Consumer-grade phone surveillance apps aren’t only intended to stay stealthy

Mobile Security

18 hours ago

Summary

Learn how to identify and uninstall malicious spyware apps on your Android device, and take steps to secure your device against future threats.

Key Points

  • Force-stopping the app will not completely remove it from your device.

  • The app may continue to run in the background, allowing it to alert the person who planted the app that it has been removed.

  • To exit safe mode and return your device to its normal state, restart your device by holding down the power button and selecting 'restart'.

  • Secure your device by setting a longer, unique passcode or alphanumeric password.

Why It Matters

Removing spyware from your device is crucial to maintaining your privacy and security.

Author

Zack Whittaker

More Headlines

ui/ux review check
Generative AI Expands Hacker Toolkit

Generative AI has vastly expanded the toolkit available to hackers and other bad actors. It's now possible to do everything from deepfaking a CEO to creating fake receipts.

ui/ux review check
Amazon Introduces Kindle Recaps Feature

Amazon has introduced a new 'Recaps' feature for Kindle users to help them recall plot points and character arcs before picking up the latest book in a series. The feature uses AI-generated summaries, which can be accessed through the 'View Recaps' button on the series page or by clicking on the three-dot menu.

ui/ux review check
Amazon Unveils AI Shopping Agent, Buy for Me

Amazon has launched a new AI-powered shopping agent called Buy for Me, which allows users to search and make purchases from other websites without leaving the Amazon app. The feature uses encryption to securely insert billing information on third-party sites.

ui/ux review check
Thatch Raises $40M Series B to Simplify Health Benefits

Thatch, a startup that aims to transform the health insurance experience for employers and employees, has raised $40 million in a Series B round of funding. The company helps employers offer Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) to employees, allowing them to choose from different health insurance options.

ui/ux review check
OpenAI's ChatGPT Feature Sparked AI Art Controversy

When OpenAI debuted its image-generation feature in ChatGPT last week, social media exploded when users realized that they could make AI-generated images that looked like something out of an animated film from Studio Ghibli. Fans hoped that Studio Ghibli mastermind Hayao Miyazaki would take a stand, but the 84-year-old animator has remained silent.

ui/ux review check
OpenAI's Image-Generation Feature Goes Viral

OpenAI's new image-generation feature has gone viral, with over 130 million users generating over 700 million images since its launch. However, this popularity has also led to product delays and temporarily degraded services as OpenAI works to scale up infrastructure to meet demand.

ui/ux review check
Tesla vs BYD: EV Charging Competition Heats Up

Elon Musk's Tesla is facing stiff competition from Chinese automaker BYD. BYD has been touting significant breakthroughs in charging, claiming its new cars can be charged in just five minutes. This gives it a huge competitive edge over Tesla and other EV makers.

ui/ux review check
YouTube Shorts Introduces New Features to Compete with TikTok

YouTube Shorts is announcing new features to help creators publish engaging short-form videos. The platform will introduce an improved video editor, AI stickers, a feature that syncs content to the beat of a song, and more.

ui/ux review check
Google's AI Model Releases Speed Up, But Transparency Lags

Google's director and head of product for Gemini, Tulsee Doshi, told TechCrunch that the increasing cadence of the company's model launches is part of a concerted effort to keep up with the rapidly evolving AI industry. However, the ramped-up release time frame appears to have come at a cost.

ui/ux review check
Apple loses $250 billion in market value as tariffs loom

in a surprise move, trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on imported goods to the us, hitting tech stocks hard. apple's market value took a massive hit, with shares down as much as 8.5%. the tariffs affect all of apple's biggest suppliers and manufacturing hubs in asia.

ui/ux review check
X's plan to boost revenue by selling off dormant usernames

X is planning to sell off dormant usernames, starting with a 'handle inquiry' process for verified organizations. The minimum bid will start at $10,000 and may range up to over $500,000. This move aims to generate another revenue stream for the company.

ui/ux review check
Microsoft Pulls Back on Data Center Projects

Microsoft has halted talks for or delayed development sites of data centers in several countries, including the UK, Australia, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The company had previously announced plans to invest over $80 billion in AI data centers in 2025.

ui/ux review check
TechCrunch All Stage 2025: Jahanvi Sardana to Discuss Scaling Strategies

TechCrunch All Stage is an ultimate founder summit where 1,200 founders and VCs will come together to forge meaningful connections and gain practical insights. Jahanvi Sardana, partner at Index Ventures, will discuss critical elements of assessing total addressable market (TAM).

ui/ux review check
Cognition's Devin AI Programming Tool Updates

Cognition, the startup behind the viral AI programming tool Devin, has introduced a new low-cost plan to incentivize signups. The updated Devin 2.0 features improved code generation capabilities and project planning tools, with a pay-as-you-go pricing model that starts at $20 per month.