the function that warns you if you are being spied on or eavesdropped on

Without us knowing it, our Android mobile constantly protects us from all types of threats. Google has implemented all kinds of functions that work in the background and without warning, but which plug the “holes” and block possible hacker attacks.

Some of these privacy and security features are known, such as permissions that prevent apps from accessing our data; But others are more mysterious, either because Google doesn’t explain exactly what they do, or because there’s really no context about what they do.

He green dot appearing in the corner of the mobile screen is a good example of a function that many people have seen, but probably don’t know what it does. Many readers of EL ESPAÑOL – El Androide Libre may know that it has something to do with the camera, because the dot appears when they open the camera app, but nothing else.

The green dot of the mobile

The function of the green dot on the cell phone is very simple: it notifies us when the camera is in use. That is, if we take our cell phone and see this dot in the corner of the screen, this means the camera is active and can record us. This point can appear in the left or right corner, depending on the brand of the mobile, but it must always appear.

If we opened the camera app and we see the green dot, we shouldn’t worry because it’s normal; The mobile phone simply notifies us that the camera app is using the camera, which makes sense. It is also not a problem if we use applications like Instagram or TikTok and we are going to take a photo or record a video, since in this case the green dot is also displayed.

But if we have not opened any application related to the camera, or if we are not using any function using the camera, and we see the green dot, it may mean that We have installed a malicious application that is spying on us.

Google explains that to find out which apps are using the camera, simply swipe down and click the green dot; will appear a window with applications that use the camera

Another thing that many people may not know is that the green dot also appears if the microphone is used. It works exactly the same as when using the camera and is usually distinguished by a microphone icon to indicate that an app is using it in the background.

The great advantage of these points is that applications cannot block them. In other words, a malicious application cannot prevent the green dot from appearing if you use the camera, because it is the Android system that displays it. This also means that we cannot remove the green dot; The system does not allow this, and the only way to prevent them from appearing is to deactivate the camera or microphone of our mobile using the quick settings (by swiping down).

It is therefore important to pay attention to the corners (left or right depending on the brand of our mobile) if we suspect that we are being spied on.