Spyware attacks on journalists, human rights defenders and political dissidents have become all too common. In early 2025, WhatsApp informed around 90 users, many of them journalists in Europe, that they had been targeted by Paragon Solutions. Apple later warned two journalists that their devices were compromised with Graphite spyware via a zero-click attack.

These aren’t isolated instances; security researchers have documented countless cases where government hackers target and successfully compromise individuals for years. Spyware gives its operators full access to the device, allowing them to record calls, steal messages, and track locations. Tech giants like Apple, Google and Meta now offer features specifically designed to counter these attacks.

Apple’s Lockdown Mode, available on all devices including iPhones, restricts functionality but enhances security by blocking certain features such as iMessage attachments, FaceTime calls, and location information when sharing photos. To enable it, go to Settings, Privacy & Security, then scroll down to Lockdown Mode. Google’s Advanced Protection Program makes your Google account more resilient against hackers.

While no security measure is perfect, these features are free, easy to enable, and proven effective. They’re the best defense we have today against sophisticated spyware, as Runa Sandvik, a security researcher who has worked with at-risk communities for over a decade, states. Even if they get in the way of something you need to do, turning them off is simple.