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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Dp checking phone and possibly computer - massive rant

129 replies

BrackenBeaker · 30/11/2020 14:15

So myself and DP, together 8 years, lived together for 5.

Both always wfh and now with covid have spent a lot of this last year in each other's company.

A few weeks ago in a silly argument DP suddenly accused me of cheating on him. This surprised me because a) I'm not and b) even before lockdown my social life was very low key and any socializing I did he was with me 90% of the time. His accusation was also just very nebulous and not about a specific person/time or anything like that.

The next day he apologized for what he said and claimed to not mean it. He then kept bringing it up "as a joke" until I told him it was hurtful and if he had an accusation to come out and say it or to pack it in. He apologized again and agreed.

Since then he has gone out of his way to look at my phone three times that I've seen. I use my phone for work/banking and its always left lying around. He sometimes uses my phone if his is dead and every time I tell him the password. It's a password/set of 4 numbers he could easily remember but seems not to and needs reminding each time. I get the odd message from friends and some social media alerts (twitter). All above board chatting. I am a very boring person Grin I can't emphasize enough that this is a tiny trickle of messages, not loads, not that this is the point. Basically I'm not precious/protective about it at all.

The first time he did it he was holding my phone for me while I sorted something and I turned around to see him scrolling through the alerts/messages. It wasn't so much that he did this but he seemed so intent and serious as he did it, and he'd waited until I was turned away.

The second time I dropped my phone down the side of the sofa while on my laptop. He came across the room and insisted on picking it up. In the process he blatantly checked the phone and the computer screen. I don't mean glancing.

I was logged into my bank on the laptop and my phone to check and move my savings around. Dull, dull, dull. I gave him a bit of a disappointed look and he cracked some joke about oh these men send you money now do they.

I told him to do one.

Third time was just now. He needed to use my phone to make a call. He walks out of the room as the call ends, full minute passes and he walks back in blatantly still scrolling through these boring twitter notifications on there. He was really upbeat afterwards, like he was relieved.

Also, around a week ago we got a takeaway from deliveroo, ordered online. When the status changed to being delivered I went downstairs to receive the delivery. When I came back up, (had to wait a few minutes), the deliveroo tab had been closed, the tab with my twitter was open (I have around 40 tabs open all day everyday and spend very little time on twitter). Dp was also behaving very strangely. I asked him in a joking way if he was messing around on my twitter and he told me that my computer made a weird noise and shut itself down. I pointed out that it was not shut down. It's an ancient model, take ages to start up and besides all my programs (I work as an illustrator) were open and as I left them. He is a terrible liar and this was just obviously not true. I let it go but this bothered me mainly because I write fiction as a hobby and a way to to mange anxiety and he knows that I don't ever want anyone to read any of it unless its finished and also something I wanted anyone else to read.

I just felt really invaded, like he had read my diary or something. He kept coming up to me and hugging me after that and making some odd comments about was I ok, etc. My impression was that he'd read something about depression in the tab where I do my writing. Maybe he didn't but that's what I am thinking now.

Just to be clear if he wanted to use my computer to check something then that would be fine. I don't expect him to root around through things though.

Just before he started with this behaviour he told me that his last serious gf had cheated on him, I never knew this. She also did some unpleasant things like bringing the new bloke round to his house after she left him (for this other guy) and they basically let themselves in. She met the guy online and that's how they built up to her leaving to be with him.

Obviously lockdown has taken a toll on everyone's mental health and this seems to be an insecurity of his that has risen up but my mental health has taken a battering too and while I don't really give a fuck about the phone, waiting until I'm out of the room and then checking through my laptop/reading what is basically a diary and lying about it is not on. I don't know for sure that he did that but he blatantly lied about why the Deliveroo tab was closed and the Twitter one was open.

I'm just tired and I don't need a new problem right now. Thanks for listening.

OP posts:
Mix56 · 30/11/2020 15:21

I would ask just what the fuck is this checking up shit ?
Tell him if he thinks you are cheating he is wrong & he needs to get his shit together, because the next time you find him checking up, & worse deliberately showing you he is "watching", will be the last, because he can fuck off. & mean it.
You could change the password but it would only wind up his paranoia.

knittingaddict · 30/11/2020 15:25

I know someone who, amongst other things, used find my phone to track where their wife was, regularly looked at her phone, made her go through her male contacts on FB to explain who they were and accused her of having an affair with the builder. Guess who was having the affair? It certainly wasn't the wife.

Op it's either a controlling man stepping up the abuse or he's having an affair. I can't think of another innocent explanation. Maybe mental illness, but I think an affair is more likely.

Guiltypleasures001 · 30/11/2020 15:25

He is asking you your pass Code not because he's forgotten
It's just in case you have changed it

Tell him to either shit to get off the pot
Also tell him he's acting like he's hiding something but projecting on to you

BigFatLiar · 30/11/2020 15:25

Strangely enough if you had come on saying that you suspected him of cheating we'd all be telling you to check his phone/computer because he probably is.

If you're not and he's not then really its time to sit down and talk it through. You're both entitled to some privacy. Is he controlling or is a year of lockdowns taking its toll and creating some insecurities?

nitreatoalasg · 30/11/2020 15:34

People seem pretty insistent on the cheating thing. I've been paranoid about someone cheating on me in the past and it wasn't because I was doing that to them

Yeah, me too. Funnily enough with me it was because my long-term boyfriend cheated on me (starting with messaging each other online) and I was totally insecure and jealous in my subsequent relationships.

So yeah, I don't think it necessarily means he's cheating. However, my jealousy did lead me to behave badly and ultimately was the downfall of my next two serious relationships. So it's a serious thing. It wasn't until I confronted my issues that I was able to be happy and in a trusting relationship again.

frazzledasarock · 30/11/2020 15:35

@BigFatLiar

Strangely enough if you had come on saying that you suspected him of cheating we'd all be telling you to check his phone/computer because he probably is.

If you're not and he's not then really its time to sit down and talk it through. You're both entitled to some privacy. Is he controlling or is a year of lockdowns taking its toll and creating some insecurities?

There’s always a post like this on these threads.

But if a poster came on saying she was constantly going through her partners phone and laptop altho he keeps leaving it lying around and switched on. And has never refused to let her access to his phone when hers is unavailable. And there’s never been any untoward behaviour and he happily tells her his passcode which he’s not changed since the first time she asked him for it and that he doesn’t go out much and mostly they go out as a couple and are together.

The vipers would tear her to shreds.

TheChristmasPrincess · 30/11/2020 15:38

If he can’t be trusted to use your phone responsibly and give you your privacy, ban him from using it. Make sure it’s always locked and change the password. If he starts having a go and accusing you of having an affair, say no but you’ve clearly been scrolling on my phone checking up on me (and give the examples you have given here). Your phone is your business. It’s not your fault he’s killing his phone and needs to use yours. Sounds like an excuse to be honest.

Lovemusic33 · 30/11/2020 15:41

@BigFatLiar

Strangely enough if you had come on saying that you suspected him of cheating we'd all be telling you to check his phone/computer because he probably is.

If you're not and he's not then really its time to sit down and talk it through. You're both entitled to some privacy. Is he controlling or is a year of lockdowns taking its toll and creating some insecurities?

Yes, this. Was just going to say the same. How many times do we read threads on here where women suspect their partners of cheating and the first thing we say is “check his phone and laptop history”? Also we say “if he has nothing to hide then he will happily show you”?

Let him see your phone but on condition that you can check his when ever you like. Works both ways.

Baileysandcream · 30/11/2020 15:44

Perhaps he has read one too many MN threads where someone says, I'm not sure, but I think my OH might have had their head turned by someone else and they get unanimously told to check their OH's phone and computer !

OP I noticed you've been living together for 5 years, after being together for 8 years.

If there have never been any problems in the past and this is suddenly out of character, can you have a proper chat about what it is that has triggered this new behaviour? See if he can explain what it is that has made him suspicious and let him know what effect it is having on you so that you can hopefully work through it and resolve it?

Like you say, lockdown and this whole year is having strange effects on everyone's mental health. It seems strange that he suddenly opened up about what he went through with his ex, which must be over 8 years ago now, before this behaviour started?

TwentyViginti · 30/11/2020 15:49

@forrestgreen

I think you have good reason to check his phone.
Ha ha oh yes

Without warning - tell him to hand his phone over to you. Note his reaction.

If he IS cheating you'll know. If he isn't, and is being a controlling arse - you'll know.

BillMasen · 30/11/2020 15:58

Thrust your instincts
Check his phone
Your gut tells you something is wrong

Told to women all the time on here. You said he seemed relieved not to find anything, so there is a chance that his gut is telling him something is wrong, somethings changed, and he’s trying to find out what.

Can you talk? Find out what’s worrying him, why he fears something is going on. Then either reassure and/or tell him to stop being silly.

Many women on here know how awful it feels to “know” something is up but not be able to find/prove it. Ok he’s wrong but there may be a reason he’s feeling like that

BillMasen · 30/11/2020 16:02

Frazzled now she’d be told he’s only relaxed because he has a 2nd phone, or is hiding it well. She’d be told to trust her instincts and keep looking.

Not saying he’s right here, just that if he’s got something in his head that’s got him bothered then it’s better to talk about it than assume he’s cheating, projecting or controlling

petrocellihouse · 30/11/2020 16:04

I wonder if he has been made aware that someone might contact you with information about him - that would explain why he's looking at your apps with messaging. A friend of mine found out her husband was cheating when a friend of the other woman messaged her via social media to say she thought she should know what was going on.

grassisjeweled · 30/11/2020 16:07

He sounds deranged

Benjispruce2 · 30/11/2020 16:08

My immediate thought was that it’s him that’s cheating or thinking of cheating on you. He’s either trying to alleviate his guilt or start a conversation normalising cheating.

Derbee · 30/11/2020 16:11

I would tell him I’m getting sick of being checked up on, and I suspect it may be projection. I’d insist he hands over his stuff for me to check on HIS behaviour. You’ll know by his reaction whether he’s got anything to hide.

Once it’s all cleared up, he needs to put this behind him. If he can’t, you need to secure your passcodes and prevent access to your devices

lottiegarbanzo · 30/11/2020 16:24

I'm not saying he's cheating. Maybe he is, maybe he's worried or insecure for another reason, maybe he's losing his mind. But this is false logic:

People seem pretty insistent on the cheating thing. I've been paranoid about someone cheating on me in the past and it wasn't because I was doing that to them.

Have you ever cheated before? If so, how did you behave then? Did you become more suspicious of everyone else, once your mind was open to the idea that everyone has it in them to cheat?

That; what a person who was cheating did, is the relevant comparator here, if what you're considering is whether this is normal behaviour for a person who is cheating.

lottiegarbanzo · 30/11/2020 16:29

Anyway, talk to him about it.

BillMasen · 30/11/2020 16:38

@petrocellihouse

I wonder if he has been made aware that someone might contact you with information about him - that would explain why he's looking at your apps with messaging. A friend of mine found out her husband was cheating when a friend of the other woman messaged her via social media to say she thought she should know what was going on.
That’s a leap...
forrestgreen · 30/11/2020 16:46

Ask him to hand over his phone, there and then, whilst he's got it out. Leave yours upstairs, car, charging etc

His reaction will tell you a lot.

doctorhamster · 30/11/2020 16:49

"Oh are we checking each other's phones these days? Hand yours over then" And see how reacts. I bet he wouldn't like that idea at all.

Dollydoo1 · 30/11/2020 16:52

These types tend to be the ones being unfaithful themselves Hmm

BeenThereDoneThat3 · 30/11/2020 16:53

OP I have been there. In my case my DH logged into all my social media accounts on his own phone (it was before the days when they advised you that someone had logged in from a different device) and was reading all my DM’s.

He gave himself away because he would make reference to things I had only told people in DM, not particularly personal things, just innocuous detail that just didn’t come up in day to day conversation iyswim but he did it just a few too many times.

So one day when he was out I logged into all my accounts and changed all my passwords. Because if he told me he would have to admit he’d been spying, he couldn’t say anything to me, but he knew I knew. It was only when we were having a conversation with one of the DC about being honest etc that he suddenly decided to confess and apologise.

Thing is he didn’t leave it there. As I pointed out to him he didn’t see anything worth worrying about so why hadn’t he removed all the apps/stopped checking? And he said that he knew, he would have/was planning to. [hm] but after that he progressed to tracking where I was using find my iPhone, and then gaslighting me by telling me I’d been seen out with somebody, all of which he was aware of anyway.

From there he progressed to keyloggers on my computer and a bug in the house. He definitely wasn’t having an affair but it was all about the paranoia it created. Even now years on I fear that he could still know what I’m up to, even though he doesn’t. Iyswim.

We’re divorced now for other reasons but looking back there were so many examples of his control/abuse, but they were so subtle that they were overlooked by me, until I added them all up.

For starters you should change your passwords. Don’t tell him what you’ve changed them to, just change them. And change the pin on your phone. If you leave it lying around make sure it’s locked, in fact I would make a point of leaving it locked because then he will have to admit that he was trying to look when he can’t get into it.

And then ask yourself if you want to continue to live like this.

Bathbrush · 30/11/2020 17:03

I don’t get why you’d stand for this, tell him to fuck off, it’s his insecurity and he needs to deal with it.

Doublebubblebubble · 30/11/2020 17:06

Is he going to see this thread op??

Are you comfortable with him seeing this?

Are you safe?

He is definitely up to something, probably cheating.