How to Know If Your WhatsApp is Being Monitored - [Latest 2025]

Ever worry If Your WhatsApp is Being Monitored? Learn the red flags, from unusual battery drain to unexpected logins, and discover the best strategies to protect your privacy without making any compromises.

How to Know If Your WhatsApp is Being Monitored - [Latest 2025]

Jennifer loved texting her friends on WhatsApp. She didn't know that someone could see who she was texting, track her location, and possibly even listen to her calls. This isn’t just a far-fetched scenario: one Amnesty International staff member discovered the harsh reality when their device was compromised via a suspicious Arabic WhatsApp message. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to stay vigilant. Have you noticed any unusual activity on your WhatsApp lately? If so, you’re not alone. Let’s delve into why this can happen and the steps you can take to protect your privacy.

WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users from 100+ countries. It helps us to stay connected with our family and friends. We shouldn't worry that someone is listening or watching what we say. Privacy is key when we talk to our loved ones. WhatsApp strongly emphasizes the privacy of its users, but as we know every tech has flaws. If you have suspicions about your WhatsApp account being monitored, those suspicions may be valid.

Many users wonder if "WhatsApp can be hacked?" or "Can someone read my WhatsApp Chats?" The short answer is yes it is entirely possible.

We will dive deep into this topic in this article. You'll also learn how to improve your WhatsApp security and privacy to help safeguard your account from unauthorized access.

Why WhatsApp Security Matters

In a world with increasing surveillance, privacy helps protect us from potential misuse of our personal information. We often share personal, confidential, or even intimate details with friends and family on WhatsApp. These conversations deserve to be private.

End-to-end Encryption in WhatsApp

WhatsApp uses secure end-to-end encryption, the cryptographic algorithms for encrypting your chats and files are Curve25519/AES-256/HMAC-SHA256. These encryption algorithms are secure and have been approved by the National Security Agency. They are very common and used by most renowned platforms nowadays.

Only the sender and receiver have access to the chats. Indeed, even the Meta company which owns WhatsApp can not read your conversations with your friends. However, there are potential risks. For example, someone might use 'spy apps' installed on your phone, malicious software (malware/viruses), or your stolen login information to gain access to your WhatsApp conversations.

Risks associated with compromised WhatsApp

Cyber threats are on the rise, with sophisticated spyware like Pegasus and LightSpy and hacking attempts targeting people across the world. These attacks aim to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and can have serious consequences.

It’s scary to think about, but once hackers get into your WhatsApp, they can see your contacts, messages, photos, and even track your location. That means your personal information could end up in the wrong hands. With access to your contacts and personal details, hackers might pretend to be you and scam your friends or family. If you ever send financial details through WhatsApp or use it for money transfers, they could drain your accounts. On top of that, they might spread false or embarrassing posts through your account, harming your reputation and relationships.

Signs That Your WhatsApp Might Be Monitored

It is no less than a horror thought thinking about someone reading your WhatsApp conversations. However, some signs can indicate if your account is being monitored. I will share some of the most common warning signs that you could check.

Signs Your Phone Might Be Infected with Spyware

Spyware as the name suggests is a type of malware that secretly runs in your background and shares your personal information remotely to attackers. These are specially designed in such a way that after installation they don't appear in the app list like usual. The attacker could turn on your camera and click pictures through it without the victim ever noticing it. Here are some signs which can indicate if your mobile is infected.

Degraded performance: Continuously tracking all activities of a device is a resource-intensive task and requires a good portion of processor and RAM, which can slow down the performance of your device.

Intensive Battery Drain: Sudden and consistent battery drain may indicate background spying apps. If you think that your battery backup has decreased suddenly then it could be a sign of spyware always running in the background.

Overheating issues: This is obvious, the high usage of a processor for longer period makes the processor to release heat. If you own a device that has good specifications and still is heating without even running heavy apps.

Strange Noises or Visual Disturbances: Camera app or any other app opening on its own, getting notification sound but no new notification. Or hearing constant disturbance sounds while on call could suggest that you are being monitored.

Increased Data Usage: Spyware collects your personal information and sends it to remote servers for hackers to access. This requires significant data transfer. Therefore, monitor your mobile data usage closely. If you notice substantial data usage spikes during periods when you weren't actively using your phone, it could be a strong indicator of spyware activity.

To deal with spyware you need to install reputable antivirus software to scan your device, look for unknown installed apps on your device, and remove them. Make sure to update your device whenever new software updates are released by the manufacturer.

The more drastic measure to deal with spyware or any other malware, in general, is to perform a factory reset on your device. But make sure to back up all important photos, videos, documents, etc. You should also update the password for the social media website and other important platforms that you use.

Has my WhatsApp been hacked?

Several indicators can suggest that your WhatsApp account may have been compromised. If you think some of these might be happening to you then you need to take action.

Strange WhatsApp Web Notifications: Receiving “WhatsApp Web is active” messages or notification when you haven’t logged in. Usually, hackers will try to link your WhatsApp account by scanning the QR code from your phone. This grants them access to quickly get into your account.

Messages Read Before You Open Them: Have you ever noticed the messages you received from your friend were already read but you never opened them? This is probably because the hacker has access to your account and he is reading all your chats.

Unexpected Logouts: Unlike some other applications, on WhatsApp, your session doesn't expire after a certain period. In case you are being randomly logged out from WhatsApp might hint at someone else logging in.

How do you know if someone is spying on your WhatsApp Web? If you are experiencing any of these points then yes someone might have access to your WhatsApp conversations. I will guide you through the detailed process of securing your WhatsApp account to prevent it from happening further.

Checking for Unauthorized WhatsApp Access

To determine if your WhatsApp account has been compromised, follow these steps:

1. Check for Logged-in Devices:

  • Android: Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the WhatsApp main screen. Select "Linked Devices."
  • iOS: Go to "Settings" within WhatsApp.
  • Review the list of devices logged into your account. Log out of any unrecognized devices immediately.
Remove Unknown Linked Device from WhatsApp

Now once you have identified unknown device and logged out from it, the attacker will no longer be able to read your personal conversations.

2. Verify Account Information:

  • Android: Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the WhatsApp main screen. Select "Settings" and then tap on your profile picture.
  • iOS: Go to "Settings" within WhatsApp and tap on your profile picture.
  • Review all profile settings, including your name, phone number, and "About" section. Look for any unfamiliar changes.
Review any Changes to WhatsApp Profile

By checking for logged-in devices and reviewing your account information, you can quickly identify and address any potential unauthorized access to your WhatsApp account.

How WhatsApp Spying or Monitoring Happens

There are several ways someone could spy on your WhatsApp chats, from advanced spyware to simple tricks that exploit human behavior.

Some well-known spyware like Pegasus or FlexiSPY, can hide on your phone and secretly record your calls, capture your messages, track where you go, or even use your camera and microphone without you knowing it.

Phishing is another popular tactic. Attackers send messages or emails that seem to be from trusted places (like your bank or a social network), but they sneak in links or files that install spyware once you click or open them.

Leaving WhatsApp Web active on your computer can also put your privacy at risk. If your phone is unlocked and you’re away for a moment, someone can quickly scan the QR code and read all your messages.

Apps designed for cloning or mirroring can copy every message sent and received on your WhatsApp to another device, giving someone else a front-row seat to your private conversations.

Then there’s social engineering: criminals take advantage of normal human trust and emotion. They might pretend to be someone you know or create a sense of panic to trick you into revealing private details or handing over your phone.

All these tactics show why it’s so important to keep an eye on your digital security and protect both your WhatsApp account and your data.

Sim Card Swapping Attack

Sim cards are found in all mobile phones and they grant you the ability to make calls send SMS or use the internet. But what if someone gets access to your SIM? He will be able to reset his password on any website or log in to your WhatsApp account with OTP. Dealing with SIM swapping is quite easy but in most cases, the damage is already done before the user notices it.

SIM Card swapping is a type of cyber attack where malicious actors gather your personal information and then use it to contact network providers and migrate the SIM to a new one the attacker controls.

How do I know if my SIM got swapped?

You might be experiencing a SIM swap if your phone suddenly loses signal while everyone else’s still works and you can’t make or receive calls or texts. Another warning sign is getting a notice from your carrier that your number or SIM card was transferred without your permission. Sometimes, attackers flood you with calls or texts as a distraction, hoping you’ll reset your phone and give them some time to complete the swap.

However, this method is not easy and is usually only carried out with bigger movements. Usually stealing money from victim's bank accounts or drain their crypto assets. So it's unlikely for attackers to use it to gain access to a normal person's WhatsApp account.

Is Someone Listening to Your WhatsApp Calls?

Do you think someone might be secretly listening to all of your calls? If you are hearing constant noise in the background? This could be a sign of your WhatsApp calls being tapped. Nowadays most service providers use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, which utilize internet connections for voice communication, and provide a wide range of features such as High-Definition voice and video calls.

It also resolved the unusual background noise from voice calls that we used to hear in the 2G and 3G era, so hearing them every time, might be a sign that your WhatsApp is being monitored. It's possible that someone is recording your WhatsApp calls remotely.

Recent Third-party App Installation

You recently installed a new app from an APK file that might have access to your device. Whether it's from an unknown developer or any app that claims to be feature-rich and free of cost.

What are Modded WhatsApp Applications?

WhatsApp Modded APK has been very popular among many users and some of the most popular ones are WhatsApp Plus, GBWhatsApp, FMWhatsApp, and YOWhatsApp. The list goes on but one thing that is common between them is they claim to provide additional features to users that WhatsApp itself does not provide in the original version. These are developed by unknown developers because the modification is illegal. Some of these Apps don't even display any ADs to their users but any smart individual will think then why do they do all this hard work?

Risks Associated with Using Modded WhatsApp Apps

These applications raise significant concerns regarding user privacy. A recent source code leak from one such modified app revealed a concerning feature: explicit permission to install other applications. This raises serious questions about the app's true intentions. If the developers genuinely had no intention of exploiting users, why would they include this permission? This strongly suggests a potential backdoor mechanism, enabling the publishers to install additional spyware on unsuspecting users.

Risks Associated with Modded WhatsApp

The possibility of user data being harvested and sold on the dark web further exacerbates these privacy concerns. Moreover, if WhatsApp detects that you are using a modded version, your account can be permanently banned from using their platform. So it's best to avoid them to get some additional features.

How to Stop Someone from Spying on Your WhatsApp?

Alright, now that we've uncovered the sneaky ways someone might try to peak on your WhatsApp chats (don't worry, we've got you covered!), it's time to unleash your inner cybersecurity ninja and learn how to outsmart those pesky spies! Get ready to tighten up your WhatsApp security like never before and show those snoops who's boss! Get ready to tighten your WhatsApp security with a few simple yet effective strategies that will leave your WhatsApp conversations as safe as a secret handshake between spies!

Enable Two-Step Verification

Two-Step Verification or Two Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring a 6-digit one-time password (OTP) sent to your phone number when logging in on a new device. It's very recommended to use it on every app or website you use including WhatsApp. This can potentially stop attackers from accessing your account even if you mistakenly scan a QR code from your app.

Regularly Check "Linked Devices"

As explained before in this article, hackers can use WhatsApp Web to spy on your chats. It's important to regularly keep an eye on which device your WhatsApp account is logged in. You can always remove WhatsApp Web from the list and simply scan again when needed.

To sign out of all devices, open WhatsApp and tap the three dots in the top-right corner. Select 'WhatsApp Web' followed by 'Logged-in Devices.' Then, tap 'Log out of all devices'.

Change Location Services (GPS) Access

If you notice any suspicious activity on your WhatsApp it's very important to either disable the GPS service completely or change it, unlike other Apps, WhatsApp only requires access to your GPS when you share your current or live location. It will not affect your user experience in any way.

To change your Location Services (GPS) Access, go to Phone Settings, then scroll to the bottom. Select 'Apps' and look for 'WhatsApp' followed by 'Location' Then, change it to 'Ask Next Time Or When I Share' or you can choose 'Never' if you don't share your location to WhatsApp contacts normally.

If you receive a DM from an unknown number containing any link or an attachment, Don't click or download the file. These could be malicious links designed to steal your data or infect your phone with malware. Many WhatsApp users have been targeted and have fallen victim to this type of hacking attack, often regretting their actions later.

Taking Control of Your WhatsApp Privacy

WhatsApp offers a range of privacy settings that allow you to control who can see your information and how you interact with others on the platform. By carefully adjusting these settings, you can significantly enhance your privacy and reduce the risk of unwanted interactions. These are some key privacy settings to consider for taking precautions.

  • Last Seen & Online: Determine who can see when you were last active on WhatsApp.
  • Profile Photo: Control who can see your profile picture, I will recommend you to set it to "My Contacts" so unknown users can't misuse your photo.
  • About: Adjust who can see your "About" information, like your bio.
  • Read Receipts: Disable read receipts to prevent others from seeing when you've read their messages.
  • Group Invitations: Control who can add you to groups. You can set it never if you don't want anyone inviting you to a WhatsApp group.
  • Status Updates: Control who can see your status updates, such as text, photos, or videos.

Update Your Device and Apps Regularly

Updates are like upgrades – stronger defenses against sneaky cyber-villains! They patch security holes, fix bugs that could let those villains in, and add new features to keep you safer and smarter. So, don't delay, update your phone and apps regularly to keep that armor shining and your digital world secure!

Conclusion

So there you have it – the lowdown on How to Know If Your WhatsApp is Being Monitored! Now have the knowledge needed to spot those red signs of monitoring. From unexpected battery drain to those modded app installations, your phone can give you hints if you know how to listen.

Remember, prevention is key! By following these simple tips shared in this article – two-factor authentication, regular device checks, and skepticism towards suspicious messages – you can keep your WhatsApp chats secure.

I hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below.

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