Xiaomi Redmi Wireless: How to Detect and Remove Spyware

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are some of the most popular Android devices in Russia, but their open ecosystem and MIUI firmware make them vulnerable to covert surveillance. If you suspect that your phone is being tapped — through a microphone, camera or SMS interception — it’s important to act systematically. In this article, we’ll discuss practical spyware detection techniques, built-in MIUI protection tools, and radical ways to clean the device, including factory resets and flashing.

Redmi's peculiarity is that even a "clean" firmware can contain Xiaomi service providers (e.g. com.miui.analytics) that collect telemetry, which can be difficult to distinguish from malware, and we'll focus on the unique features of Xiaomi's wiretapping: Atypical CPU behavior when the screen is off, hidden resolutions for system applications and anomalies in adb logs. All instructions are relevant for Redmi Note models 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/11 and others on the base MIUI 12–14.

Signs of wiretapping on Xiaomi Redmi: when to sound the alarm

Spyware rarely poses as obvious symptoms, but there are indirect signs that should alert:

• 🔋 Unexplained battery consumption (e.g., a 10-15% drop in charge per hour in standby mode). → Battery. → Battery usage – if an unknown application is glowing there (e.g., high-consumption com.android.system), it is a wake-up call.
• 📡 Network activity in the background. Go to Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Traffic and see which apps are transmitting data at night or when Wi-Fi is off.
• 🎤 Extraneous sounds during calls: clicks, echoes or interference may indicate an interception of the audio stream, especially if they only appear when talking to certain subscribers.
• 🔍 Spyware: Some spyware (like Pegasus) exploits Android kernel vulnerabilities, leading to crashes.

One of the most reliable ways to check is to monitor the temperature of the processor. Install the AIDA64 application and run it for 10-15 minutes in standby mode. If the temperature of Snapdragon or Mediatek rises above 40 ° C without load, this may indicate hidden processes. Also note unusual SMS (for example, from short numbers or containing characters #*123#) - they can be commands for spyware.

⚠️ Note: If you notice that after the update MIUI New system applications have appeared (e.g. com.miui.systemAdSolution), do not manually delete them - this can lead to a device blink.

How to check Xiaomi Redmi for wiretapping without root rights

Most spyware detection methods do not require superuser rights, starting with the built-in MIUI tools:

1. Checking Application Permissions Go to Settings → Annexes → Permits → Special permissions and note applications with access to: 🎙️ Microphone (permission) android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO) 📷 Camera (android.permission.CAMERA) 📡 SMS and calls (permissions) READ_SMS, PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS)

If there are unknown apps (e.g. com.android.service.telecom with camera access), that’s a cause for concern.

Analysis of network activity

Install NetGuard or GlassWire from Google Play and track which apps are transmitting data to suspicious apps IP-And look at domains like api.xiaomi.com, which can mask data transmission.

For a deep inspection, use ADB-commands (you need a computer and enabled debugging on the USB):

adb shell dumpsys package | grep -E "com.xiaomi.mipush|com.miui.analytics"


adb shell pm list packages -f | grep "suspicious"

These commands will display a list of packages related to Xiaomi analytics and potentially malware. If there are unknown packages in the output (e.g., com.android.systemupdate with a non-standard path), this could be a spy module.

Step-by-step: how to remove spyware from Xiaomi Redmi

If you find suspicious apps or activity, follow the algorithm:

1. Remove suspicious applications Go to Settings → Annexes → App management, sort by installation date, and remove all the unknowns. Look for apps with names like this: 🛡️ System Update (if not from Google) 📡 Network Signal Guru (Can Disguise Interception) SMS) 🔊 Audio Service (if not included in the standard set) MIUI)

Reset to factory settings

This is a radical but effective method. Go to Settings → About Phone → Reset and select Delete All Data. Important: Before resetting, disable your Mi Account, or the phone will require you to enter your password after you reboot.

Fastboot flashing through Fastboot

If the reset doesn’t help, install the official firmware via the Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the firmware for your model from en.miui.com.
2. Unpack the archive and launch it. flash_all.bat (for Windows) or use the command: fastboot flash all [file name].tgz

⚠️ Warning: After flashing, do not restore data from a backup made before cleaning - it may contain spyware. Install apps only from Google Play and check them through VirusTotal before installing.

How to protect Xiaomi Redmi from future wiretaps

Even after cleaning, the phone remains vulnerable if you do not take action:

• 🔒 Disable unnecessary permissions for system applications. for example, com.miui.analytics should not have access to a microphone or geolocation.
• 🛡️ Install alternative firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) to get rid of Xiaomi’s built-in telemetry.
• 📵 Use a physical camera/microphone switch (if your model has one) or stick a sticker on the camera.
• 🔄 Check active connections regularly via netstat in Termux: netstat -tulnp | grep -E "ESTABLISHED|LISTEN"

For additional protection:

• 📱 Turn off Mi Cloud and sync in Settings → Xiaomi account – this will reduce the amount of data transferred to the company’s servers.
• 🔗 Use it. VPN (For example, ProtonVPN for encrypting traffic, but remember: some spyware can bypass VPN.

💡

If you frequently connect your phone to public Wi-Fi, turn on the “Disable Background Data Transfer” option for all applications except instant messengers, which will reduce the risk of data leakage through vulnerabilities in routers.

What to do if the wiretaps are being conducted through SIM-map

Not all spy attacks are software-related, sometimes wiretapping is organized at the operator level through:

• 📶 SS7-vulnerability (interception) SMS and calls through signaling protocols)
• 🔄 Duplication SIM-Cloning (Cloning through Social Engineering)
• 📞 Call forwarding (*21# service can be activated by an attacker)

To check and block such attacks:

1. Dial *#21# – if there are numbers for redirection in the answer, call the operator immediately.
2. Check the history. USSD-requests in the operator's application (for example, "My MTS" or "My Beeline"). Unknown commands such as *123*456# could be a sign of a break-in.
3. Order a new one. SIM-The card in the operator’s cabin, even if the old one is working normally.

Mistakes on Xiaomi: What not to be afraid of

There are many rumors about Xiaomi’s “built-in wiretapping” online, but most of them are exaggerated:

• ❌ "MIUI spying 24/7" — Telemetry is only collected if you have not manually disabled it (Settings) → Memory. → Disable analytics).
• ❌ "Chinese phones are necessarily wiretapped — there is no evidence that Xiaomi is transferring data to third parties, the risk is higher from third-party software than from the manufacturer.
• ❌ "Antiviruses are useless against wiretapping – modern solutions like Kaspersky or Bitdefender detect are used by most spyware (for example, SpyNote or AhMyth).

However, there are real risks that are often ignored:

• ✅ Phishing SMS requesting to click on the link (for example, "Your Mi Account is blocked, confirm the data").
• ✅ Fake updates MIUI, distributed through third-party sites (may contain backdoors).
• ✅ Applications from unknown sources (even APK forum-wise 4PDA may be infected).

Alternative methods of protection: from hardware to legal

If you're sure you're being targeted, standard methods may not be enough, and consider radical and legal measures:

• 📱 Using a clean phone – buy a second phone (like a Google Pixel or iPhone) for sensitive conversations only.
• 🔐 Hardware modifications: Removal of microphone (requires soldering iron and skills) Disabling antenna GPS (If you don’t use navigation)
• ⚖️ Legal steps – if you suspect that the wiretapping is carried out on the order of third parties, file a complaint with the police under Art. 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Violation of the secrecy of correspondence").

For corporate users:

• 🏢 MDM-Solutions (e.g. MobileIron) for centralized device management.
• 🔒 Encrypting Signal or Session Calls (Even if the phone is hacked, conversations will remain secure).

⚠️ Attention: Physical removal of the microphone or camera deprives of warranty and may cause some functions to fail (e.g., face unlocking.

💡

The most reliable way to protect is a combination of technical and organizational measures: custom firmware + VPN + physical isolation of important conversations on a separate device.

FAQ: Frequent questions about wiretapping on Xiaomi Redmi