Experts from the Digital Expertise Center of Roskachestvo, in an interview with "Gazeta.Ru," explained how to check a smartphone for spyware and protect personal data.

According to the experts, there is a special category of malware that can monitor smartphone users' actions. Some of these programs take screenshots when banking apps are opened, while others turn on the microphone and record the victim's conversations. Spyware poses a significant threat, and even cybersecurity specialists may have difficulty detecting it.

Criminals can remotely install spyware on a smartphone using social engineering techniques. However, they often do this by gaining physical access to the victim's device, such as through a service center.

Most commonly, users unknowingly install spyware themselves by downloading obscure apps with simple functions (like photo frames, wallpapers, or jokes). Standard smartphone protection protocols and free antivirus software aren't always effective at detecting spyware, so it's important to look out for indirect signs that could indicate its presence.

For example, spyware may cause suspicious activity on the smartphone, including false notifications, white noise during conversations, or the microphone or camera turning on by itself. Additionally, such programs use up data traffic by sending information to hackers via the internet, which can also cause the phone to overheat and slow down.

Spy programs can record your conversations and track the websites you visit, then save this data on your phone. If you find screenshots or videos in your gallery that you didn’t take, this could be a sign of a breach, experts warn.

Spyware on an Android smartphone can be detected and removed using antivirus software, through the smartphone’s settings in the "Downloads" section, or by restoring the factory settings.

"After removing the malware, you should immediately take additional precautions: change the passwords for iCloud, App Store, or Google accounts, reinstall all apps from the official store, and also change the passwords in them. If the device runs on Android, install reliable antivirus software," advises Sergei Kuzmenko, head of the Digital Expertise Center of Roskachestvo.

Overall, to ensure security, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules: avoid installing pirated apps, regularly change your passwords, only visit trusted websites that start with HTTPS, and update your operating system in a timely manner.