Is My Father Hacking My Phone? An Alarming Discovery

In today’s digital age, privacy concerns and security breaches have become prevalent topics of conversation. Recently, I encountered a situation that has me questioning whether my father might be intruding on my privacy in a significantly concerning way. As someone who isn’t particularly tech-savvy, I’m reaching out to seek clarity and advice.

I live approximately 40 minutes away from my parents, and my mother has been uneasy about my father’s growing interest in her private matters. During my visit to their home today, we stumbled across an unusual USB device. It had buttons and a switch that piqued our curiosity, and out of curiosity, I connected it to my laptop. To my shock, it revealed recorded conversations: not just of my mother, but also snippets of discussions I had earlier in the day with her and my sister, as well as a recent phone call with my boyfriend.

This revelation is deeply troubling, not only because I’ve never given my father access to my phone, but also because my mother hasn’t either. To add complexity, I utilize a Galaxy Note 9 while she has a newer iPhone. It’s hard to fathom how this could even happen, and whether my father has the capability to access my phone while I’m in my own home.

I’m hesitant to confront him about this directly; after all, it’s a complicated situation that involves both him and my mother. Meanwhile, I want to protect my privacy. If this USB device is somehow linked to my phone, I’d like to know how to thwart any unauthorized access.

This experience has truly opened my eyes to the potential for surveillance and intrusion within our own families. If anyone has encountered a similar challenge or has insight on how to safeguard my smartphone from such invasions, your guidance would be immensely appreciated.

Update: I was surprised by the overwhelming response to my original post! I’m taking time to read through all the suggestions and implement the advice shared by the community. Thank you all for your support, insights, and kindness—it means a lot.