove an app because the Uninstall button is grayed out, the app might have device administrator access. This is because some malicious apps grant administrator privileges to prevent you from deleting them. Go to Settings and search for “device admin apps” then tap Device Admin apps.
2. On the ‘Device administrators’ screen, look for the malicious app and deselect (or uncheck) the box next to its name.

5. Perform a factory reset

If all else fails, a factory reset may be your best option. A factory reset will erase all data, including files, settings, and apps.

Here’s how to perform the reset:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on System (the exact path may vary slightly depending on your device).
3. Tap Reset or Reset options.
4. Select Erase all data (factory reset) or Reset phone and follow the instructions on screen.

Fig 15. Performing a factory reset on Android.

Preventing Spyware on Android

Dealing with spyware after the fact is stressful and time-consuming. These simple steps can help make sure it never gets there in the first place.

✅ Download a robust security app

A dedicated security app is one of the most effective ways to stop spyware before it takes hold. Certo AntiSpy includes real-time protection that detects and blocks threats the moment they try to get onto your device, so you don’t have to wait until something goes wrong to find out you were at risk.

✅ Keep your device updated

Whenever a new operating system update is released for your device, make sure that you download and install it.

This is extremely important to ensure you get all the latest security updates from the manufacturer. If your device supports automatic updates, be sure to enable it.

✅ Don’t click on suspicious links

This is one of the biggest problems faced by users of any device connected to the Internet—it’s way too easy to click on links that appear genuine but in reality, are phishing for a way to gain access to your info. If you smell a rat, whether online or in your email inbox, steer clear!

✅ Use strong passwords

This should be obvious by now! The stronger your password, the harder it is for a hacker to force entry into your device or accounts.

Use various alphanumeric characters and symbols to create your password, and make sure it isn’t anything that could be easily guessed.

Ideally, use a password manager to generate and store random unique passwords for each of your online accounts. It’s the best way to improve your password security.

✅ Only install apps from trusted sources

Only download apps from the official Google Play Store if you own an Android phone. Don’t download from third-party suppliers.

Downloading third-party apps doesn’t necessarily mean that your phone will get infected with some form of malware, but the chances are much higher via a third party than via the official Play Store.

✅ Limit physical access to your phone

Ensure you don’t leave your phone unattended in public places. While many cyber attacks can happen remotely, allowing direct access to your device can lead to spyware installation or unauthorized access. Use screen locks and never share your passcode.

✅ Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is an easy way to protect your private data from hackers. It requires two pieces of information to log in, rather than just one.

For example, you might be required to enter a verification code sent to you by text message in addition to your password.

Set up two-factor authentication on your Google account by following the steps provided here.

✅ Secure your internet connection

Using a virtual private network (VPN) can be a game-changer, especially on public Wi-Fi networks. It encrypts your data, which keeps it out of reach from prying eyes. We recommend Certo Secure VPN.

Additionally, always be cautious when accessing sensitive accounts on unsecured networks.

Final Thoughts

Protecting your Android device from spyware is crucial for maintaining digital security and privacy.

Spyware can collect personal data without your knowledge, posing significant risks. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can detect and remove any spyware, ensuring your device is secure.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand spyware: Knowing the different types of spyware and how they work is your first line of defense.
• Detection: Look for signs like rapid battery drain, unusual data usage, and unfamiliar apps or files on your device. Alternatively, run a scan with an anti-spyware app.
• Removal: Use Safe Mode, review and manage app permissions, utilize antivirus tools, and consider a factory reset if necessary.
• Prevention: Practice good security habits, such as installing reputable security software, keeping your device updated, and being cautious about the apps you download and the links you click.

Being proactive and staying informed can reduce the risk of spyware infections and keep your Android device secure. Remember, taking preventive measures is always better than dealing with an infection, and with the right tools and practices, you can enjoy a safer digital experience.