Android Spyware: Accessing Your Photos

TL;DR

Yes, android spyware can access your photos. Here’s how to check for it and protect yourself.

How Android Spyware Gets Your Photos

Spyware often needs permission to access phone features like the camera and photo storage. It can get this permission in a few ways:

• Malicious Apps: Downloading apps from unofficial sources (not Google Play Store) is a big risk. These apps might ask for excessive permissions.
• Phishing Links: Clicking dodgy links in texts or emails could install spyware without you knowing.
• Security Holes: Outdated software has weaknesses that spyware can exploit.

Checking For Spyware – Step-by-Step

1. Review App Permissions (Most Important): This is the best first step.
   • Go to Settings > Apps (or similar, depending on your phone).
   • Tap an app.
   • Select Permissions.
   • Look for apps that have permissions they shouldn’t need. For example, a simple calculator app doesn’t need access to your camera or location.
2. Check Installed Apps: Look for anything you don’t recognise.
   • Go to Settings > Apps.
   • Scroll through the list carefully. Pay attention to app names and icons.
   • If you find something suspicious, uninstall it immediately.
3. Scan with a Mobile Security App: Reputable security apps can detect known spyware.
   • Install a well-known antivirus/anti-malware app from the Google Play Store (e.g., Bitdefender Mobile Security, Norton 360).
   • Run a full scan of your device.
4. Look at Data Usage: Unusual data activity could indicate spyware sending information.
   • Go to Settings > Network & internet > Data usage (or similar).
   • Check which apps are using the most data. If an app you rarely use is consuming a lot of data, investigate further.
5. Check Device Admin Apps: Spyware sometimes uses device admin privileges to hide itself.
   • Go to Settings > Security > Device admin apps (or similar).
   • Review the list carefully. Disable any unknown or suspicious apps with admin access. Be careful – disabling legitimate admin apps can affect your phone’s functionality.

Removing Spyware

If you find spyware:

1. Uninstall the App: Use the standard uninstall process through Settings > Apps.
2. Factory Reset (Last Resort): If you can’t remove the spyware, a factory reset will erase everything on your phone and reinstall the operating system. Back up important data first! This is found in Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).

Protecting Yourself From Future Infections

• Only Download Apps from Google Play Store: This significantly reduces the risk of malicious apps.
• Keep Your Software Updated: Updates include security patches that fix vulnerabilities.

  adb shell pm list updates

  (This command, used with Android Debug Bridge on a computer, lists available updates.)

• Be Careful About Links and Attachments: Don’t click links or open attachments from unknown sources.
• Use Strong Passwords/PINs: Protect your phone with a strong password or PIN.
• Enable Google Play Protect: This built-in feature scans apps for malware.

  google-play-services

  (This is the core service that handles Play Protect; ensure it’s enabled in settings.)