If you rely on your phone to access your bank account, type out sensitive messages, pay your bills, or even unlock your house, a smartphone keylogger could steal this information without you noticing.
Cybercriminals can use keyloggers to learn your passwords, credit card numbers, and more—so you should know how to spot and stop these threats to keep your smartphone actions private.
What Is a Keylogger?
A keylogger is software that tracks your keystrokes. Any time you type something, it records the buttons you press and the order in which you tap them. Some businesses use keyloggers to hold employees accountable while on the clock, but malicious versions help hackers steal your information.
You may already be familiar with PC versions like the Snake Keylogger, whichinfects Microsoft Office or PDF readers, but keyloggers can target your phone, too.
Smartphone keyloggers can be even more sinister than desktop versions because phone security is easy to overlook. Most people are used to using antivirus protection and similar defenses on their computers, but phones are another matter.
Many people miss the need for phone security because iPhones don’t necessarily need antivirus apps. That’s because theyhave strong built-in protections, and iOS’s design makes many attacks unlikely unless the phone is jailbroken. However, unlikely doesn’t mean impossible, and Androids are more susceptible to attack.
How to Detect Keyloggers on Smartphones
Keyloggers can be tricky to spot compared to other types of malware. That said, keyloggershave a few telltale signsto watch out for.
Restart your phone if you notice any of these symptoms. If that doesn’t fix the issue, it could be a keylogger. Google Play Protect Scancan scan for dangerous appson Android to identify the malware.
To run a Google Play Protect Scan, open the Google Play store, tap your profile icon, tap “Play Protect,” then tap the gear icon to open its settings. Turn “Scan apps with Play Protect” on if it isn’t already, then return to the main Play Protect page and tap “Scan.” Your phone will then scan for malicious code and unknown apps, recommending next steps if it finds anything.
Apple devices don’t have a built-in feature like that (mainly becauseiOS doesn’t suffer from malwarein the same way as Android), but you may download a trusted third-party security app likeAvastorNorton 360to scan your iPhone. Both apps are free to download, though Avast offers free scans without needing to set up a subscription or a free trial:
Note that it’s not impossible for iOS devices tosuffer from malware, ransomware, and keyloggers; it’s just much rarer and often involves a compromised device (through jailbreaking, for example) or is highly targeted (usingsomething like the Pegasus spyware).
How to Remove a Keylogger From Your Smartphone
Once you’ve identified a keylogger on your smartphone, you have a few options for removing it. The easiest way is to use whatever security app you use to scan for the malware. After the scan detects the keylogger, it should give you the option to remove the software. Do that and restart your phone afterward.
You can also look for and remove suspicious apps manually. Anything you didn’t download from an official app store falls under that umbrella. The same goes for any app where you notice dramatically dropped performance after downloading it. If the problem arose after installing a certain app, delete it. If not, go into the list of apps in your phone’s settings and delete anything you don’t remember downloading.
you’re able to try a factory reset if neither of these steps works. There are afew ways to factory reset Androids and iPhones, but no matter how you do it, remember to back up your important files first. The reset should remove any noncritical data, including the keylogger.
Your Phone Needs Security, Too
If you’ve grown up with computers and the internet, you already know the importance of security on your computer. It’s important to apply the same principles to your smartphone. Phones may have stronger built-in protections than many computers, but they can still be vulnerable.
