The 3 Easiest Ways to Remove Stalkerware From Your Phone
Stalkerware is a very real problem for smartphone users, and it can be very easy for criminals to install it on your phone and access your whereabouts and private data. So, if you’re dealing with stalkerware on your phone, how exactly do you go about removing it?
How to tell if your phone has stalkerware
If your phone has stalkerware, you may notice a number of things, including quick battery drain, overheating, changes to your location settings, and unusual notifications. But however you determine that you have stalkerware on your phone, it’s important that you remove it as soon as possible so that no one else can access important information about you.
If you’re an iPhone user, there’s a good chance you’re not dealing with stalkerware if your phone is acting abnormally. While it is not impossible to install stalkerware on iOS devices, it is significantly more difficult than on Android. It’s also very easy to install stalkerware on a jailbroken iPhone, so if you suspect it has stalkerware, you might want to check if your iPhone is jailbroken.
There are three main ways you can remove stalkerware from your phone, but before you begin you need to choose the right one for you. So, what are they?
1. Factory reset your device
While you may be hesitant to perform a factory reset on your phone, it can completely wipe out the stalkerware on your phone and return it to normal. Of course, if you do this, it’s important to back up all the important data on your phone first: your videos, contacts, photos, etc. your data.
The only issue with this is potentially supporting stalkerware as well. If you can, try to exclude stalkerware (eg in the case of spying apps) and only back up essential information, ie photos and contacts.
You can factory reset your phone through your Settings. It is a very simple process but there may be slight differences depending on the particular smartphone you are using. However, a quick internet search will show you how to factory reset your phone.
Factory reset can also override jailbreak, so if you factory reset the iPhone, you won’t have to worry about the presence of more stalkerware.
2. Update Your Operating System
Some stalkerware is designed only for older operating system versions, so updating your OS may disable stalkerware installed on your device. But this is not a guaranteed method of removal, and stalkerware may continue to operate even after an OS update.
Your device won’t always be due for an OS update, but you can find out if it is in your device settings. If an update is available, it may help to disable any stalkerware on your phone.
3. Use a Spyware Detection Removal App
Because stalkerware is a type of spyware, you can use spyware detection and removal apps to get rid of it from your phone. Anti-spyware apps work by detecting malware, ransomware or stalkerware as well as any other security threats on your device.
They can also block the installation of any stalkerware on your device if one tries to install it while you already have an anti-spyware app activated.
Many of these anti-spyware apps can also successfully remove any type of stalkerware you have on your phone, meaning you won’t need to manually find and remove it.
There are several great anti-spyware apps available now, including Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, and Avira. However, many of these apps come at a cost, so it’s best to determine which app gets the most bang for your buck before signing up.
Remove stalkerware as soon as possible
When someone installs stalkerware on your device, they can see everything you do, from making phone calls to sending messages, from browsing social media to taking photos. Even the smallest task like a quick virus scan can be detected using stalkerware, so it is important that you try to remove it as soon as you discover it is on your device.
By using the above methods, you will be able to successfully remove any stalkerware from your phone and regain your privacy.