These special phone and software programs can protect you from spyware

Spy attacks on journalists, human rights activists, and political dissidents are neither rare nor uncommon. In early 2025, WhatsApp was introduced about 90 users – many of them journalists and members of civil society across Europe – that they were targeted by the Israeli spy company Paragon Solutions. A few months later, Apple sent out threatening notifications to a new group of iOS users; legal analysis confirmed two of themboth journalists were hit by Paragon’s Graphite spyware using a zero-click attack, meaning they didn’t even have to click a link to be compromised. This does not happen automatically. They are a habit.

Over the past 15 years, security researchers have documented dozens of cases in which government hackers have targeted and successfully compromised journalists, human rights activists, activists, and political opponents.

These attacks rely on expensive, sophisticated, and stealthy tools that allow users to hack and install spyware on computers, especially cell phones, that contain almost everything related to a person’s daily life.

Spyware gives its users access to the desired device and data. Government spies can record phone calls, steal chat messages, access photos, and turn on the device’s camera and microphone to record ambient sounds and record nearby conversations. Spyware also tracks a person’s physical location.

In response to these attacks, technology giants now provide users with better security. In particular, Apple, Google, and Meta offer login features designed to combat spyware threats.

In most cases, this increases security, sometimes by turning off or reducing other routines. It’s commercial, but after using it myself for a long time, I didn’t find it boring or unpleasant to use.

Tech companies, security researchers who have studied spyware for years, and we at TechCrunch, encourage you to use this tool if you suspect that you may be subject to government surveillance because of who you are or what you do. Even if you don’t have it, this security feature will protect your data from falling into the wrong hands.

No security system is perfect, and we are always trying to avoid mistakes. Spy software developers find new ways to hack phones and services, so software developers learn from these trends and respond. Rinse and repeat.

But that doesn’t mean these things shouldn’t be used. On the contrary; These things have been proven useful.

“These products are free, easy to install, and the best protection we have today against advanced spyware,” he said. Runa Sandviksecurity researcher who has worked to protect journalists and other vulnerable communities for more than a decade. “When things get in the way of what you need to do, you can easily turn them off again – meaning it costs less to turn them on and try.”

Here’s an overview of it, and how to turn it on.

Apple Lockdown Mode

Apple’s Lockdown Mode is available on all Apple devices, including iPhones. Apple says that when Lockdown Mode is turned on, “your device does not work as it should.” In exchange for this problem, your device will be more secure.

There is evidence that Lockdown Mode has helped in the past. Citizen Lab discovered Lockdown Mode stopped one spyware attack it was done by NSO Group’s Pegasus program. As recently as March, Apple said it has never been known successfully attack an Apple device with Lockdown Mode enabled.

What is this Lockdown Mode Updates on your device when you turn it on:

• Attachments received on iMessage other than images, videos, and audio are blocked by default.
• Links and previews in iMessage are closed and appear as offline addresses. (You can copy and paste the links into Safari or another browser if you prefer.)
• Fonts, other graphics, and other web technologies are blocked when you browse in Safari.
• Incoming FaceTime calls are blocked if you haven’t contacted the person in the last 30 days.
• Screen sharing, SharePlay content sharing, and Live Photos are not available.
• Incoming calls to Apple services are blocked unless you have called that person before.
• The Focus Unit “and everything related to it doesn’t work as well as we expected.”
• Game Center is turned off.
• Location information is removed when you share photos.
• “Shared albums are removed from the Photos app, and invitations to New Shared Albums are disabled.”
• You must unlock your device to connect to an accessory or computer. When you connect a Mac with an Apple processor to the accessory, the computer must be unlocked and you must accept the connection with your passcode.
• You won’t be able to automatically connect to unlocked or public Wi-Fi networks, and you’ll be removed from any unsecured Wi-Fi networks you connected to before entering Lockdown Mode.
• Your phone will not be able to connect to 2G or 3G networks.
• You cannot enter your profile or register this device in the Mobile Device Management application.

To turn on Lockdown Mode, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Lockdown Mode. When you open the interface, your Apple device will reboot.

I have been using Lockdown Mode for years. Although I saw some websites crash at the start, I didn’t notice this for a while. Also, you can turn off Lockdown Mode for other websites and apps, without blocking the feature. There are some problemsbut I’m used to them too.

Google’s Advanced Security Program

Google has released its own Advanced Security Program in 2017. This feature is designed to make your Google account more robust against all kinds of malicious hackers.

The Advanced Protection Program includes:

• It prevents third-party services and apps from accessing your Google Account, and only with your permission.
• It turns on “Gmail’s Deep Insights,” which scans your incoming emails for scams and spam.
• Enables Google Safe Browsing in Chrome, which warns users of visiting dangerous websites or downloading dangerous files.
• On Android, you can only install apps and games from official app stores.
• If someone tries to sign in to your account, Google takes steps to verify your identity.

To turn on Advanced Security, go to its official website and click “Start”. This will prompt you to sign in to your Google account. Follow the instructions there.

First, you need to add a physical security key (or software key) as an additional authentication factor besides the password. You’ll also need to add a recovery phone and recovery email to your account, or use a backup key or security key.

Advanced Security System for Android

Explanation last year and may have been inspired by Apple Lockdown Mode, Advanced Security System for Android it brings the same security as Google’s mobile operating system.

Android’s Advanced Protection Mode provides the following security features:

• It turns on Google Play Protect, which protects against malware and unwanted apps, and checks all apps as “bad behavior”.
• Apps from unknown sources cannot be installed, and updates from previously installed apps from unknown sources will be prevented from working.
• Enables Memory Tagging Extension (MTE) on supported devices. MTE is a hardware-based feature that protects against certain vulnerabilities.
• The device automatically shuts down if it detects suspicious “theft” events, such as sudden and rapid movement. This takes data from the device’s motion sensors, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
• The device automatically shuts down if it is not connected to the Internet for a long time.
• The device only restarts if the phone is locked for 72 hours, which makes it difficult to remove data using legal tools designed to unlock phones, such as devices made by Cellebrite.
• When the device is turned off, the USB connection is closed.
• Google looks for “unwanted and dangerous messages.”
• Links sent through the Messages app from anonymous users will be identified.
• Connection to 2G network is blocked.
• Google will identify spam callers.
• You will be able to check incoming calls and only reject spam calls. (Available in other areas.)
• Turns on Android Safe Browsing, which protects against malicious websites.
• Chrome will enforce HTTPS encryption on all websites.
• Some JavaScript functions are disabled, reducing the browser’s attack on potential vulnerabilities.
• You can also point to Import prices, an optional item helps investigators investigate espionage.

To enable Advanced Security on your Android device, go to Settings, then Security and Privacy, and under Other Settings, click Advanced Security, then click Device Security.

Settings for WhatsApp Fixed Account

WhatsApp is used by more than 3 billion people, including those in government intelligence agencies.

The need for hacking tools that target WhatsApp is very important exploits can cost millions of dollars – and they work. In 2019, WhatsApp caught a sneak campaign and NSO Group which serves approximately 1,200 users. At the beginning of last year, WhatsApp he did some spy work which blocked about 90 users in Europe.

In response, earlier this year, WhatsApp was launched Hard Account Settingsa legacy feature that changes some privacy and security features depending on the operating system.

On Android and iOS, Strict Account Settings enable the following:

• Double authentication.
• Safety noticeswhich alerts users when a contact has changed their phone or reinstalled WhatsApp, or if an attacker has taken control of their account.
• Blocks attachments and media (images and videos) from random senders.
• Preview links are disabled.
• Calls to unknown numbers are blocked.
• Your IP address is hidden from mobile devices.
• Information about your profile and activities, such as when you were last seen online, your profile picture, and profile information, is hidden from people who are not your contacts or members of a previously established group.
• Only your contacts or members of a pre-set group can add you to a public chat.

To turn on the feature, use your primary device and go to Settings, then Privacy, then scroll down to Advanced and turn it on.