The article explains how advanced spyware attacks targeting journalists, activists, political dissidents, and civil society members have become increasingly common and sophisticated.

It highlights recent incidents involving Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions, whose Graphite spyware allegedly targeted WhatsApp and iPhone users through zero-click attacks, allowing devices to be compromised without victims clicking on malicious links.

The piece notes that spyware gives attackers extensive control over smartphones, including access to calls, messages, photos, microphones, cameras, and location data.

To counter these threats, major technology companies such as Apple, Google, and Meta have introduced optional security protections designed specifically for high-risk users.

Apple’s Lockdown Mode limits many iPhone and macOS functions, including attachment handling, FaceTime calls from unknown users, certain web technologies, and public Wi-Fi connections, in exchange for stronger protection against sophisticated exploits.Researchers cited in the article claim Lockdown Mode has successfully blocked some known spyware attacks.

The article also describes Google’s Advanced Protection Program for Google accounts, which strengthens login verification, restricts third-party app access, and enhances phishing and malware protections.

In addition, Android’s Advanced Protection Mode adds device-level safeguards such as malware scanning, blocking installations from unknown sources, restricting USB access when locked, disabling 2G connections, and automatically rebooting locked devices after extended inactivity.

Finally, the article reviews WhatsApp’s Strict Account Settings, which enable stronger privacy protections including silencing unknown callers, disabling link previews, limiting group invitations, and turning on security notifications and two-factor authentication.

Security experts interviewed by TechCrunch recommend enabling these protections even for users who do not believe they are direct surveillance targets, as they improve overall digital security with relatively minor usability tradeoffs.