‘Tiny’ indicator on Android phones that lets you know if you’re being spied on

Posted on : February 22, 2023
‘Tiny’ indicator on Android phones that lets you know if you’re being spied on

It's every smartphone user's greatest fear: that they are being spied on by their device.

There's nothing more terrifying than knowing someone could be watching or listening to you without your knowledge.

Luckily, it seems that phone companies have listened. As part of last year's Android software update, Android 12, Google has introduced new privacy indicators which let you know when your phone camera or microphone is being used.

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These indicators appear in the top right-hand side of your device screen whenever these functions are in use.

Icons for the camera and microphone will pop up in a green box in the 'status bar' at the top of the phone to let you know they're being used.

You can then tap the green box to expand the menu and see exactly which apps are accessing your camera and microphone.

If you're using the camera app or you're on a video call, the reason the indicator is active will be obvious.

But if you don't recognise the app using it, or if it's an app you didn't open yourself, it might be time to verify what the app is doing with your video and audio—or delete it.

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If you're still not sure, there's also a Privacy Dashboard built into your Android device.

This lets you see exactly how different apps are using your data.

To access it, you just have to open your system settings by swiping down from the top of the screen until an icon shaped like a gear appears.

Tap it, then scroll down and head to Privacy. Then, just click 'Privacy Dashboard'.

It will show you which apps are using your location, your camera and your microphone all in one place—giving you an extra layer of security.

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