An important iPhone privacy feature by Apple has gone under the radar for years.
We've all had that moment where we're discussing needing something with a friend - i.e. a hoover - only to click onto our phones and see multiple advertisements suddenly to spring to our feeds showcasing Henrys and Dysons galore.
You may have just gotten used to the idea of some apps listening to you, but did you realise there's a way you can tell when your iPhone's microphone - and even your camera - is being used by an app?
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The three dots may have been in affect for two years already when iOS 14 was first brought out in 2020, but some people are only just realising what they actually mean.
The orange and green dots appear in the top right area of your screen, above your signal, wifi and battery indicators.
Apple's website explains: "With iOS 14 or later, an orange dot, an orange square or a green dot indicates when the microphone or camera is being used by an app.
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"An orange indicator means the microphone is being used by an app on your iPhone. This indicator appears as an orange square if the Differentiate Without Colour setting is on. To enable Differentiate Without Colour, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
"A green indicator means either the camera or the camera and the microphone are being used by an app on your iPhone."
The final dot is blue with a right arrow inside.
"A blue arrow may appear when the app you’re using requests your location," Apple states.
According to The Stem Support, the dot indicators appear through a computer programme written by Apple called Application Programming Interface.
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"This means a visual indicator will appear no matter if your app is telling you it's using your microphone or not," the outlet notes.
It's all very well and good to be aware you're being spied on, but how do you find out which app is guilty of using your microphone and/or camera?
If you swipe down, bringing up the Control Centre, you should be able to see.
iPhone users have flocked to social media in appreciation of the privacy hack.
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One Twitter user said: "This talks more than anything about how apple takes care of privacy. This dot indicates when an app is using a microphone or a camera. Just superb."
However, another user questioned: "Why? I have no apps that have requested use of microphone!"
A third replied: "I feel like they added the dots to let the users know that they can feel safe. If Apple hadn’t added the dots, we would never know that our microphone/camera is on. Every app has a privacy option in the settings."
A final iPhone user resolved: "The best and most underrated iOS 14 feature is the Orange, Green dots indicators and Copy-Paste indicator."
Topics: iPhone, Technology, Apple, Social Media