Removing Mobile Spy Software from Your Phone

I have written a couple of articles on this site about cell phone security. Many people drift along totally unaware of the power of cell phone spy software programs. If you have been targeted in this way you will be very aware of the distress it can cause. I have looked at how to detect spy software on your phone, how to secure your phone and now I will tell you how to remove spy software from your cell phone.

Removing the software is relatively easy, even for those who are not technically minded. Don't be afraid of the process, just follow the instructions carefully and you will get through it with ease.

Before You Begin

This is the most important step, do not skip it. Before you attempt to remove the software make sure you have a good working backup of your cell phone data. The process I am about to describe will completely wipe your cell phone of all data. All data stored on the phone will be removed, including the spy software. If you want to keep any of your personal files you must back them up before you begin. Backup methods vary depending on your phone type, if you're not sure Google is your friend – have a search!

Factory Reset the Mobile Phone

This is the simplest and most complete method I have come across. All phones have a setting where you can simply restore the phone to its original settings when you first bought it. For android cell phones this is usually found in Settings - Privacy Settings - Factory Data Reset. When you have completed a backup and are ready to proceed just select that option and hit reset and confirm. The process will only take a couple of minutes and will work for all cell phone types.

Once you have reset the phone you can restore your personal data from your original backup. If you have been careful and done this correctly, your phone will be back to normal, minus any cell phone spy software. When you are restoring your data you should reinstall any apps manually to avoid reinstalling the spy software.

Removing Spy Software from an iPhone

There is a quick and easy way to remove any spy software from the iPhone. Apple basically have a locked operating system which will only allow you to install apps from the Apple Store. For any other software to be installed on an iPhone, it first needs to be Jailbroken. All spy software programs require that their iPhone has a Jailbreak. No exceptions!

If you remove the Jailbreak, the spy software will not work. Just be aware that any other external software, not purchased through Apple, will also be removed. To remove the jailbreak from an iPhone you simply need to update or reinstall the operating system. This can be done through iTunes and only takes a couple of minutes.

These methods are the best ways to remove cell phone spy software completely. As long as you backup your cell phone before you begin, you will not harm your phone in any way and you will stop any monitoring of your activity.

Blocking Cell Phone Spy Software

Anyone who has been a victim of cell phone spy software will tell you just how traumatic this experience can be. The invasion of your privacy is bad enough but then there is the realization that someone you know actually wanted to spy on you. With modern spy software products they have access to all sorts of information and can even track your daily movements through your cell phone.

The victims first question is usually how can they remove cell phone spy software, which I have covered in another article (follow the link)? So they go through this process and safely remove all traces of the spy software. The next question they ask is how can they stop this from happening again? If you have been targeted in the first place there is a good chance that someone may try to install the software once more. You need to take action.

Thankfully there are a few simple ways to protect your cell phone and this doesn't even need to cost you any money.

Control Phone Access

It is important to never let anyone have access to your cell phone if you believe that you could be targeted. This can be as easy as keeping your phone with your all times, never trusting anyone to go near it unattended. Of course this can be difficult with people close to you and can make you look particularly paranoid.

A better and more effective way to secure your cell phone is to set up a good strong password. All mobile phones are shipped with the ability to lock the phone using a password. Unfortunately most people do not use this to their advantage. Taking the time to think of a unique password and keeping it to yourself, will go a long way to stop any authorized use of your phone.

Use Technology

There are two ways that I use technology to secure my cell phone. The first is to use a password management app. One of these apps can create a random password which no one will be able to guess. Even some of the free apps will be much better than simply using standard block feature on your phone. For android users simply check out the Google Play Store for available apps. iPhone users will need to go through the Apple play store. Search under "password management" in the apps section. I learned about this thanks to an article over at The Spy Software Guide – a great resource worth a look.

Another way to use technology to your advantage is to install a good anti-virus/spyware program. Most people with any sense will have some sort of basic anti-virus program on their cell phone. Unfortunately most of the free apps will not spot cell phone spy software. For this you would need to spend a small amount on one of the more detailed programs such As Lookout Security. 

There are many products on the market to suit different budgets and different types of phone. These advanced programs can scan your phone and will flag up the presence of suspicious programs including spy software – good ones can also remove any threats.

By simply securing your phone you can easily prevent the installation of spy software. All of the spy software programs must be installed directly onto the target cell phone. To do this someone needs to have access to your phone for at least a few minutes and they need to be able to get past your password protection. Keep your phone secure and you will have no problems with someone trying to spy on you.