Nowadays, Digital Devices Have Become One Of The Important Necessities Of Our Lives, So It Is Not Possible To Do Some Daily Tasks Without These Devices. 

The emails we send, the activities we engage in on social networks and the images we capture and share with our smartphones, the videos we watch, the software we download, and the websites we visit essentially shape our digital identity.

Our dependence on smartphones and tablets is more than on other devices, and this issue has made hackers take a unique look at these mobile devices.

How to identify malware that has infected Android or iOS phones?

Many methods are available to deal with hacker threats and intercept our activities on mobile devices, including virtual private networks, end-to-end encryption, and browsers that do not track and record user activities.

However, hackers and cybercriminals have designed professional malware that is not easy to identify or remove, and their purpose is to spy on users. In this article, we examine the types of spyware that infect Android and iOS operating systems, the signs of infection, and the solutions available to remove them.

What is spyware?

First, let’s get acquainted with spyware (Nuisanceware). Spyware typically enters users’ phones and applications downloaded from untrustworthy sites. Unfortunately, companies with normal activities sometimes add spyware to their software very professionally; if this spyware is detected in a short message, they announce that these codes are back doors developers have put in to eliminate software problems. Sometimes, hackers take advantage of software security weaknesses and add malicious codes to standard Android and iOS software.

When such software is installed on your smartphone, they change some browser settings to monitor online activities, collect browser data and provide it to advertising and marketing agencies. Some security experts believe that spyware should not be included in the category of malicious malware because they do not pose a severe threat to users. In contrast, others think they’re a severe security threat due to collecting users’ personal information.

Another group of spyware is used to track users’ activities. They aim to collect operating system information and information in the clipboard and steal valuable user data such as digital currency wallet information and user account login information. The critical thing to note about spyware is that not all are installed on users’ smartphones to steal their knowledge, and some are used to collect information to conduct widespread phishing attacks.

The next group is stalker ware, which has a more advanced mechanism than the previous two examples.

This dangerous malware, installed on computer systems and mobile phones, eavesdrop on sent and received emails and SMS.

Also, they can be used to eavesdrop on users’ calls through phone lines or voice call software, secretly record surrounding sounds or take photos, track users’ movement through GPS, take control of social network software, etc. This type of malware makes its way to smartphones through advertising windows that offer discount coupons or free visits to various sites.

Some malware and spyware are designed on a commercial scale to steal information from competitors. Pegasus, one of the most well-known examples of this spyware, was developed to eavesdrop on the knowledge of large transnational organizations. The malicious file enters his smartphone or computer system when the user touches the link inside these windows.

Danger signs

Unfortunately, phishing attacks are still among the most destructive malware attacks that hackers can execute at the lowest cost. Receiving strange and abnormal emails or messages may indicate that someone is trying to infect the system or phone with spyware. For this reason, it is important not to click on file download links from unfamiliar sites, as even a seemingly harmless click can infect a smartphone.

This is true for short messages that contain shortened links. It is necessary to explain that some text messages sent to users’ phones are forwarded to phishing or malicious sites. When receiving such messages, users are encouraged to click on a malicious link or download software that contains a payload that installs spyware on their system, as it requires user interaction when the malware is to be remotely loaded.

Typically, attackers use well-known fake addresses in such situations with warning or threatening messages or to gain your trust. In the case of spyware that falls under the stalker group, the initial infection messages are more personalized and designed specifically for the victim. In this method, physical access or unwanted installation of spyware by the victim is necessary.

If you lose your smartphone and after finding it again, you notice new settings or changes; these changes indicate that the smartphone has been tampered with. Unfortunately, the installation process will not take more than a few seconds in some cases. Typically, attackers use well-known fake addresses in such situations with warning or threatening messages or to gain your trust.

In the case of spyware that falls under the stalker group, the initial infection messages are more personalized and designed specifically for the victim.

If you lose your smartphone and after finding it again, you notice new settings or changes; these changes indicate that the smartphone has been tampered with. Unfortunately, the installation process will not take more than a few seconds in some cases. In this method, physical access or unwanted installation of spyware by the victim is necessary.

Typically, attackers use well-known fake addresses in such situations with warning or threatening messages or to gain your trust. In the case of spyware that falls under the stalker group, the initial infection messages are more personalized and designed specifically for the victim. In this method, physical access or unwanted installation of spyware by the victim is necessary. Unfortunately, the installation process will not take more than a few seconds in some cases.

If you lose your smartphone and after finding it again, you notice new settings or changes; these changes indicate that the smartphone has been tampered with. If you lose your smartphone and after seeing it again, you see new settings or changes, suggesting that the smartphone has been tampered with. In this method, physical access or unwanted installation of spyware by the victim is necessary. Unfortunately, the installation process will not take more than a few seconds in some cases.

If you lose your smartphone and after finding it again, you notice new settings or changes; these changes indicate that the smartphone has been tampered with. Unfortunately, the installation process will not take more than a few seconds in some cases. In this method, physical access or unwanted installation of spyware by the victim is necessary.

How to recognize that malware or spyware has infected our phone?

Most malicious programs are hidden and not easily detected; however, not all malicious programs, including malware, are stealthy, and users can sometimes detect malware installed on their smartphones.

Android allows users to download and install software from stores other than Google Play. If these settings are enabled, tampering with and jailbreaking your device without your consent may be possible, but not all spyware requires jailbreaking. To check the security settings related to this issue, go to Settings > Security > Allow unknown sources.

Of course, this path may differ depending on your phone type. Usually, to check this issue in most Android operating systems, you should go to Apps > Menu > Special Access > Install unknown apps. Once you go to the relevant page, check if there is any unknown software. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that spyware will appear on the list, but it gives you some good clues.

Some spyware uses generic icons and names to avoid detection. If there is an unfamiliar process or software in the list, you can find information about it with a Google search.

Installing malware on unlocked iOS devices isn’t easy unless you use a zero-day exploit. But the presence of Cydia software can be a sign of device tampering unless you’ve accidentally downloaded it. Cydia is a file manager package that allows users to install software packages on a jailbroken device.

Other recognizable signs

Rapid draining of the battery charge, overheating the device, and observing strange behavior in the operating system or applications are clear signs of malware infection. If your cell phone or tablet is hacked, the best thing you can do is do a factory reset, which restores all settings to factory settings, and create a new user account.

Suppose you have essential information on the phone or the phone you use is organizational. In that case, contacting the legal authorities for the necessary advice is better than tampering with the phone. Of course, all phone data will be deleted in this case, but you will be sure there will be no malware or spyware on your system.

How to remove spyware from a smartphone?

In general, identifying and removing spyware is not a simple process. Granted, it’s not impossible to do most of the time, but it’s a bit difficult. In removing malware, especially spyware, the attacker may receive a message that the malware has been deleted from the victim’s phone. So that sometimes the only option is to abandon the device and buy a new phone.

A sudden stop from sending information to hackers means the user has identified and removed the malware. If the operating system or software installed on the phone is vulnerable, the hacker can send the spyware twice or erase the data. If you feel that doing so is dangerous and may have consequences, do not tamper with the device; instead, contact the police for appropriate advice.

• Run a malware scan: Some antiviruses can identify and remove spyware. Companies such as Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, and Avast have designed tools to scan for spyware. This method is simple, but it does not guarantee that the antivirus will always succeed in doing its job. 

• Change password: If you suspect that your account has been hacked, change the password of all your important accounts. Typically, users have one or two critical bills, such as email, linked to other user accounts. You should remove access to such reports on the infected device.

• Activating the two-step authentication mechanism: In the two-step authentication mechanism, in addition to entering the password, you must enter the PIN code sent to the phone in the corresponding field to access your user account. Of course, spyware can eavesdrop on codes sent by two-factor authentication protocols. This solution plays an influential role in improving the security of funds.

• Creating a new email address: You can create one only you know and use for meaningful work. 

• Update operating system: Installing a new version of an operating system that includes fixes and security patches can disrupt the performance of spyware, so always keep your phone or tablet’s operating system up to date.

• Physical protection of the device: PIN code, pattern, or biometric authentication protects the phone against tampering. 

• Restoring the device to factory settings: Restoring the infected machine to factory settings or completely wiping it can help eliminate some spyware. However, don’t forget to back up important data. On Android, to do this, you need to go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset. In iOS, you need to go to Settings > General > Reset for factory reset. Unfortunately, some malware and spyware hide in certain parts of smartphones, such as the ROM or kernel of the operating system, and remain on the device even after restoring the device to factory settings. Therefore, getting a new mobile phone is better if the previous methods fail.

A few critical points about advanced spyware

Detecting spyware that organized criminals write is not easy, but some solutions reduce the amount of phone contamination by such spyware. Among these solutions, the following should be mentioned:

• Reboot: Reboot the device daily to prevent spyware from persisting for a long time. Typically, infections are built on zero-day exploits that don’t last long, so booting helps to counter them.
• Disabling FaceTime and iMessage on iOS: FaceTime and iMessage are enabled by default and are tools hackers are very fond of. In recent years, various exploits have been found for software such as Safari and iMessage, based on which hackers have written malware and spyware.
• Using a different browser than the default OS tool: Normally, smartphone manufacturers offer their default browsers for users to use. Therefore, the default smartphone browser uses well-known browsers such as Firefox and Chrome; the first software that batterers turn to exploit vulnerabilities is the default smartphone browser.
• Installing antivirus on the phone: Unfortunately, some users don’t install any antivirus on their system to not slow down the performance of their mobile phones, making them easy victims of malware attacks. We suggest installing a good antivirus on the phone for minimum security.

What have Apple and Google done to deal with this problem?

Typically, Apple and Google quickly remove software whose development differs from their stores’ security policies. If you’ve installed software through their stores, they constantly check to ensure it’s not infected with malware. For example, a few years ago, Google removed seven apps from the Play Store that tracked users’ online activities.

This company is susceptible to actions such as location tracking, access to text messages, theft of contact lists, and disclosure of private conversations of users, and it quickly detects the slightest sign of these actions by software, removes the software from the store, and sends a warning to Sends users. In addition, it blocks ads and spyware.

Apple also removes monitoring software due to privacy violations and instead offers a dedicated control service called Screen Time, which can be used to limit mobile device use. Of course, this feature is more suitable for parents. Also, Apple does not allow users to install software from different sources, which has dramatically helped prevent the spread of malware on the iOS platform.