We are becoming more and more dependent on our smartphones, which means they hold the most intimate details about ourselves. And although many big companies promise privacy, what about the phone itself? If you think about it, our phone goes everywhere with us, acting as a vault for all of our daily routines and habits. If someone is able to access that sensitive data then it is a massive breach of privacy.Noticing that your phone is being tracked is easy if you know what common signs to look out for (Picture: Getty)

1. Are there any unfamiliar apps?

Spyware is a common way for people to monitor your phone, and sometimes this comes in the form of parental control and other similar apps. Take a quick look through your phone and see if there are any unfamiliar apps you don't recall downloading. If you have an iPhone, make sure you also search for any hidden apps by going into your App Library and viewing the hidden folder. You can do this swiping right on your last page and scrolling down (Picture: Getty)

2. How quickly is your battery draining?

If there is spyware on your phone, there is a chance it is draining your battery very quickly. Sometimes there are genuine software causes for your phone to drain the battery rapidly, such as when a new software update is released. Having a large number of apps on your phone is a genuine cause too, and all batteries slowly degrade over time. But if there is a sudden change, then you should be suspicious and take a look through your phone to see if there are any apps you don’t recognise. This is also the same if your phone is suddenly overheats or starts acting slower (Picture: Getty)

3. Is your phone showing a green or orange dot?

iPhones and Androids display a green or orange dot at the top as an indicator that the app is using the camera or microphone. If you aren’t using an app that requires them, it is possible a spyware app is running in the background and is recording audio or video. To prevent apps from accessing the camera or microphone, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone or Camera > and toggle off any app you don’t recognise (Picture: Getty)

4. There is unusual background noise

If you hear pulsating static, high pitched humming, or other strange background noises when on a voice call, it may be a sign that your phone is tapped. Also hearing other strange noises, such as beeping, clicking, or static when you're not on a call is also a sign. However, sometimes your phone will make a random noise, which is normal so you're better off trying to notice anything that is consistent or has a pattern or a rhythm to it (Picture: Getty)

5. Do you have trouble shutting down?

In 2014, Edward Snowden revealed that NSA technology prevents phones from switching off fully and then using them for eavesdropping purposes. Although there is a limited chance that you will be a victim of this particular sophisticated attack it does show what is possible when you’re phone is being tracked. So if your phone is taking a while to shut down, have a look through to see if there is any particular reason why (Picture: Getty)

6. Increased data usage

Spyware apps eat up your data, but as many of us have unlimited data plans, we rarely check how much data is being used. So keeping an eye out on your data output is a good way to see if your phone is being tracked. To do this on iPhone go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. To do this on Android, go to Connections > Data usage > Mobile data or Network & Internet > Mobile network and scroll down to find App data usage (Picture: Getty)

7. Poor screenshot quality

If your screenshots come out a little worse than expected, it could be due to spyware. There is a rumour that keyloggers, the type of spyware that records your typing, can impact your screenshot quality. If you’re noticing blurriness in your screenshots or they’re not looking as clear as they usually do, you might have a keylogger installed on your phone (Picture: Getty)

8. Are you receiving or sending strange texts?

Take a look for strange or unusual incoming messages that seem incoherent. They could be full of strange symbols or characters and may feature words in a different language. If you see these, then you may have spyware on your phone. So what can you do about it? (Picture: Getty)

What can you do about spyware?

If you discover spyware on your phone, then act cautiously. Removing it could alert the hacker so only take this step if you are confident it would be safe to do so. If not, use a different device to seek help from a charity organisation such as a domestic abuse hotline or Action Fraud, and they can help develop a safe plan to preserve evidence, secure your accounts and safely remove the spyware (Picture: Getty)

To remove spyware, the most effective method would be to do a factory reset, which will delete everything on the device and restore it to its original settings. However, you will lose all your data and apps on the device in the process, so you may want to back up your data (including photos) first. It’s important that you don't reinstall the same apps or software after the reset, though, as you might reinstall the spyware too. If you have an older backup that predates the spyware, you might be able to restore your phone from that. However equally you could use a remove spyware tool on your phone, or delete the apps manually. Then you can protect your phone by getting a VPN (Picture: Getty)