If your device has been behaving unusually lately, you need a number to dial to see if your phone is tapped. Most people complain about issues like calls dropping loss of battery or the phone making strange sounds. When you have the code to check if your phone is monitored by third parties, it will be easier for you to find a solution.
This piece will cover everything you need to know about phone tapping including the causes. We will then look at the solutions such as a code to check if phone is hacked.
What does “phone tapping” really mean?
Phone tapping can be defined as a secretive surveillance or interception of the telephone conversations of an individual. The forms of the current threats are usually quite more advanced than tapping a line. Modern surveillance often includes the use of remote spyware or malware that accesses a smartphone. They then collect enormous amounts of personal data without the owner noticing it.
In a report published in 2025 by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) highlighted that advanced spyware is a real risk. It has become a terrible risk to the privacy of mobile devices and users themselves. According to the report, remote spyware is capable of allowing operators to fully control an infected device. This will enable them to retrieve private information and do continuous monitoring without the user’s knowledge.
Use a parental control app to protect teens from online risks.
Safe numbers to dial to see if your phone is tapped
Some valid USSD codes are backed by major mobile operators and are often used when an individual wants to check their phone for anything suspicious. To understand how they work, you need to know the number to dial to see if your phone is tapped.
*#21# – Check unconditional call forwarding
Dialing in an issue of *#21 message indicates the activities of forwarding of your calls, messages or data to a second number. In case you have call forwarding active but you did not set it up yourself, then it’s something to worry about.
*#62# – Check forwarding when unreachable
This code will show when your phone is switched off, out of range, or unreachable. It will show whether your calls are forwarded. This is usually enabled by carriers on voicemail, and thus, when your voicemail number is displayed, it is not a cause of alarm. Still, in case calls are being forwarded to a number that is unknown, that can be a sign of unauthorized setup.
*#67# – Check forwarding when busy
Dialing *#67# displays forwarding calls when you are already on a different call. Once again, it is typical to forward to voicemail. This should be done with caution, as some people might take advantage and switch up the settings.
##002# – Disable all call forwarding
You can simply cancel all the call forwarding settings on your phone with this code. It is normally used to restore forwarding settings to the default. Once you have dialed ##002# you will receive a confirmation that the call diversions have been cleared.
Note: These USSD codes are secure and legal to apply in all major carriers. They will just display carrier-level forwarding call settings, but will be unable to identify hidden spyware or unlawful wiretaps.
Common signs your phone might be compromised
Besides using a number to dial to see if your phone is tapped, the warning signs are usually very useful when you suspect that your phone is being monitored. It is often only when people realize that the changes they keep noticing are not normal for their phones that they begin to worry. This is how to see if your phone is tapped:
Rapid battery drain and unexplained heat
One of the most frequently told signs of spyware operation is a sudden decline in battery life. Chances are that you have background running processes. Moreover, the spyware will usually raise the heat level of the device. Since most people are often unaware, the software will often run through the processor, the microphone, and the phone network.
Constant noises and break-ins in phone calls
The clicking, buzzing and echoes you hear when making a phone call are often annoying. But they can be a sign that your phone has been tapped. Although network coverage can be the problem in this case, you should still be cautious. A series of audio interruptions in various locations or networks could be an indicator of call surveillance.
Unexpected surges in mobile data usage
When you start to notice that your device is taking up more mobile data usage than usual, it could be a sign of tapping. Most people, when using their device, barely go too far from what they normally spend on a daily basis. But if you notice that your data is somehow getting depleted faster than usual, you need to watch out. Among the information, which is often sent to the faraway servers by spyware, are call logs, messages, and recordings.
Unknown applications or modified phone settings
Once you identify an app that you do not remember downloading or installing on your device then it might be tapping. Other spywares impersonate system software to ensure that it is not detected hence gets a lengthy permission. Settings like call forwarding being set on or the security features being turned off without your approval may also change.
Proactive steps: how to protect your phone from being tapped?
It is not all about responding to something going wrong on your phone as a way of protecting it from being tapped or monitored. Prevention is, in most instances, better than detection. But it never hurts to learn how to know whether your phone is hacked to protect yourself better.
Keep your operating system and apps updated
One of the most efficient ways to prevent surveillance and spyware is regular software updates. The security patches contained in updates usually patch most of the vulnerabilities that hackers use to access devices. When you fail to update your phone, it gets vulnerable to known weaknesses that can easily be exploited.
Install apps only from trusted sources
When you only download apps from official app stores, you automatically minimise unauthorized malicious software. Never use third-party app stores, altered applications, or links that have been delivered through messages and emails. Always check permissions of apps and be aware when an app asks to be granted access but the application does not need that access.
Use strong security settings and authentication
Set a strong screen lock with PIN, password or a biometric lock to stop attacks on your phone. Where possible, use two factor-authentication on important accounts. This will render it quite difficult to have a person install monitoring software to spy on you.
Monitor permissions and network activity regularly
Occasionally, check the apps that are using your microphone, camera, location, and call history. Cancel the permissions that do not make sense or do not need to be active. Being able to monitor suspicious activity in the form of data use or a history background can enable you to identify any issues early.
Bonus for parents: safeguard teens from phone tapping, hacking or spyware
There are many ways in which kids are vulnerable to hacking, spyware and tapping. But all this can change when you have a reliable option like a parental control tool that works best. One of such tools is FlashGet Kids which has features that can deal with such situations.
FlashGet Kids has an app blocker which you can use to block suspicious apps you discover on your kids device. It also has the usage report which you can use to see the app notifications and mobile data usage. This will help you know if there’s an unusual activity or there’s a suspicious app running in the background. So, for parents who want to protect their kids from tapping, spyware and hacking, FlashGet Kids is the way to go.
Alternative & safe methods: How to check if your phone is tapped on iPhone or Android?
There are a few ways that you can use to help you know if your iPhone or Android device is tapped or not. These are some of the most reliable options that you can use.
iPhone:
- Step 1. Go to Settings and then “General.”
- Step 2. Move to “VPN & Device Management” for unknown profiles.
- Step 3. Now, review app permissions under “Privacy & Security.”
- Step 4. Pick out any permissions that seem strange and not needed.
- Step 1. On your Android device, move to Settings and then “Security.”
- Step 2. Check all the device admin apps and their permissions.
- Step 3. Enable “Google Play Protect” and monitor unusual battery or data usage.
- Disconnect from networks: The Wi-Fi and mobile data should be deactivated to interrupt any data flow taking place.
- Remove suspicious apps: Deactivate unwanted applications, particularly those that have broad permissions or are authorized to be device administrators.
- Run a trusted security scan: Identify malware or spyware and delete them with a reliable mobile security application.
- Change important passwords: Changing passwords to email and bank accounts can help you secure your device and information from theft.
- Perform a factory reset if necessary: When the problems still remain, format the data and perform a complete factory reset and then only install official stores based on the trusted applications.
Android:
What to do if your phone is compromised?
Learning that your phone is compromised is stressful, but there are options that you can use to manage the situation. These options will be useful as you try to restore normally to your device:
Final words
As we have seen above, tapping people’s phones is frequently on the rise, and stopping it is the only way out. Even though there are measures to help you know the number to dial to see if your phone is tapped, you need to be able to identify the problem first. With the options we have provided above like checking your battery for unusual drainage, you can easily identify the issue. But if you’re looking for a bit of extra protection for your kids, then you should try FlashGet Kids. It has reliable features that will protect your kids against tapping and spyware.
FAQs
USSD codes are also available in checking your call forwarding and diversion settings: you can use USSD codes such as: *#21#, *#62#, *#67#, and ##002#. This will help you know the number to dial to see if your phone is tapped
You cannot know whether the law enforcement agencies are spying on your phone using regular settings or through dial code. Police surveillance is allowed at the network-level and cannot be observed by the users.
No. *#62 just displays whether calls are being diverted when your phone is unreachable, e.g., when the phone is switched off or when the coverage is weak. The fact that you have a voicemail number is normal and does not imply tapping.
##002 switches off call forwarding and diversion arrangements on your phone. It comes in handy during reconfiguration of any suspicious or undesired forwarding to default values.
