If you think your cell phone or landline has been tapped, there are several things you can do to make sure. However, these indicators can also be caused by other things, so you should check for several signs rather than relying on just one. Once you have sufficient evidence, you can contact the authorities. Check out the signs below if you suspect someone has installed a bug in your phone.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Initial Suspicion
Step 1. Beware if your secret is known to others
If confidential information that should only be known by a few trusted people suddenly leaks, it's possible that it leaked because your phone was tapped, especially if you discussed the information over the phone.
- This is more likely to happen if you hold an important position and are suitable for spying. Suppose you have a high position in a strong company that has many competitors, you run the risk of becoming a victim of the underground information business.
- On the other hand, you may be bugged because you are going through a complicated divorce process. Your potential ex-spouse may be tapping you for information that could be useful during the divorce process.
- If you want to test it, share a false confession with someone you know and can trust who keeps your secrets over the phone. If this information is leaked, it means that someone else is listening.
Step 2. Be on the lookout if your home has recently been burglarized
If your home was recently burglarized or but nothing of value was taken, you should be suspicious. Sometimes this indicates that someone broke into your house to install a wire on your phone.
Part 2 of 5: Signs on the Phone
Step 1. Listen for background noise
If you hear a lot of static or other noise while talking to other people on the phone, it is possible that the noise is coming from interference made by eavesdroppers.
- Don't rely solely on this flag, as echo, static, and clicking sounds can also be caused by random interference or poor connection.
- Static noise, friction, and pops can be caused by the capacitive discharge produced by the two conductors being connected.
- A high buzzing sound is a bigger indicator of eavesdropping.
- You can check for sounds that your ears can't hear using a wideband sound sensor at low frequencies. If the indicator appears several times per minute, your phone is most likely bugged.
Step 2. Use your phone around other electronic devices
If you suspect your phone has been tapped, hold it close to the radio or television during your next phone call. Even if there is no audible interference on the phone, it is possible that interference may occur if you stand next to other electronic devices that cause static.
- Look for distortion if you are not actively using the phone. An active wireless telephone signal can interfere with data transmission even without installing additional software or hardware on the phone, but an inactive signal does not allow it.
- Some bugs and eavesdroppers use frequencies close to the FM radio band, so if your radio is high-pitched when set to mono and tuned to the other end of the band, an eavesdropping device may have been installed.
- Likewise, eavesdroppers can interfere with TV broadcast frequencies on UHF channels. Use a TV with an antenna to check for interference in the room.
Step 3. Listen to your phone when not in use
The phone should be silent when not in use. If you can hear beeps, clicks, or other sounds from your phone even when it's not in use, it may have bugged software or hardware installed.
- What's more, listen for the pulsating static sound.
- If this is the case, the microphone or speaker may be active even when the phone is not being used via "Hookswitch bypass". Your conversations within 6 meters of the phone may be heard.
- In the case of landlines, if you can hear a dial tone when your phone is put down, this is another sign of eavesdropping. Verify the presence of this sound with an external amplifier.
Part 3 of 5: Signs of a Phone Tapping
Step 1. Pay attention to the battery temperature
If your phone's battery is very hot when you're not using it and you don't know the cause, there may be a spy program running and causing your phone's battery to drain.
Of course, a hot battery can be a sign that the phone has been overused. This is especially true for older phones, as the quality of battery cells tends to degrade over time
Step 2. Make a note of how often you have to charge your phone
If your phone's battery suddenly drops for no reason and you have to charge it twice as often, the battery may be dead because a spy app is running and draining the battery.
- You also need to think about how often you have used your phone. If you've been using it a lot lately, it's natural that you need to charge your phone frequently. This only applies if you barely touch your phone or don't use it more often than usual.
- You can periodically monitor the battery life of your smartphone using apps, such as BatteryLife LX or Battery LED.
- It should be noted that battery cells will lose their ability to store power over time. If this change occurs after your phone is a year old or more, it could be due to an old battery being overused.
Step 3. Try turning off the phone
If the blackout process is delayed or cannot be completed, this strange behavior could indicate that someone else is controlling the phone via the eavesdropper.
- Notice if the phone takes longer than usual to turn off, or if the backlight of the phone stays on after it turns off.
- While this could be a sign that your phone is being tapped, it could be just a hardware or software glitch of the phone that has nothing to do with the tapping at all.
Step 4. Watch for random activity
If your phone lights up, turns off, restarts, or starts installing apps when you're not doing anything, it's possible that your phone was hacked and controlled via eavesdropping.
On the other hand, all this can happen in case of random interruptions during data transmission
Step 5. Watch for unusual SMS messages
If you receive an SMS text message containing a random text of letters or numbers from an unknown sender, this message is a big sign of amateur eavesdropping on your phone.
Some programs use SMS messages to send commands to the target phone. If the program is installed carelessly, these messages may appear
Step 6. Attention mobile data bill
If your data bill is skyrocketing and you know you're not using that much data, maybe someone else is using your data via eavesdropping.
Many spy programs send your phone logs to online servers and use your data plan to do so. Legacy programs used large amounts of data which made them more obvious, but newer programs are now more subtle as they use very little data
Part 4 of 5: Signs of a Landline Tapping
Step 1. Check your surroundings
If you suspect your landline is being tapped, check your surroundings carefully. If an object moves out of place, such as a sofa or table, don't ignore it. This could be an indication that someone has been lurking in your room.
- Eavesdroppers may move furniture when trying to access power lines or telephone lines, which is why this is important to note.
- Pay attention to the plug cover on the wall. Pay attention to the plug covers on the wall around your indoor telephone line. If it looks shifted or disturbed, it's possible that the cover has been tampered with.
Step 2. Pay attention to the outer phone case
You may not know what an inner phone case looks like, but it's worth having a look. If the box looks tampered with or if its contents have been tampered with, someone may have installed bugs in there.
- If you see hardware that seems rushed, even if you don't know what it is, have someone check it out.
- Look carefully at the "limited" side of the box. This side can only be unlocked with a special key, and if it looks like it's been tampered with, you may have been bugged.
Step 3. Pay attention to the number of haul trucks you see
If you see an increase in the number of haul trucks around your home, it may not be a haul truck. Maybe it's a truck belonging to the people who listened to your calls and allowed the eavesdropping to happen.
- Especially pay attention to whether it seems as if no one is seen getting in or out of the truck.
- Generally, people listen to landline calls via bugs at a distance of 152-213 meters. This vehicle also has frosted windows.
Step 4. Beware of foreign officers
If someone comes to your house claiming to be a repairman or telephone operator when you haven't called or asked someone to come, it could be a trap. Contact the person's company to confirm their identity..
- When calling the company, use the phone number in your records. Do not use the telephone number provided by the officer.
- Even if you have confirmation, keep an eye on him while he is in your house.
Part 5 of 5: Confirming Suspicion
Step 1. Use a bug detector
A bug detector is a physical device that can be connected to a telephone. As the name implies, it can pick up on external signals and eavesdropping, which will let you know that your suspicions are correct and that someone else has been listening to your calls.
The usefulness of this device is questionable, but in order for the device to detect eavesdropping, it must detect electrical or signal changes occurring over the phone line under test. Look for a device that can measure impedance and capacitance levels and changes in high frequency signals
Step 2. Install an anti-tapping app
For smart phones, you can install a wiretapping detection app which can catch both eavesdropping signals and unauthorized access to mobile data.
- The effectiveness of this application is still being debated, so it cannot provide valid evidence for you. Some of these apps are only useful in detecting bugs installed by other apps.
- Apps that claim to detect bugs include Reveal: Anti SMS Spy.
Step 3. Ask your phone carrier for help
If you believe that your phone has been tapped, you can ask the telephone operator to have it checked using professional equipment.
- Standard line analysis performed by telephone companies can detect the most illegal eavesdropping, listening devices, low frequency devices, and telephone line connections.
- It's worth noting that if you've asked the phone company to check for bugs and bugs but they deny your request or claim they found nothing when they didn't look for it, it's likely that this is a government request.
Step 4. Go to the police
If you have solid evidence that your phone has actually been tapped, you can ask the police to check it. In addition, you can ask for their help in catching whoever is responsible for the wiretapping.
