Red flags your partner is about to cheat, or is already having an affair - based on their cellphone habits

• Got a tech question? Kim will help you solve it

With the iOS 18 update coming this fall, it's like Apple had adulterers in mind. 

You can lock and even hide apps using your Face ID - a feature many have dubbed a 'cheater's paradise.'

I guarantee many coupled-up folks will 'hide' dating apps or their preferred secret communication methods.

Cheaters always find a way to sneak around, but not all are savvy enough to know about all the tech clues their wayward ways leave behind.

Now, before we get to the clues… Snooping on someone's phone, computer or other tech never ends well. 

Your best bet is an honest conversation with your partner.

It's also a good idea to consult with an attorney before you begin looking to make sure you do not violate any federal or state laws.

With that in mind, these are the clues that your partner may be cheating:

Red flag: They never put down the phone

Is your spouse or partner always glued to their phone or computer? Maybe work is crazy right now, or they're busy chatting with someone.

Pay attention to the way they behave with their devices. Many people turn their phones away from others to protect their privacy, but most don't hide their phones from their spouses. The same goes for shuffling browser tabs or switching off a tablet.

These subtle gestures can suggest your partner is doing something they don't want you to see. Is their phone always in their pocket? Do they change the passcode regularly and 'forget' to tell you what it is? Maybe they insist you're not allowed to pick up or use their phone, period.

Notifications can also reveal cheaters, so it's common to switch them off or hide them if you're doing something you don't want your significant other to see.

Red flag: Fake apps

Unless your partner is brazen, you won't see a chat app on their home screen or steamy messages sitting in their text message folder.

There are plenty of apps for sharing messages, photos, videos and more that aren't what they appear. 

Calculator Pro+ is one example. It looks just like a calculator but saves texts and call logs of secret contacts.

Red flag: Their history is always wiped

Cheaters must be stupid not to clear their browsers' search histories. 

If they routinely access dating sites, secret email accounts or anything, they will probably think to cover their tracks.

The same goes for empty text message folders.

Red flag: They're always 'working'

Cheaters are known to create online Google documents or Microsoft 365 files that look innocent until opened. 

The filename might be, for example, 'Third quarter goals.' When the file is opened, the first page appears to be a bunch of corporate speak.

But scrolling down reveals the file's real purpose. Online documents are a covert way to share notes, photos, and videos with someone else.

Red flag: They're always visiting that one spot

Location history is particularly revealing. Most cheaters know to clear it, but not all. For Google users, the 'previous destinations' menu option on the navigation system may chronicle your spouse's movements.

If your spouse uses an iPhone, there is one place to be sure to look. Many people don't even know this treasure trove of tracking exists.

● You can find an iPhone user's frequent locations in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations. (It's all the way at the bottom.)

It takes a fair amount of effort to disable or consistently delete these types of settings, so if they are up to no good, you're likely to find something. FYI, you may want to turn off this feature on your phone if this practice creeps you out.

Red flag: Their trash is full to the brim

Deleted digital items are typically never gone for good. A computer's trash or recycle bin retains items until the bin is emptied. Some cloud services let you restore items from the trash.

Deleted emails accumulate in the trash until they're emptied. Voicemails on an iPhone are deleted, but they can be retrieved. Apps deleted from a phone can be restored, too. If you're using carrier services, voicemails may be available on their site.

A word of warning: Finding evidence of a cheater can be all-consuming. Be sure to take care of yourself during the process.