Documentation pages_HK_EN
List view
Documentation
Documentation
Emergency Contact
Emergency Contact
Employment/Contract
Employment/Contract
Money exchange/Money Transfer/Banking
Money exchange/Money Transfer/Banking
Off days
Off days
Shopping & Logistics
Shopping & Logistics
Work place
Work place
Is My Phone Being Tapped by My Employer?
Concerned About Phone Tapping? Learn How to Detect and Address It
How can you determine if your phone is being tapped? Whether you like it or not, many domestic helpers have become accustomed to the idea that their phones are often monitored by their employers.
What are the signs of my phone being tapped?
Detecting whether your phone is tapped can be challenging, but there are some signs that may indicate potential surveillance. Keep in mind that these signs can also be attributed to technical issues or regular phone behavior. Here are some indicators to be aware of:
- Unusual Battery Drain
- If your phone's battery is depleting faster than usual, it might be a sign of increased activity, including potential surveillance software running in the background.
- Overheating
- Excessive heat, especially when you are not actively using your phone, could indicate additional processes running, possibly due to spyware.
- Unusual Background Noises
- Hearing strange noises during calls, such as clicking, static, or echoes, might be an indication of interference.
- Delayed Shutdown or Restart
- If your phone takes an unusually long time to shut down or restart, it might be due to external interference.
- Unexpected Data Usage
- Spyware may use data to transmit information. Monitor your data usage and check for unexpected spikes.
- Unusual Text Messages or Alerts
- Receiving unusual text messages or alerts, especially those with random characters or symbols, could be a sign of surveillance.
- Slow Performance
- If your phone is significantly slower than usual, it might be due to the presence of monitoring software.
- Random Reboots
- Unexpected restarts or shutdowns might indicate interference with your phone's normal operation.
- Unusual Behavior During Calls
- If you experience sudden call drops, echoes, or background noise that is not typical, it may be a red flag.
- Unexpected Pop-ups or Ads
- Intrusive pop-ups or ads appearing on your phone, especially when they are not related to your typical usage, could signal unwanted software.
- Elevated Data Traffic Without Reason
- Check your network traffic. Unexplained spikes in data usage may indicate unwanted activities.
- Camera or Microphone Turns On Randomly
- If your camera or microphone is unexpectedly active and no app is in use, it's possible someone is watching or listening.
- On iPhone, a green dot shows an active camera, and an orange dot signals an active microphone.
- For Android 12 and later, a green icon appears on the top-right for active camera and/or microphone.
How to Check if Your Phone Is Being Tapped?
[Android Phone]
- Dial **#21#** (*if **#21** doesn't work, you can try **#67#**, or **#62#***) - If voice forward is active: Your phone may be tapped. - If voice forward is not active: Your phone may not be tapped.
- Dial **##21#** to erase the voice forward setting - If you want to turn off all forms of phone redirection, dial **##002#** - If you want to factory reset your phone, dial **\*\*#*#7780#*#** - If you want to wipe your smartphone clean of all data, dial **\*\*2767*3855#**
[iPhone]
- Go to Settings → Phone → Call Forwarding
- If Call Forwarding is turned on, your calls may be forwarded.
- You can turn off the Call Forwarding feature.
