App to spy on my own phone?

vstaryder · Dec 8, 2015

My phone is unlocked...I have nothing to hide. But someone is checking up on me anyway and I'd like to know who they are and what they're accessing.

Is there a (hopefully free) app that will silently record what is done on my phone when I leave laying around unattended? Which apps they open?

I know there are unlock attempt picture taking apps buy my phone isn't locked and that tells me who tried but not what they did.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Hadron · Dec 9, 2015

Lock the phone if you don't want people poking around is my advice.

If you look at the recent apps list you can see what they opened, but not what they did.

Thom · Dec 9, 2015

I agree. Lock your phone. If someone else is manipulating it there is no way to tell what they might have manipulated, deleted, or added.

The previous apps display might show what apps they accessed. They could delete entries manually from that display. They could develop an app using Tasker that prevents the app from appearing in that display.

Lock the phone.

... Thom

vstaryder · Dec 9, 2015

Its not that I care that they're looking at my phone, I have nothing to hide. But I want to know who doesn't it's my feeling that the person looking obviously does not trust me and if they don't I would like to know that they don't.

Dare I say it.... there is or was an iPhone app that would keep a log of everything that was done on the phone almost like a recorder but in text.

That's the kind of thing I'm looking for if anyone out there knows of something like it or even a screen recorder.

Again, I don't care that they're reading my messages I just want to know if they are reading my messages.

AZgl1500 · Dec 9, 2015

You should not EVER leave a phone unlocked if it is not on your person, not ever.

put a Pincode lock screen on it and forget it....

goto Play Store / My Apps, and look at the list of apps that have been installed on your phone.
If you did not install an app you see there, Uninstall it now.

mikedt · Dec 10, 2015

Sounds to me like you're deliberately trying to set up a honeypot or a sting with your phone, leaving it lying around unlocked with something that can record everything.

Police do it with bait cars. Leave a nice car somewhere, sometimes unlocked, that has hidden cameras and is watched, put something valuable like a laptop on the seat, and wait for someone to break in and try to steal the car or valuable item.....Gotcha!!

The_Chief · Dec 10, 2015

Despite the OP's motives, the idea here is to secure the phone. Like you, I have little or nothing to hide: but I use a pattern unlock because I have MONEY on this phone (Android Pay, Google Wallet, Play Store credit, bank apps, etc) and because I just don't want anyone else messing around inside my phone. If I ever leave my phone somewhere (Heaven help me, I'd be frantic), I want it secured. That's why I have a lock pattern on my homescreen.

It's hard to believe that someone else would think you're hiding something by simply securing your phone. As suggested here, I highly recommend you set up a pattern or PIN on the lockscreen. You can also use Cerberus, which will discreetly email you a picture of anyone trying unsuccessfully to unlock your phone.

jay shmIdt · Dec 10, 2015

there is a very good app called incognito. its available at the playstore. its like 6 bucks but its one of the best. the free ones, dont waist your time.

main signs are battery drainage extremely quickly. so find out your battery life in the manual
the phone gets unusually hot. like its not normal
and the 3rd one and a lot of people dont know is an constant echo without any bass. like its all treble.

i had that incognito app and i loved it. The apps soul purpose is to see who is spying on your phone. and if some is they have there IP address. they ping your phone and all. I may just get it again.

fdbryant3 · Dec 10, 2015

vstaryder said:
Its not that I care that they're looking at my phone, I have nothing to hide. But I want to know who doesn't it's my feeling that the person looking obviously does not trust me and if they don't I would like to know that they don't.

Your attitude is weirdly paranoid to me. While it may be a bit rude a lot of people will snoop through an open phone out of curiosity and boredom rather than lack of trust. Personally I would just lock the phone and not worry about it one way or another. If anything, your the one with the lack of trust (and yet you want to leave your phone around unlocked)

That said I don't think there is an app that will do what you want but something like aLogCat can record application launches (granted you have to learn how to read the logs but there are apps to help with). Something like Tasker (or similar app) could probably be set up to take picture when the phone is turned on. Heck it might be able to be set up to take pictures and screenshots when specific apps are launched.

Still sounds like it is a lot of work for something that will probably cause more trouble than it solves. Lock your phone and stop worrying, you'll sleep better at night.

vstaryder · Dec 12, 2015

Thank you to those who answered with the answer I was looking for - if they know of an app the keeps activity logs - and not the advice.

I'm not paranoid. I KNOW someone is checking my phone. There's nothing there. It's not a setup either bc I'm SUPPOSED to be living where there is trust.

No one in my household has a phone with a lock pin that everyone doesn't know so the lock is pointless in this environment. However, mutual respect of each others' privacy should still exist.

I'm not leaving my phone around to tempt "honeypot" either. I leave it laying around bc I'm not married to my phone like most people are. The expectation is that no one is going through it.

You don't have to agree, I wasn't asking if you did or not. I also wasn't asking if I should secure my phone or not nor how to do that (duh). But thanks anyway.

mikedt · Dec 12, 2015

Have you considered getting a security camera system?

Something like this should certainly show who's been checking your phone in your absence.

Do you leave your wallet lying around as well, full of money and credit cards?

Although actually my wallet usually only contains a small amount of cash and a couple of cards, phone has access to bank accounts.

UncleMike · Dec 12, 2015

Obviously you've gotten enough advice on how/why to protect your phone (most of which I agree with), but here's something I haven't seen mentioned:

Use Tasker to silently take a front facing camera photo each time the phone is unlocked (this could be done even if you only use slide-to-unlock with no pin/password). You won't see what they're doing, but you'll definitely know who they are (assuming you recognize them).

I just tried it here and it works fine.

Thom · Dec 12, 2015

UncleMike said:
Use Tasker to silently take a front facing camera photo each time the phone is unlocked (this could be done even if you only use slide-to-unlock with no pin/password).

That should work with Tasker but doesn't it require a plug-in to Tasker on a root-ed device?

... Thom

Xxmen · Dec 12, 2015

Here you go.

https://www.webwatcher.com/?gclid=CPSKwp2U18kCFU6QHwodj5sINQ

electricpete · Dec 14, 2015

Thom said:
That should work with Tasker but doesn't it require a plug-in to Tasker on a root-ed device?

... Thom

I don't think the "display unlocked" event or the "take photo" action needs root

moose05 · Dec 15, 2015

Install a keylogger. Access your device remotely. I'd go with the keylogger, it works great.

UncleMike · Dec 18, 2015

Thom said:
That should work with Tasker but doesn't it require a plug-in to Tasker on a root-ed device?

... Thom

Definitely no plugin or root required.

Thom · Dec 18, 2015

Thanks for pointing in the right direction.

If you are referring to the following it will take a photo every time the screen is enabled ... none, swipe, pin, or pattern.

Profile: tlaUnlock
Event: Display Unlocked
Enter: Anon
A1: Take Photo [ Camera:Front Filename:Unlock Naming Sequence:Chronological Insert In Gallery:On Discreet:On Resolution:352x288 Scene Mode:Auto White Balance:Auto Flash Mode:Off Focus Mode:Fixed ]

... Thom

vstaryder · Dec 18, 2015

mikedt said:
Have you considered getting a security camera system?
View attachment 98023
Something like this should certainly show who's been checking your phone in your absence.

Do you leave your wallet lying around as well, full of money and credit cards? Although actually my wallet usually only contains a small amount of cash and a couple of cards, phone has access to bank accounts.

Yes, I do....why wouldn't I? My money is my wife's money and my kids don't steal from me.

vstaryder · Dec 18, 2015

moose05 said:
Install a keylogger. Access your device remotely. I'd go with the keylogger, it works great.

Not sure if a keylogger would capture people just poking around. Maybe though.

vstaryder · Dec 18, 2015

UncleMike said:
Obviously you've gotten enough advice on how/why to protect your phone (most of which I agree with), but here's something I haven't seen mentioned:

Use Tasker to silently take a front facing camera photo each time the phone is unlocked (this could be done even if you only use slide-to-unlock with no pin/password). You won't see what they're doing, but you'll definitely know who they are (assuming you recognize them).

I just tried it here and it works fine.

That'll give me the "who" but not the "what". But at least that's part of the equation...thank you.

vstaryder · Dec 19, 2015

Thank you to everyone who made a suggestion. They led me to an app called TRUST in Google Play. Free and records events in an easy to read form. I do wish it showed which specific messages were opened but at least it shows that messenger was opened at all. I keep it in stopped mode then if I want to use it, I just clear the log and start it then check it later. If it never shows anything, great. I'll delete it. If it shows someone has been in my phone looking around well.....I guess I'll have to do a better job at showing them that they don't have a reason to not trust me.

mikedt · Dec 19, 2015

vstaryder said:
Yes, I do....why wouldn't I? My money is my wife's money and my kids don't steal from me.

You trust your family with your wallet but not your phone, and that's why you want a way of finding out who's "poking around" with it? A keylogger will tell you what they typed.

Have a look at Event Logger, not tried it though.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shaddow.eventLogger&hl=en
Keep track of what your phone is doing. SMS, apps, calls, etc.

AZgl1500 · Dec 20, 2015

In my family, we just simply do NOT use each other's phones.

that is sacrilege around here.
My wallet lays on my desk by my keyboard.... my daughter has a debit card on my account and her name is on the bank account... we never have 'theft' problems or even snooping problems...

none of our computers are locked, and my daughter knows all of my passwords anyway...
at 73, I have to use "Life planning" to be sure that life can go on w/o interruption if I walk in front of a bus or train.

App to spy on my own phone?

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