Observed Signal · May 23, 2026 · Product Guide · Source: techcrunch · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Phone and App Features to Defend Against Spyware
Targeted spyware attacks — including zero-click exploits used against journalists and civil‑society members — have become common. Major platform owners now offer opt‑in defenses to reduce the risk of these stealthy hacks: Apple’s Lockdown Mode, Google’s Advanced Protection Program (and Android’s Advanced Protection Mode), and WhatsApp’s Strict Account Settings. These features trade some convenience for stronger protections (blocking certain message attachments, restricting links, tightening app install policies, blocking legacy networks, requiring security keys, enabling intrusion logging, etc.). Security researchers and publishers recommend enabling these controls if you are at risk from government‑grade surveillance. While not foolproof, evidence and forensic analyses indicate these measures have helped stop or limit successful spyware compromises in real cases.
Summarizes opt‑in security features from major platforms (Apple, Google, WhatsApp/Meta) that materially affect privacy and device security for high‑risk users; useful guidance but not an industry‑shifting policy or release.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- In early 2025 WhatsApp notified roughly 90 users — many journalists and civil‑society members in Europe — that they had been targeted by Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions.
- Forensic analysis confirmed at least two journalists were compromised by Paragon’s Graphite spyware via a zero‑click attack.
- Apple’s Lockdown Mode is available on Apple devices and Apple stated in March 2026 it has never detected a successful attack on a device with Lockdown Mode enabled.
- Google operates an Advanced Protection Program for Google accounts (launched in 2017) and introduced Android’s Advanced Protection Mode in 2025 to add device‑level protections.
- WhatsApp launched Strict Account Settings in 2026, an opt‑in set of privacy controls that block attachments and link previews from unknown senders and tighten account visibility and group‑add rules.
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Apple: No Known Spyware Hacks with Lockdown Mode
Apple says it has not observed any successful mercenary spyware compromises of Apple devices while Lockdown Mode was enabled. The company reiterated the claim to TechCrunch nearly four years after introducing the opt-in security feature in 2022, which disables features commonly exploited by spyware makers. Independent researchers and digital-rights groups — including Amnesty International and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab — say they have not seen evidence of successful attacks that bypassed Lockdown Mode, and some researchers reported Lockdown Mode actively blocked specific spyware attempts. Apple has also sent notifications to users in over 150 countries about potential spyware targeting. Security experts note Lockdown Mode reduces the remotely reachable attack surface, particularly versus zero-click exploit chains, though undetected bypasses remain possible.
Smartphone Features to Block Spam Calls
Monthly investigations show hundreds of thousands of spam calls; Clever Dialer recorded more than 585,000 spam calls in April 2026. Smartphone vendors and third-party apps offer multiple protections: Google is rolling out an Android feature that verifies incoming calls from supported banks by communicating with the device's installed banking app to detect spoofing (initial partners: Revolut, Itaú, Nubank). Samsung devices include a "Smart Call" feature that flags and lets users block or report suspicious numbers. Pixel phones offer a Call Screen / Call Filter assistant that can answer and transcribe suspicious calls; in the US this can be automatic, while in Germany it is manually enabled. Apple provides call identification, an Anruffilter (call filter) assistant and options to silence unknown numbers. Third‑party apps mentioned include Clever Dialer and Tellows, which rely on community reports to mark spam numbers.
Apple issues push warnings about mercenary spyware
Apple is sending push notifications and emails to a small number of users worldwide to warn they were targeted by mercenary (soldier‑style) spyware intended to spy on Apple devices. The company updated a support document saying such attacks are rare and typically target journalists, activists, politicians and diplomats. Apple recommends contacting the nonprofit Access Now's Digital Security Helpline and enabling Lockdown Mode on iPhone, iPad and Mac. TechCrunch reports Apple issued warnings in 110 countries; Apple did not disclose the exact number of affected individuals.
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