How to identify wiretapping on Xiaomi smartphone: instructions with proven methods

Xiaomi smartphones are some of the most popular in Russia, but their open MIUI firmware and Chinese roots often raise questions about privacy. If you notice the device's strange behavior - sudden reboots, rapid battery drain or suspicious heating - it may not just be a system failure. In 2023, researchers at Kaspersky recorded an increase in attacks on Android devices through vulnerabilities in branded shells, and Xiaomi was no exception.

This article is not about paranoia, but about real risks, and we'll take a look at the technical and software features of wiretapping, we'll learn how to analyze phone activity through hidden menus and standard MIUI tools, and we'll show you how to distinguish legitimate from malicious processes. Importantly, some symptoms can indicate hardware malfunctions, and we'll explain how to differentiate them.

1. Indirect signs of wiretapping: when the phone behaves strangely

The wiretapping is rarely obvious, and it's more often disguised as normal malfunctions, but there are combinations of symptoms that should alert you.

• 🔋 Unexplained battery discharge – if the phone is discharged in 3-4 hours without active use (at the same time in Settings) → Battery does not have energy-intensive applications).
• 📡 Overheating in standby mode - the body is heated to 40-45°C when you don't even touch the screen.
• 🔄 Spontaneous reboots – especially at night or when the phone is down.
• 📶 Active mobile traffic – the data indicator flashes when all applications are closed.

One of these signs may be a firmware failure, but the combination of the two is a reason for a deep diagnosis. For example, if the phone warms and goes down quickly, check Settings first → Phone → MIUI version — you may need an update. If the firmware is relevant and the problem remains, move to the next section.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse wiretapping with legitimate data collection in the MIUI. Xiaomi sends anonymous telemetry by default (you can turn off Settings) → Additionally. → Confidentiality → It's not wiretapping, but it reduces battery life.

2. Checking active processes: what works in the background

Hidden eavesdropping applications are often disguised as system services, and use the built-in MIUI tools to identify them:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Note apps with names like com.android.phonestate (if you didn’t install it yourself), service.secure or system.update with non-standard permissions Any processes with names in Chinese (for example, “security service”).

Check the microphone’s resolution:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Permissions → Microphone.
2. If there are unknown apps (especially those with background permissions), disable them.

Open a list of all applications (including system)

Check for unknown processes with microphone access

Pay attention to the Chinese names

Disable suspicious permits-->

For advanced diagnostics, use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and connect your phone to your PC and follow the command:

adb shell dumpsys activity processes | grep"mCurReceiver"

If unfamiliar packets with activity appear in the output RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED or RECEIVE_SMS, That's cause for concern.

3. Network activity analysis: who is transferring your data

The wiretaps require data transmission, to track suspicious connections:

1. Install the NetGuard app (free on Google Play).
2. Start monitoring traffic and pay attention to: 🌍 Unknown IP-addresses in China, Hong Kong or Singapore (if you do not use them) VPN). 📤 Continuous data transfer even when the phone is locked. 🔗 Connections to ports 443, 8080, or 5228 (often used for remote management).

An alternative method is to use TCPdump (requires root rights):

adb shell su -c"tcpdump -i any -s 0 -w /sdcard/capture.pcap"

Then analyze the dump in Wireshark.Look for packages with payloads containing voice data (like the Opus or AAC codec).

Yeah, regularly.

Yeah, but I didn't find anything.

No, but I'll think about it now.

No, I don't need that.-->

4.Mic and camera check: who can eavesdrop

Modern spyware can activate the microphone and camera without your knowledge.

• 🎤 Microphone test: Call another phone and leave your Xiaomi quiet.If extraneous noises are heard on the other end (like talking in a room), the microphone is active.
• 📷 Camera test: Cover the front chamber with a piece of opaque tape, and if it shifts after a while, or if it has traces of heat, the camera will turn on.
• 🔍 Indicator check: B MIUI 14+ If you use a camera or a microphone, you have a green dot in the status bar, and if it's burning without you being active, it's a warning sign.

For a deep check, use the Access Dots app (showing your sensor usage history) or follow the command:

adb shell dumpsys media.camera | grep"open"

If the output has a record of the camera opening when you weren’t using it, it could indicate hidden activity.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Google Assistant or Mi) AI) legitimately use the microphone for voice commands. Turn them off before the Settings test → Voice assistant.

5. Hidden applications and modified firmware

One of the most reliable ways to listen is to install hidden software or modified firmware, and you can check this out by:

1. Firmware Integrity Check: Compare your firmware hash to the official one on MIUI Download. Use the command: adb shell getprop ro.build.fingerprint - if the output does not match the data for your model, the firmware is changed.

Search for hidden APKs:

• Install FX File Explorer with root access (if any) and check the folders: /system/priv-app/, /data/app/, /system/app/.
• Look for files with names like this. spy.apk, monitor.service hidden_app.

Pay special attention to applications with rights android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO, android.permission.CAMERA and android.permission.READ_SMS. You can see them through:

adb shell pm list permissions -g -d | grep"permission"

Hardware methods of wiretapping: what to do if the phone is physically infected

The wiretapping isn't always software-based, and in rare cases, the device can be physically modified.

• 📱 Built-in bug - a miniature device connected to the motherboard (more often found in used phones).
• 🔌 Modified Type-C connector – can transmit data even when the phone is turned off.
• 📶 Additional SIM-The map is a number of models that support two SIM, One of which may be hidden.

You can check it out like this:

1. Take apart the phone (if you have experience) and inspect the fee for the presence of foreign chips.
2. Check the Type-C connector with a multimeter – the resistance between the contacts should not differ from the reference values for your model.
3. Enter the code ##4636## and select Phone Information. If two cards are displayed in the SIM Status section but you use one, that's suspicious.

In 2022, there were cases when hardware keyloggers were embedded in Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 phones through service centers, and if you bought the phone from hand or gave it to informal repairs, the risk is higher.

7 What to do if you find signs of wiretapping

If the diagnosis revealed suspicious activity, act on the algorithm:

1. Reset your phone to factory settings: Go to Settings → The phone. → Reset settings. Select Delete all data and confirm. ⚠️ Note: Before resetting, save important data (photos, contacts) to an external drive. Do not use Mi Cloud services if you suspect an account hack.
2. Re-flash your phone: Download the official firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware Updater website. Use the Mi Flash Tool for clean installation (instructions on the MIUI forum).

Check the accounts:

• Change your Mi Account password at account.xiaomi.com.
• Disable all associated devices in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Device Management.

💡

If you are often on business trips or working with sensitive information, consider buying a clean phone (for example, Xiaomi Poco F5 with Google Android One) – it does not have Xiaomi branded services that can collect data.