I woke up and found several photos showing Palantir trades in my phone's gallery. I don't recognize them, and some appear to have been taken on an iPhone even though I use a Samsung. My phone was in extreme battery-saving mode, with almost every app disabled except Instagram, Geometry Dash, and essential system apps. More images keep appearing, so I'm worried that something is accessing or syncing with my phone. What could cause this, and how can I investigate or stop it?
3 Answers
Check whether the images are actually local camera files or just showing up through a synced gallery. Look in the photo details for the file path, creation time, camera model, and whether they’re stored in a cloud folder such as Google Photos, OneDrive, or a messaging app folder. Also review automatic downloads and shared albums. Battery-saver mode doesn’t prevent files from appearing if another service already downloaded or synchronized them.
Run a full security check and review your Google account’s signed-in devices. Change your account password from a trusted device, enable two-step verification, and remove any unfamiliar sessions. Then check the app list, notification access, accessibility permissions, and installed certificates for anything you don’t recognize. Don’t open links or install anything sent alongside the photos.
Take screenshots of the filenames and metadata before deleting anything, then temporarily disconnect the phone from Wi‑Fi and mobile data. If new files still appear while offline, they’re probably already stored locally or being generated by a gallery/cache issue. If the images are genuinely new and keep returning after removing sync accounts and suspicious apps, back up important data and perform a factory reset or have a reputable phone technician inspect it. Also consider asking someone you trust to look at the evidence with you, since stress or lack of sleep can make unusual events feel especially alarming.
Even if most apps are restricted, Google Photos or another system sync service may still be able to display older cloud images. Compare the files in your gallery with the folders shown in the phone’s file manager.