How to check Xiaomi Redmi for spyware: a complete guide

Why Xiaomi and Redmi are vulnerable to spyware

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones occupy leading positions in sales in Russia and the world, but their popularity has the opposite side - increased interest from the creators of spyware. Unlike iOS, the Android operating system on Xiaomi devices allows you to install applications from third-party sources, which opens the door to malware. MIUI 12th version, where the security system is less stringent.

Spyware on Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco X3 Or the Mi 11 can disguise itself as system processes, consume minimal resources, and go undetected for months. SMS, Record conversations, track geolocation, and even turn on the camera without notification, and users often confuse signs of infection with normal crashes. MIUI, For example, with a rapid discharge of the battery or overheating.

According to a 2023 Kaspersky Lab study, 28% of spy attacks on Android devices are from Xiaomi smartphones, 1.5 times the market average, due to users’ heavy use of unofficial firmware and lack of regular security updates on budget models.

Signs of infection with spyware on Xiaomi/Redmi

The first step in checking the phone is to analyze the indirect signs. Spyware rarely poses as obvious symptoms, but there are a number of red flags that should alert you:

• 🔋 The battery is discharged on 30-50% It's faster than usual, even in standby mode. Applications like AccuBattery show abnormal energy consumption by system processes.
• 📶 Increased mobile data traffic (checked in Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic. Spyware can transmit data in the background.
• 🔊 Extraneous noises during calls: clicks, echoes or short pauses. This may indicate interception of the audio stream.
• 📱 The phone spontaneously restarts or shuts down, especially when connected to Wi-Fi or mobile network.
• 📸 The camera or microphone is activated without you (check the usage indicator in the top notification bar).

Critical sign: in the list of running applications (Settings) → Annexes → Running processes that are called com.android.system.update, service.secure, or backup.manager are not available before, and these names often use spyware to disguise themselves.

⚠️ Note: if your Redmi has started to automatically connect to unknown Wi-Fi networks (for example, with names like Free_WiFi_XX or Xiaomi_Service), This could be a sign of a botnet working.

Method 1: Checking through built-in tools MIUI

Xiaomi is equipping its smartphones with built-in antivirus and security tools that can detect part of the spyware.

1. Open Settings → Security → Scanning.
2. Select “Deep Scan” (not quick!).
3. Wait until the process is completed (it can take 5-10 minutes).
4. Please note the “Threats” and “Suspicious Files” sections.

Built-in scanner MIUI It is effective against known viruses, but powerless against targeted spyware (e.g., Pegasus or FinFisher).If the scans show nothing but suspicions remain, move on to other methods.

Important: After scanning, check the Settings section → Annexes → Permits → Special access. There may be applications with rights:

• 📍 Access to geolocation (even when the application is not in use)
• 🎤 Recording audio in the background
• 📸 Using a camera without notification

Method 2: Analyze network activity (without root)

Spyware is constantly transmitting data to remote servers, and you can calculate it by analyzing network activity.

1. Install the NetGuard or PCAPdroid app (available on Google Play).
2. Start recording traffic on 10-15 Not using the phone actively for a minute.
3. Check the list of domains and IP-addresses to which the phone was addressed.

Suspicious signs in the logs:

• 🌍 Connections to servers in countries you do not interact with (e.g. China if you do not use Chinese services).
• 🔄 Regularly referrals to the same IP-Addresses within minutes.
• 📤 Background data transfer by apps that shouldn’t (e.g. com.android.calendar sends gigabytes of traffic).

Example of malicious traffic:

192.168.1.100:54321 → 45.67.89.123:443 (HTTPS, 2.5 MB uploaded)




Domain: api.secure-backup[.]xyz




Process: com.system.update.service

⚠️ Note: Some legitimate system processes MIUI (For example, com.miui.analytics also transmit data to Xiaomi, which can disrupt the phone.

Method 3: Manually check the file system

Some spyware leaves traces in the file system.

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (in file transfer mode).
2. Use Windows Explorer or Total Commander to search the following ways:

/data/data/ – Application data is stored here (root rights are required for full access)




/system/app/ System applications (suspicious APK- files)




/sdcard/ – external memory (look for files with the extension.jpg.exe,.apk.hidden)

Pay attention to:

• 📁 Folders with random names (for example, axby789 or temp_202605).
• 📄 Files with double extensions (photo.jpg.exe).
• 🔍 APK-files in non-standard folders (for example, /sdcard/Download/system_update.apk).

How to distinguish a system file from a malicious one:

Compare the date of creation of the file with the date of the last firmware of the phone. If the file appeared after the system update, it is suspicious. APK rarely exceed 5-10 MB, but may be masked as large files (for example, google_play_update.apk size 50 MB).

Method 4: Using third-party antiviruses (TOP-3 Xiaomi)

Built-in tools MIUI Not always effective. For a deep test, we recommend:

Scanning instructions:

1. Install the selected antivirus and update the database.
2. Start a full scan (not fast!).
3. Once completed, check the Threats or Privacy Risks section.
4. Remove or quarantine all detected objects.

Important for Xiaomi: before scanning, disable the built-in antivirus MIUI (Settings → Security → Badge settings → Antivirus to avoid conflicts.

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If an antivirus finds a threat called Android.Triada or Android.Spy, it is a high risk of spyware.

Method 5: Checking through ADB (for power users)

Android Debug Bridge Tool (ADB) It allows you to analyze system processes without root rights:

1. Download ADB Tools on PC.
2. Put the debugging on. USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands:

adb devices # Checking the connection




adb shell ps -A | grep -i "spy\|monitor\|track" #Spotting suspicious processes




adb shell dumpsys package | grep "com.android" # View all packages

What to look for in conclusion:

• 🔍 Processes with names that include spy, track, monitor, stealth.
• 📦 Packages that do not conform to standard system (com.android.*).
• 🔄 Services run on behalf of unknown users (e.g, u0_a123).

Example of a dangerous process:

u0_a199   12345  1% S com.secure.tracker

⚠️ Attention: teams ADB Do not delete processes called com.android or com.miui, which can cause your phone to fail. MIUI.

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ADB-It can detect even spyware that masquerades as system processes, but it requires technical skills and can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Method 6: Application resolution analysis (hidden threats)

Spyware often requests suspicious permissions to detect them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions Management.
2. Check out the sections:

• 📍 Geolocation: Apps that don’t need to know your location (such as a calculator or flashlight).
• 🎤 Microphone: applications with access to audio recording (except messengers and voice recorders).
• 📸 Camera: any applications other than standard (camera, scanner) QR-code).
• 📞 Phone: Apps with the right to read a call log or send SMS.

Example of hazardous permits:

If the com.cleaner.boost application requests access to the SMS, geolocation and microphone are a clear sign of spying activity.

For automated verification, use the AppOps app (requires) ADB, rooted):

adb shell pm grant com.llsl.appops android.permission.GET_APP_OPS_STATS

It will show all the operations that the applications performed, including hidden calls to the camera or microphone.

Method 7: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If previous methods have failed but suspicions remain, perform a complete reset, which will delete all data, including spyware, but requires preparation:

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Delete all data”.
3. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (taken). 5-15 minute).
4. After the reboot, do not restore data from the backup – it may contain spyware.

What to do after the discharge:

• 🔒 Set a new password for your Mi Account and enable two-factor authentication.
• 🛡️ Install antivirus and scan your phone before installing other apps.
• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone behaves suspiciously again after reset (e.g., it discharges quickly or overheats), this may indicate that the firmware is embedded, requiring flashing through Fastboot or contacting a service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about spyware on Xiaomi