Is Someone Tracking Your Phone? Here’s Why Business Owners Should Care

You probably keep your phone close all day. It holds your texts, emails, passwords—even sensitive business details. But did you know it’s surprisingly easy for someone to track your phone without you knowing?

Whether it’s a hacker, a former employee, or even someone with a personal grudge, phone tracking tools are more available—and more dangerous—than ever. And for small business owners, the risk goes far beyond lost privacy. It can put your entire company in danger.

Let’s break down how phone tracking happens, what signs to look for, and how to protect yourself.

How Your Phone Can Be Tracked

There are many ways someone could secretly monitor your phone. And no, it doesn’t take a tech genius to pull it off.

• Spyware Apps: These apps can secretly track your calls, messages, and even turn on your microphone or camera.
• Phishing Links: Phishing messages often come in the form of emails or texts with links that, once clicked, can silently install tracking tools onto your phone. Here are the Top 5 Cyber Scams You Need to Know About
• Location Sharing: Some apps track your location—even after you’ve stopped using them—without asking.
• Stalkerware: This type of spyware hides in plain sight. It often looks like a normal app or settings tool, making it hard to detect.

Many of these tools are sold online as “monitoring software,” which means just about anyone can get them.

Why Business Owners Should Take This Seriously

If you own a business, your phone is probably loaded with important data—client information, login credentials, financial apps, even employee files. If someone gets into your phone, they may get access to your whole business.

Worse, you might not realize you’ve been tracked until after the damage is done. That could mean leaked deals, stolen funds, or even lost customers. According to the Verizon Data Breach Report, the average small business loses over $120,000 in a data breach.

And yes, that breach could start right in your pocket.

Signs Someone Might Be Watching You

Tracking software is built to be sneaky, but here are some red flags to watch for:

• Your battery drains faster than usual
• You notice high data use even when you're not doing much
• The phone feels hot, even when idle
• Strange apps or icons show up
• You hear weird noises during calls
• Your phone crashes or freezes often

These signs don’t always mean spyware is present, but if they show up suddenly or all at once, it’s worth checking into.

What To Do If You Think You’re Being Tracked

Don’t panic. You can take back control of your phone—and your business security—with these steps:

1. Run a Security Scan
   Use a trusted mobile antivirus app to scan for spyware and malware.
2. Review App Permissions
   Go into your settings and remove app access to things like your location, microphone, or camera—especially for apps you don’t recognize or use.
3. Update Your Phone
   Keeping your phone’s software up to date helps block known vulnerabilities.
4. Do a Factory Reset
   If spyware is confirmed and can’t be removed, resetting the phone to factory settings can wipe it clean. Make sure to save your most important files and contacts before wiping your device.
5. Use Strong Security Features
   Turn on Face ID or fingerprint unlock, and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all business apps and accounts.

Your Phone Is a Business Tool—Treat It That Way

Your smartphone isn’t just for calls and TikToks—it’s your digital office, your banking terminal, and your storage space for critical business data. If a cybercriminal gets access, they could do serious harm without even touching your network.

That’s why staying alert and securing your phone isn’t optional—it’s essential.

If you’re worried your phone might be compromised, now’s the time to act and reach out to us.