How To Tell If Someone Is Active On Their Phone? Top Answer Update

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Technology has made everything faster and perhaps a bit more convenient. Social media, online calling apps, and trackers have all come together to give smartphone users access to features that seemed unthinkable a decade ago. With the leaps in the way data works, the demands on the technology have also increased exponentially. Search online and you will find users looking for answers to things such as: B. How to know the number is busy without calling.

How do you know someone is busy on another call?

While it’s pretty simple, you just pick up your phone and dial to know when someone is busy on another call! In fact, with Whatsapp, as soon as you connect a call, the user is engaged as a clear message in the app itself. However, if the person isn’t busy elsewhere during the call, you’ll see “ringing” on the screen.

However, with third-party applications like Truecaller, you can simply enter a valid number to check if it’s busy. When you enter a number, you’ll see a red busy icon next to it. Therefore, it’s an easy way to know someone is busy without even having to call that number. This answers the popular question, “How do I know the number is busy without calling?”

However, the main concerns with Truecaller are its intrusive feature and privacy concerns that users have had over time. However, it is mostly accurate at recognizing names associated with specific numbers.

You must accept entering your number into an app that allows users to view details. However, disabling Truecaller will erase your data and no one will be able to trace your data on your number if you don’t have an account.

However, don’t confuse this with ringing and calling features in the SMS app. Calling appears on the screen when you try to call someone but there is no internet connection. The ringing indicates that the call went through.

But despite all the encryption, WhatsApp can trace calls and SMS via source code. On the other hand, this is not as easy or as widely accessible as you might imagine.

Get out of the blockade

An interesting feature of WhatsApp is that after deleting and reinstalling the app on your existing number, you will automatically be unblocked on another user’s list. Even if the latter blocked your number, reinstalling WhatsApp will fix it.

While people are worried about whether so many apps actually compromise privacy, there are a lot of users looking for newer means of finding out how to know the number is busy without calling.

Since you’re reading this article, you already know that it’s pretty hard to tell if someone is online. In fact, there is no small green or blue dot or other indicator that signals a user’s status. And it’s safe to assume that this is some sort of privacy feature, protecting you and the other Line users from the overly talkative admirers.

Therefore, you need to estimate whether a person is online or not. But is that really all you can do? Of course not. We give you some tips and tricks to get a more accurate assessment of your friend’s online status. Also, there are some tips and tricks you might find useful to hide your online status and avoid reading recipients.

Line Online Status – More than a guessing game

The quickest way to tell if someone is online is to send them a message and see if they read it.

You can also go to the person’s timeline and look for the most recent posts. To navigate to their timeline, tap on the user’s profile and select Posts in the bottom left.

You can switch between the Posts and Photos/Videos tabs to preview the latest updates (if any). It is worth noting that these methods can be effective, but there are some disadvantages.

First of all, Line isn’t exactly a social network, so your friends might rarely post, a person might just ignore your message, or they might not get cell service. In addition, there are hacks to bypass the read receiver feature.

status messages

Some users participate in Line’s status reporting feature. This feature allows users to update a message found in their profile under the Posts tab.

If you’re lucky, the person you’re interested in left a status message letting you know they’ll be gone for a while. To search for a status message, do the following:

Step 1

Open the Line app and navigate to the profile of the person you are interested in by tapping their name in the list that appears.

step 2

As before, tap Posts in the bottom left corner. You can also tap on their profile and see the message just below their name.

As you can see in the screenshot above, the user has set their status message to Not Online. While your friends and contacts are unlikely to be that proactive, it’s worth checking their profile for updates.

How to trick read receivers in line

Is there a switch to turn off reading receivers in line? No, it does not exist. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but you have to think outside the box, so to speak.

You can turn off message notifications in the app. Tap on the gear icon, select Notifications and choose one of the options. You can turn them off completely or turn off message and thumbnail previews.

Ignoring the group chat or individual chat tags is also easy. Just tap the button next to Mentions to turn them off. Disabling all notifications can be useful, but the read recipient is still there once you open the message.

Some users go the extra mile to hide their online status. You turn on airplane mode and then read the message. Still, you can see the receiver read as soon as it turns off Airplane mode.

Self-destructing chats, deleting photos and third-party trackers

Aside from the non-existent progress bar and receiver-reading workarounds, there are other ways to hide on Line from plain sight. However, you should know that Line is constantly updating the app and privacy policy. This means you may not be able to take advantage of some of the features based on the Line version you are using.

Now you see it, now you don’t

This one comes straight out of the spy movies. Regardless of the recipient’s online status, you can set a line of text to self-destruct after a specified amount of time.

To do this, open a chat, tap the recipient’s name, and then tap Hidden Chat. There is also a timer that makes the message disappear after the set time.

Note: This feature may not be available with the latest Line update.

remove photos

It would be really cool if you could set photos on Line to self-destruct, but there’s still no such feature. You have to do it the old-fashioned way and manually delete or hide the photos. Here’s how to do it.

Access the Activity Log and select All, select the photo and tap Hide from Timeline or Delete Photo. This way you can prevent someone from guessing whether you are online or not.

Note: If the photo is in an album, click the share icon and choose Remove.

Third Party Spy Software

In this section, we do not recommend third-party tracking apps as very few are actually available on the App or Play store. However, this does not mean that there is a shortage of spy apps.

Most of these apps are designed to keep an eye on the user’s chats, location, activities, data usage, etc. And while they can be useful for determining your online status, it’s wise to approach these apps with caution. The spy apps seem to be taking in a lot of private information and there is no way to tell how well the information is protected.

Don’t cross the line

One way or another, you can never be 100% when someone is online on Line. So how can you tell if your friends are available for line chats or calls? Send them a message and wait for an answer? Or maybe do something else? Leave us a comment and share your experience with the rest of the community.

Location verification on a mobile phone happens in the background, is relatively efficient and can go unnoticed. Today’s smartphones calculate fairly accurate GPS coordinates and broadcast that location over the internet. While we travel we turn on location tracking for security reasons, but I was recently wondering if you can tell when someone is checking your cell phone location.

no Android and iPhone iOS don’t notify or alert when someone checks your location. A brief icon appears in the notification bar when GPS is used by location services. Any number of apps or system processes trigger a location check. Only your carrier can continuously track you.

Read on as we cover why your carrier is tracking you and some smartphone-specific location tracking applications.

Your mobile operator needs your location continuously

We don’t usually consider how cellular service works. We simply subscribe to a company’s plan and start using the service.

In order for your phone to ring when someone calls, texts, or when you’re connected to the internet, your device must be constantly connected to a cell tower. The phone company maintains a central log of which phones are connected to which towers. You then route your service through the tower with the best connection.

This coordination occurs once every few minutes to several hours, depending on factors such as your usage, your movement, and the geographical location of the towers. The log of tower connections is retained for varying lengths of time based on company policy.

How to tell someone to check your location

There is no direct way to see when your carrier is checking their logs. Keep walking and expect to be followed.

Hide from your mobile operator

There are a few ways to prevent your phone from updating your carrier.

First, simply turning off your mobile device is not enough to stop it from sending. You must remove the battery. However, many devices, mostly smartphones, also have a second battery. This extra battery is mainly used to keep the clock running. There is some research showing that this additional power source can be used to send transmissions to nearby receivers.

Wrapping your switched-off phone in a few layers of aluminum foil will prevent additional signal transmission or reception. This will also ensure that you are not connected to your cellular provider.

As I write this article, I wanted to test this research for myself. I went into the kitchen and grabbed the aluminum roll. I successfully called an old prepaid cell phone while it was unpacked. I then wrapped it in foil like a burrito. The second test call went to voicemail and the phone in the aluminum didn’t ring.

share location

Your phone’s location is used to help apps but can also be shared so others can track you. Google Maps location sharing and Apple’s Find My Friends (now combined with Find My iPhone to become “Find My”) are the two main ways users can share locations between trusted users.

Google Maps

Google offers temporary and continuous location sharing via its Maps service. If you have a Google account, you can share with other Google users directly in the Maps app, or via a temporary web link for users outside of the ecosystem. Google’s full support page has great instructions.

Apple Find My Friends

The People tab in Apple’s Find My app is your destination for location sharing between iPhone users. MacRumors does a great job and explains the service in this video from YouTube.

Other location services

There are several cross-platform location sharing alternatives: Life360 and GeoZilla are designed for family safety.

Another option to check out is Hauk on the F-Droid App Store, a free and open source software (FOSS), location-sharing app.

⚠️Warnings:

How to tell someone to check your location

For Google Maps on Android, you’ll see two brief location notifications.

GuidingTech has a good post showing how to view your Android notification logs.

With Apple Find My Friends, a blank location icon in your status bar indicates that your device has sent an update to the Find My service.

For more information on iOS location and privacy, visit Apple’s support site.

The other location-sharing services will disclose your location updates differently. Please note that the operating system should provide the best insight into when the service is checking your phone’s location.

Remote Location Services

Remote device management is another use case for location data. Google Find My Device and Apple Find My iPhone (now combined with Find My Friends to “Find My”) are the out-of-the-box options for locating your lost or stolen device.

Find My Device provides status of last viewed date/time, network connectivity and battery level, phone identifier (IMEI) and location on a map

Remote management features including ringing at high volume, displaying an on-screen message, securely locking and signing out of the Google account, and remote wipe/wipe of the content on the device

Find My iPhone provides the date and time you were last connected to iCloud, location on a map, approximate battery level, and whether the device is charging

Remote ability to call phone, put iOS device in lost mode and wipe data remotely

The best alternative to track a lost or stolen smart device outside of the Apple or Google ecosystem is Prey. The service offers free and paid tiers of service and can track both mobile devices and laptops.

How to tell someone to check your location

When using Google’s Find My Device service, a brief notification will appear, which in turn is easily seen in the notification log.

Android 11 has popped up a more accessible notification history list. Pull down the notification bar and tap History. All dismissed notifications are presented chronologically.

For iPhones, the Find My service works similarly via iCloud. There is a brief notification icon in the status bar when checking the device’s location.

Loot is a little different. The service is working hard to not show notification tracking.

For all those lost/stolen phone services, you can remotely secure the device and post a message on the screen if you want to disclose that the device has been tracked.

Your smartphone has 5 ways to track your position. Can you guess which one is the best? In this article you will find the answer.

Final Thoughts

For all cell phone users, remember that your approximate location is a technical requirement for the provision of cell service and mobile data. Your wireless service provider continuously logs your location and may be required to disclose this history through legal requests for information. Private individuals do not have this location data.

Smartphone users can recognize when someone or a service checks their location. You can find a tracking history by browsing your device’s apps or settings. Users may also have the option to view this list of locations on a service’s website.

As users become more concerned about privacy, device manufacturers, app developers, and wireless carriers are introducing more transparency to let users know how location data is collected, used, and stored.

User Note: Remote location services and location sharing come with privacy costs. You hire the companies you hire to protect your real-time data from theft and only share your location with third parties who are authorized to receive it. Please use these services if and to the extent that the benefits to you outweigh the risks.

In this video (6m13s@2x), The Hated One goes over all the ways your smartphone tracks your location.

Related questions and tips

Can I track a cell phone with just a phone number?

Individuals cannot track a phone’s location using just a phone number, SIM chip, or phone IMEI identifier. Law enforcement agencies can legally gain access to an approximate location through cellular service providers.

How can I locate a cell phone for free?

Google’s Find My Device and Apple’s Find My iPhone services can both track a cell phone for free at no cost. Several third-party services like Life360 and Prey Project have free/free offers. These are described further in this article.

How Can I Track Cell Phone Location Without Them Knowing?

For smartphones, location tracking can be achieved by installing an app that requires physical control of the device and consent from the owner. Feature or “dumb” phones need help from the carrier to locate the phone based on the cell tower connection.

makaylalb523 said:

“Can you see if they’re active?: If someone shares their location with me, can I see if they’re active on their phone?”

——-

no But if you’re worried, stop sharing.

Find My iPhone Accuracy – If you’ve lost your iPhone and are trying to locate it either using the Find My iPhone application on another iPhone or by logging into the internet using iCloud, you may have noticed that the accuracy of the Your iPhone’s location sometimes can change this. You may also notice that sometimes there is a large green circle around your iPhone’s location.

Find my iPhone – Large green circle

So what does it mean when there is a big green circle around the iPhone’s location?

Essentially, this means that the iPhone’s location is approximate. The larger the green circle, the more approximate it is. In the example above, this iPhone was in our office. It is a six story office block and the phone is placed in an office with no direct line of sight to a window. The image with the large green circle was taken after we turned off Wi-Fi on the device.

Why does it make a difference if Wi-Fi is turned off?

Find my iPhone uses the built-in GPS and your Wi-Fi to determine the location. What happens when Wifi is off is that it only relies on one piece of information instead of two to locate the device. If you are inside a building or there is some kind of interference, Wifi will help a lot in locating your iPhone.

Conclusion

Find my iPhone accuracy depends on a number of factors, including interference, GPS signal, and whether Wi-Fi is on. The size of the green circle around your phone’s location gives you an indication of how accurate this information is. It’s also important to note that WiFi may be disabled when your phone is asleep, which likely means you’ll see a green circle more often.

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TextFree application, just like WhatsApp, allows users to text and call for free while using the Internet. If you’re already using the app, you might be familiar with its many other features. And tracking that special number might not be a piece of cake. If you’re wondering how to track a text app number for free, you’ve come to the right place. So, read on to know more about Text app number in detail as well.

How to track a text app number for free

TextFree provides its users with a special number to use to call, which is difficult to understand. Let’s learn more about TextFree app and how you can use it to track other numbers for free.

What is a text free number?

TextFree application allows users to send SMS or call for free. Aside from this feature, it also gives the user a US number, also known as a TextFree number, which they can use to call. This number can also be used without an application.

Also Read: Which Channel is FOX on DIRECTV?

What is Second Text Apps about?

Second texting apps allow people to use free texting and calling services while using a custom phone number. Other functions like sending photos and videos are also part of second text apps.

How to tell if a number is from an SMS app?

Usually you can tell if a number is from an SMS app by checking the caller ID. Most of the time, the number is listed as a text number or a call number, which represents a number from an SMS app.

How to tell if someone is using a texting app?

There are two common ways to tell if someone is using an SMS app.

First, you can check the caller ID of the number. The number listed as a text or call number most likely belongs to someone using an SMS app.

the number. The number listed as a text or call number most likely belongs to someone using an SMS app. A look at the call log will determine whether the number used belongs to an SMS app. Therefore, it’s easy to tell if someone is using an SMS app.

Also read: How to tell if your phone is being bugged

Can TextFree apps be tracked?

Yes, TextFree apps can be tracked. Tracking them down is not easy and requires a lot of effort. However, legal authorities have every right to prosecute TextFree apps in an emergency.

Can apps with fake numbers be traced?

Yes, apps with fake numbers can be tracked. Virtual number operators can track fake number apps or burner phone numbers. Information such as logs, messages and other data help track the identity of the user.

What if I told you that there is a way to find out who a TextFree user really is?

Surely there are ways to find out how to track a text app number for free. Even though the identity of the TextFree number is anonymous, it can still be traced by contacting the service provider/company that holds all the information about the identity of the person using TextFree.

Can the TextFree number be traced?

No, TextFree numbers are not traceable. If you want to know how to track a Text App number for free, you can do it by contacting TextFree customer support. They can help you find out details about the TextFree number.

Also Read: Top 30 Best Second Phone Number Apps for Android

Can TextFree be tracked by the police?

Yes, legal authorities such as the police have the position to track down and prosecute TextFree in emergencies or against illegal activities.

Can you track SMS app number?

Yes, an SMS app number can be traced. In order to trace number you need permission from legal authorities because regular users cannot trace Text Me app numbers due to personal reasons.

How can I track a text app number for free?

It’s a difficult path to track a text app number for free, but it’s not impossible. Some tools can help you with free tracing.

Note: You must have a second text app account for tracking. The TextFree app works in the US and Canada.

1. Visit a text app like TextFree in your desktop browser.

2. Click the Sign In option at the top right of the page.

3. Sign in with your Facebook, Google or Apple account.

4. When done, search for the number you want to track.

Note: You can also use an app like mSpy to track the number that is texting/calling you.

Also Read: How to Change Your Number on TikTok

How to Track Fake Calls and Annoying Text Messages?

The best way to track down fake calls and annoying text messages is to file a complaint with legal authorities or enlist the help of a phone company.

How to Track Someone’s Phone Calls and Text Messages Remotely?

To track someone’s phone calls and text messages remotely, you can use apps like My Cell Spy that will help you locate calls and messages even if your phone is stolen.

Also Read: 20 Best Cell Phone Tracking Apps

What happens when you call a TextFree number?

The TextFree app offers a TextFree number for free calls and SMS. When you call a TextFree number, you’re probably speaking to the user of that number on the other end of the call. This call is free and can be dialed over the internet.

Can text messages be tracked after they’re deleted?

Yes, text messages can be tracked even after being deleted or erased. They can be recovered using special encryption tools that can track all deleted data.

Can you trace a phone number from a text message?

Yes, you can trace a phone number from a text message. You can do this by tracking the phone number’s area code, IMEI, and other identifiers that can be used to track the number’s location.

How do I report a TextFree number?

You can report a TextFree number by contacting the TextFree Support team. Follow the next steps to do the same.

1. Visit the TextFree support page.

2. Click on the Legal & Privacy option.

3. Click Report Abuse of Service. This option helps you report a TextFree number.

Recommended:

We hope you learned how to track a text app number for free. Don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions and suggestions via the comments section below. Let us know which topic you’d like to learn more about in our next article.

Brent Cohen

author

Brent is a writer for DeviceTests, specializing in PC components, PC accessories and gadgets. He has also written for various other publications about gaming consoles, smartphones and laptops.

This is a 5-step strategy to see if someone has blocked you on iMessage.

iMessage, one of the best messaging apps, allows iPhone users to keep in touch with family and friends. However, there may be times when you encounter problems and don’t get any reply from your iMessages.

Then you’re wondering if there’s something wrong with your iMessage because your messages weren’t being delivered. Or maybe something is wrong with their phone. have they blocked your number But how do you know if someone has blocked you on iMessage?

That’s exactly what you’ll find out in this article. A step-by-step guide with 5 actionable tips on how to tell if someone has blocked you on iMessage. We’ve got a lot to cover in this guide, so let’s get started.

How to know if someone has blocked you on iMessage

Apple doesn’t let you know if someone has blocked you on iMessage. Can you imagine getting a notification on your phone when someone blocks you on iMessage? Ouch! That would surely make things worse. So Apple lets you figure that out for yourself.

Fortunately, there are many pointers that can help you. Read on to find out.

Click the links above to jump to a specific section, or keep scrolling to see who blocked you on iMessage.

1. Check iMessage bubble color

iMessages usually appear in blue text bubbles (messages between Apple devices). If you have “Send as SMS” enabled on your iPhone, your messages will be sent as SMS when iMessage is unavailable. Keep in mind that cellphone charges may apply.

iMessage vs SMS. Screenshot: Gardy Philogene/Gotechtor

When you know someone has an iPhone and suddenly text messages between you and that person are green. This is a sign that he or she has probably blocked you.

Maybe the person doesn’t have cellular service or a data connection, or they might have turned off iMessage so that your iMessages fall back to SMS. We can’t be completely sure, so let’s move on to the next step.

2. Check the iMessage delivery notification

When you send an iMessage, a “Delivered” message appears below it, letting you know that the other person has received your message.

You may see a “read receipt” from your iMessages, letting you know that the other person opened the Messages app and tapped on their conversation thread.

However, this option is not enabled by default. If the other person hasn’t turned it on, you won’t get that tiny gray notification.

If you don’t see a Delivered or Read notification in the iMessage conversation, you may have been blocked. As mentioned above, iMessage says undelivered when the phone is off, idle, or without a Wi-Fi connection.

Wait a few hours or even a day and try texting again and see what happens. If you still don’t see the status of your iMessages after several attempts, they must have blocked you.

Note: If the person you think has blocked you has put their phone on Do Not Disturb mode, you’ll still get a delivery notification.

We did a little experiment. We used two iPhones, one blocked the other on iMessage. Then we sent messages from blocked iPhone before and after blocking. Here’s what we found.

When checking the status of the previous messages before blocking, there are delivery notifications like “Delivered” or “Read” in the message thread.

Any messages sent by the blocked iPhone after that will have no notifications. They just stayed blue in the conversation thread.

What happens if you get blocked on iMessage? Screenshot: Gardy Philogene/Gotechtor

As you can see in the image above, the first message (blue bubble) is an iMessage with a delivery notification underneath (Delivered). We sent this message before the other number blocked us.

The following two messages (green bubble) are SMS with a notification that they were sent as a “text message”.

This is because the blocked number used the Send as Text Message feature on their iPhone. To do this, long-press the message bubble and tap “Send as Text Message” from the pop-up menu.

If it weren’t for that, there wouldn’t be a notification below the messages, and it would have been iMessages (blue bubble) instead of SMS (green bubble).

Regardless of whether you have this option enabled, the person who blocked you will never receive any of your messages.

4. Call the person who blocked you

So you still haven’t received a reply to your messages, and there’s no delivery confirmation either. What to do next if you don’t want to text them. Try calling the person you think has blocked you.

We’re doing a little experiment with a blocked number on iMessage. When receiving a call from the blocked number, the phone rang briefly (only once).

Then the automated voicemail system told us the recipient was unavailable and took us straight to voicemail.

Blocked Messages folder on iPhone. Screenshot: Gardy Philogene/Gotechtor

The blocker will not receive notification of the blocked number’s call and voicemail. However, he or she will still receive voicemail. It appears in the Blocked Messages folder at the bottom of the voicemail list.

5. Turn off caller ID and call the blocker again

If you’re still in doubt that they blocked you, try calling the blocker while hiding your number. To make an anonymous call on your iPhone, add *67 before the 10-digit number, then press the call button.

You can also go to Settings > Phone > View my caller ID. Then turn off the button next to “Show my caller ID” to hide your number when making calls.

Depending on your wireless service provider, this option may not be available to you. So you have to use *64 every time you want to hide your number.

Disable Caller ID on iPhone. Screenshot: Gardy Philogene/Gotechtor

If the phone rings two or more times, they have definitely blocked you. “No Caller ID” is displayed on the receiving device. Obviously the blocker is not allowed to take the call. After all, most people don’t take anonymous calls these days.

Wrap up

Now that you’ve learned how to tell if someone has blocked you on iMessage, we recommend going ahead or speaking to the person directly. Never bother him or her.

Whether that person was a friend or an ex, dust yourself off and move on. After all, life goes on.

If you know any other methods that we have left out, please let us know in the comment section below.

If you found this article useful, please share it on your favorite social network so your friends can enjoy it too.

If your iPhone messages are green, it means they are being sent as SMS text messages and not iMessages, which are blue.

iMessages only work between Apple users. You’ll always see green when writing to Android users or when you’re not connected to the internet.

If all your iPhone messages are green, you should make sure iMessage is enabled in settings.

Check out Insider’s tech reference library for more stories.

You may have noticed that the text messages in your iPhone’s Messages app can appear either green or blue.

The difference? Green messages are ordinary SMS text messages, while blue messages use Apple’s proprietary iMessage format.

Here’s everything you need to know about why your iPhone is sending green messages and how to fix it if you think it’s an error.

The difference between SMS and iMessage explained

Ordinary SMS text messages are sent through your cellular service and don’t use the internet or your data plan. All mobile phones – Android, iPhone and others – use SMS in some way.

However, iPhones also use iMessage which is designed to send messages over the internet, especially between Apple devices.

Messages in green are SMS, while messages in blue are iMessages. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

When sending messages to another Apple device, your iPhone uses iMessages. However, when you send an SMS using an Android phone or when you are not connected to the internet, your iPhone uses SMS. You cannot send an iMessage to an Android phone.

But while iMessages are limited to other Apple devices, they have a number of advantages over SMS.

iMessages don’t count towards your SMS plan — instead, they use Wi-Fi or your data plan, whichever is available when you send or receive the message.

The Messages app lets you know when someone is texting you an iMessage (those familiar pulsing dots).

iMessages can also contain information that SMS does not contain, e.g. B. Your location.

You can choose to be notified when an iMessage is delivered and read.

Here’s how to enable iMessage on your iPhone when it’s off

The bottom line is that iMessage is generally better than SMS, and your iPhone will use it whenever possible — you don’t have to do anything special to send an iMessage to another Apple device, aside from having iMessage enabled.

To make sure iMessage is enabled:

1. Launch the Settings app.

2. Tap on “Messages”.

3. Make sure iMessage is on by swiping the button to the right.

Make sure your iMessage setting is enabled to send and receive iMessages to other iOS users. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

There are a few clues that can help you figure it out.

In today’s technology-saturated world, communicating with people can be easier than ever. But it can also be easy to stop someone from communicating with you with a button or two. And if you text someone and still don’t get a reply, you might be wondering if this happened to you. Can you tell if someone has blocked your SMS? Also check out how to know if someone has blocked you on Facebook.

Can you know for sure

We should start by saying that there is no definitive way to tell if you have been blocked; For example, you don’t get a notification or don’t see a notice in that person’s contact information. That would violate the privacy of the other user. But little clues like the lack of a “Delivered” message (on iPhones), as well as what you hear when you call the person, can help you determine if they’ve blocked you. In fact, it’s a lot easier to find out if someone’s blocked your phone number if you have an iPhone, and if the person you’re texting does too.

How to find out if someone has blocked your number on iPhone

There are a few ways to tell if someone has blocked your number. Justin Lavelle, Chief Communications Officer at Been Verified, explains how to tell if someone has blocked your number if you have an iPhone.

Take a look at your SMS app, which will most likely be iMessage. “Most likely when you send a message, you’ll get a ‘delivered’ confirmation if the message was delivered,” he told Reader’s Digest. If you’re looking at your messages with the person you think blocked you, look for that confirmation. “The last message you know was received and replied to should have a status of ‘delivered,'” explains Lavelle. If you don’t see this “delivered” notification among the messages you sent afterwards, it could mean that this person has blocked you.

Another way to find out if someone has blocked your number is to call that person. “If you call a specific number and it goes straight to voicemail, or you get a weird message like ‘temporarily out of service’ or ‘the person isn’t taking calls,’ it could mean your number has been blocked,” says Lavelle . Maybe you’ve done one of those things you shouldn’t do over text.

How to find out if someone has blocked your number on Android

Things are even less clear if you or the person you’re texting has an Android phone. Android phones don’t have this “delivered” message when sending SMS, and even an iPhone user doesn’t see the “delivered” notification when texting an Android user. So how can you tell if someone has blocked your number for texting using an Android phone?

If an Android user has blocked you, says Lavelle, “your text messages will go through as usual; they just aren’t delivered to the Android user.” It’s the same as an iPhone, but without the “delivered” notification (or lack thereof) to let you know. “The easiest way to tell if you’ve been blocked by an Android user is to call,” says Lavelle. Listen like an iPhone until redirected to voicemail, or play a pre-recorded message. Of course, that doesn’t automatically mean that this person has blocked your phone number; Your call may be diverted to voicemail for other reasons. But if it happens repeatedly and you get silence on both calls and texts, you should assume you’ve been blocked. Whether you’re worried about getting blocked or not, you should avoid those annoying texting habits we’re all guilty of.

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The Claim: Dialing this PIN reveals if someone is monitoring your phone conversations

As Americans continue to work, socialize, shop and live from home, our phones are becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives. For some, this increased dependency means increased vulnerability to cybersecurity threats.

A video posted to Instagram on July 15 claims iPhone and Android users can test whether someone is monitoring their phone usage by dialing a secret code.

In the video posted by @whodafckwannago2prison, a man holds an iPhone and demonstrates how users should type *#21# to test their devices. He tells viewers to discard their phones when the next screen shows that one of the listed features has been activated.

The post quickly inspired hundreds of comments from Instagram users, who shared the results of their own testing and raised concerns about the safety of their devices. Some questioned the validity of the code and the motivation for the contribution.

“It worked but why do I feel like I just opened my phone to the scam he’s doing,” commented @619meech.

Other videos with the same claim are circulating on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

@whodafckwannago2prison did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

The code does not indicate whether a phone has been tapped

Scott Westover, Google Communications Manager for Security, wrote in an email to USA TODAY, “Think that’s just call forwarding.”

According to tech magazine How-To Geek, dialing this code will reveal whether or not call forwarding is enabled on the device — not if it’s been hacked. How-to Geek described the *#21# feature as a “query code” that allows users to see their call forwarding settings in the phone app.

“It’s not related at all. The idea of ​​a phone being tapped is completely irrelevant to [call forwarding settings] other than social media memes making it relevant,” Alex Kirschner, Apple’s senior public relations manager, iPhone, told USA TODAY.

Fact check: 5G technology is not linked to the coronavirus

What is a query code?

Recently, query codes, also known as feature access codes, are getting a lot of attention as phone hack trends make them popular on platforms like TikTok.

“These shortcodes either reveal hidden menus or act as direct commands. They provide additional information about your device and tweak current settings,” wrote iPhoneTricks.org.

One of the most well-known interrogation codes is *67, which is commonly used to hide the caller ID on outgoing calls.

Other query codes show phone users their data usage, Bluetooth address, and signal strength, among other things.

Some providers do not support these codes, which causes them not to work on customers’ devices. Reaching a recorded message when dialing the code does not mean that your phone has been hacked.

“Not all carriers support the same feature access codes or capabilities. If a customer dials these codes on an unsupported carrier such as Verizon, they may receive a pre-recorded message letting them know they dialed the wrong number,” Kirschner said.

Many wireless service providers list *#21# or variations of it as a call forwarding command in their customer records.

Fact Check: Under the TRACE Act, cell phones will not be updated with “COVID-19 traceability.”

How-To Geek also explained that call forwarding can be turned off by entering ##002# or through the Settings app. Phone owners who want to turn off call forwarding don’t have to dispose of the device, as the video suggests.

Our verdict: Wrong

We consider FALSE the claim that dialing *#21# on an iPhone or Android device indicates whether a phone has been bugged as it is not supported by our research. A Google spokesperson, technical sites and service providers all confirm the query code indicates whether a phone has call forwarding enabled or not – not a security breach.

Our fact check sources:

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Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

Virtually everyone uses a smartphone these days — but did you know there are some secret codes to unlock information on your phone that might one day come in handy? Open your dial pad, enter the secret code, press the call button and be amazed at the displayed function. Some features are only available specifically for Android or iPhone, and some service providers have even disabled the secret code. You just have to try to find out!

Detecting spyware on your phone is difficult as it is usually hidden or works in stealth mode.

However, if someone is spying on your phone, there are some common signs you can look out for. In particular, you should look for suspicious files and applications, unusual or erratic device behavior, and strange messages.

Here are 10 of the most common signs someone is spying on your phone:

1. Unknown applications

Although the most sophisticated spyware is hidden, people occasionally misuse apps like parental control apps to spy on others.

When someone snoops on your phone using one of these apps, the spyware hides in plain sight.

Scan your phone for unknown apps that you don’t remember downloading. Common providers to watch out for are Net Nanny, Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family, and Qustodio.

Go to our How to remove spyware section below to learn more.

2. Your device is “rooted” or “jailbroken”

“Rooting” an Android device or “jailbreaking” an iOS device allows users to bypass the official app stores and install unapproved apps.

If your device has been rooted or jailbroken and you haven’t, it’s a strong indication that something suspicious is going on.

To check if an Android device has been rooted, download an app called Root Checker.

To check if an iOS device is jailbroken, look for an app called “Cydia”. Cydia is the app used to install software on jailbroken phones. If you find it on your device, it is almost certain that your phone has been jailbroken.

PRO TIP: If you buy a used phone, do a factory reset to make sure it’s not jailbroken or rooted. You can find out how to do this here: Android or iPhone.

3. The battery discharges quickly

When spyware works continuously, it can drain your battery faster than usual. However, all batteries degrade over time, so look for a significant and sudden change rather than a gradual deterioration.

If you notice a sudden change, check to see if recently installed or updated apps are responsible before concluding that you have a problem. We’re often surprised at how power hungry some social media apps can be.

4. Your phone gets very hot

If your device is running hot, it could be a sign that someone is spying on you by running spyware in the background.

This is especially relevant when your phone heats up even when you’re not using it or when you hardly ever use it.

NOTE: Likewise, a sudden drop in your phone’s processing speed could be due to spying. The more resources that are diverted to the spyware app, the slower your phone might run.

5. Unusually high data usage

An unusual increase in the amount of data your phone is consuming can sometimes indicate that spyware is running in the background.

The spy app needs to use data to send information back to the perpetrator, so an increase in data usage can indicate foul play.

To check your cellular data on iPhone, go to Settings and then Cellular Data. You can see your total data usage or scroll down to see how much mobile data each app is using.

To check your mobile data usage on Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data usage. Under Mobile you can see the total amount of cellular data used by your phone. Tap Mobile data usage to see how your data usage has changed over time. From here you can see all the current peaks.

NOTE: These measures only track cellular data usage (i.e. the data you use when not connected to Wi-Fi). If your phone is always connected to a WiFi network, it doesn’t help much in identifying spyware. However, some Android phones also offer an option to “Show Wi-Fi data usage”. Use this to monitor how much data your phone is using while connected to WiFi.

Again, high data usage isn’t always the result of spyware. You must first exclude legitimate apps by reviewing the data usage and behavior of individual apps.

For example, we were alarmed when we saw our data usage skyrocketing until we discovered that our new podcast app was downloading many previous episodes.

6. Strange activity in standby mode

Your phone can still receive messages and calls when it’s in standby (or sleep) mode, but it shouldn’t light up or make any noise for any other reason. If this is the case, this could be a symptom of spyware.

Likewise, your phone’s screen should be off when it’s in standby mode, not just dimmed.

7. Phone shutdown issues

Spyware apps can sometimes interfere with a phone’s shutdown process, causing the device to turn off improperly or take an unusually long time to do so.

In 2014, Edward Snowden unveiled NSA technology that prevents phones from being turned off completely and then used for wiretapping purposes. This is the result of a very sophisticated and very targeted attack, but it shows that this form of espionage is possible.

NOTE: Frequent and seemingly random reboots can also be an indication that spyware is on your phone.

8. Odd text messages

Text messages can be used by spyware and malware to send and receive data. If you see outgoing messages that you haven’t sent, it’s probably an indication that something is wrong.

Also watch out for unusual incoming messages. Primitive spyware apps sometimes use SMS messages to communicate with their base. The message is usually encoded in some way when associated with a spyware app.

There are also services like Cerberus that send hidden commands in SMS messages that can trick your phone into taking a picture and emailing it to the culprit, wiping your SD card, taking a screenshot and many other invasive things.

9. Autocorrect behaves badly

Keyloggers are a form of spyware that records all your keystrokes. Someone spying on your phone could use a keylogger to capture your messages and login credentials.

One possible sign someone is using a keylogger to spy on your phone is a faulty autocorrect system. The keylogger interferes with the autocorrect function. So, if you notice it behaving strangely or working significantly slower than usual, it may indicate that someone is spying on your phone.

10. Screenshot quality

If you find that the quality of screenshots is worse than expected, it could be the result of spyware, according to Malwarebytes.

Life360 is an ultimate family location sharing app. It brings a lot of convenience to the table, in the sense that it allows users within an inner circle to share their locations with each other. That means no more lengthy check-ups that aren’t amusing or funny to anyone.

But how does this app work? Does it show your location when your phone is off? Does it notify other people? Read on to find out.

How to tell if someone’s phone is off

We’ll talk a little more about Life360’s behavior below. But first, let’s talk about how to tell if someone’s phone is off. Of course you could call the person. If the phone goes straight to voicemail, it’s probably turned off or the battery is dead. But Life360 makes sure you don’t have to.

When you open the Life360 app you should see your circle with a map on the home screen. If you swipe up from the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a list of people in your circle.

Each person has a status under their name. Some will tell you the person’s location with a street address, others will tell you that the person is one of the recognized places (that you’ve set up), still others can tell you that a person’s location services are turned off, and Recently you can see that a phone is turned off.

Well, a common excuse for this is that a phone died. But Life360 catches us doing it too! Phones that have their location enabled show a percentage of battery life just below the profile icon. People in your circle will also get a notification when someone else’s phone is weak. So if you turn off your phone at 60%, chances are you’ll get caught for that excuse.

use of the app

While Life360 is the ultimate app when it comes to location sharing, that doesn’t mean almost anyone can access your location. The app is used to show the locations of other inner circle members. You can create your own circle – a safe environment where care and safety are paramount.

Of course, in order to use the app, you must first download it to your phone. Of course you have to register your account. To do this, you need to share your email address and phone number and set up a secure password. All of this is for your safety and that of your family.

Each member within the app group must be registered in order to use it. After everyone in your family has completed the registration process, you can begin adding each other to the group. Of course you can use separate circles for as many groups as you like. If you wish, you can also upload your own profile picture. This is recommended to everyone in the circle for easier tracking.

Set up circle

Setting up a circle is pretty easy and straightforward. Of course, any member you wish to add to your circle must have the Life360 app installed on their smartphone. To create a circle, navigate to the top left corner of the app and select the menu icon. From the next menu, select Create Circle. A code will then be sent to you. Use this code to add people to your circle.

After setting up a circle, you should be able to see all members on the featured map. If they use a profile picture, you will see it on their map location. Now tap on any of your children’s icons and use the menu to select the school they attend. The app will then notify you every time your child leaves or enters school.

limits

Although Life360 is a powerful app, it relies on the phone’s GPS location. GPS location sharing is selected on a specific smartphone, which means any user can “disappear” from the map simply by turning off their location sharing options. Another way to stop location sharing is to sign out of the app. Of course, deleting the app also makes the user appear offline.

However, one really fantastic feature that the Life360 app offers is the ability to see the remaining battery of all the contacts in your circle. Therefore, you can tell if your kid just turned off their phone to prevent you from knowing where it is or if the battery is legitimately drained.

The information

In addition to the obvious location sharing information, Life360 offers the battery life information mentioned above, which can be incredibly useful. Aside from acting as a sort of “kid lie detector,” it can also alleviate a lot of worry and anxiety when it comes to not knowing where your child is. Instead of imagining horror story scenarios in your head, you can simply track your child’s battery level.

Another great benefit of using this app is access to the location history of every user in your circle. The search history works for the last two days, so you don’t have to constantly monitor your kids. You can easily see where they’ve been and when their location sharing options were toggled on/off.

If your child turns off GPS location sharing, the app will notify you. If your smartphone is switched off or has no network access, the app will notify you. Simply put, this clever app can no longer be tricked, and you as a parent can no longer trick you.

share location

To toggle location sharing settings on or off, go to Settings and navigate to the circle toggle at the top of the menu. In this view you will see a list of the circles you are a member of. This means you can turn off location sharing for specific circles while remaining visible to others. To turn location sharing on or off for a specific circle, select the circle and simply swipe location sharing.

Keep in mind that location sharing settings can sometimes be a bit buggy, so don’t blame your kids right away. This usually happens when you get a new phone or when it is used on another, additional device. In this case, simply enable the location sharing settings manually.

If the connection is lost, restart the Life360 app to reconnect. Sign out and back in. Before finally contacting Life360 technical support team, try restarting your smartphone.

Family tracking made easy

Life360 is one of the most popular location sharing apps out there. It is aimed specifically at inner-family circles and offers unique options such as battery level display and location notifications.

Have you ever used Life360? Do your kids like the app? Do you feel more relaxed knowing where your kids are most of the time? Click on the comment section below to share your experience.