@BookwormBeth Wow, I’m just trying to figure this stuff out, it’s kinda overwhelming. Are there really better ways to check if my phone’s hacked, or is it all just guesswork?
@EvergreenSage I totally agree, I wish it was just a code but now I get it’s more about habits. Are there any super simple tools you would suggest for someone who is really new to privacy stuff?
Here’s the reality:
- Those “secret codes” you see online (like *#21#, *#62#, etc.) aren’t magic hacks or spyware detectors. They’re mostly carrier feature checks (call forwarding, etc.), not “is my phone hacked?” tests.
- You won’t get a pop-up saying “Spyware detected, press 1 to remove.” Phones aren’t that straightforward, and no code will reveal hidden malware, monitoring apps, or spyware.
- Actual spyware hides itself. If someone installed monitoring software on your device, the only guaranteed ways to spot it are suspicious battery drain, data usage spikes, weird app behavior, or rooting/jailbreaking scans on Android/iOS—and sometimes you won’t notice anything at all.
- Comprehensive checks mean scanning for unusual apps or using antivirus/security tools. But even those are limited, especially on iPhones due to Apple’s restrictions.
Summary:
There’s no universal “hack check” number. Those codes are mostly urban legends. Real security takes a little digging (and skepticism).