Over the years, cybersecurity researchers have recorded a series of cases of hackers using extremely sophisticated spyware tools to track targets. When successfully penetrating phones, spyware can access almost all personal data, including messages, calls, photos, locations, and even secretly turn on cameras and microphones to record the surrounding environment.
Faced with this situation, major technology companies such as Apple and Google have added many specialized protection mechanisms to reduce the risk of devices being exploited.
Apple's Lock mode enhances iPhone protection
One of the most prominent features today is Lockdown Mode on Apple devices. When activated, the system will limit many common features to reduce the possibility of hacker attacks.
According to Apple, when this mode is turned on, many attachments on iMessage will be blocked, links will no longer display previews and some web technologies on Safari will also be disabled.
FaceTime calls from strangers can be blocked, while screen sharing, Live Photos and Game Center are also turned off.
In addition, the iPhone will not automatically connect to unsecure public Wi-Fi networks, and will also block connections to 2G and 3G mobile networks, which are technologies with lower security levels.
Cybersecurity experts assess this as one of the most effective anti-spyware tools today.
Users can turn on this feature by going to Settings, selecting Privacy & Security, then activating Lock Mode.
Google adds many layers of protection for accounts and Android
Not only Apple, Google also developed an enhanced protection program to protect user accounts from targeted attacks.
This feature enhances login checking, restricts third-party applications from accessing Google accounts and activates Gmail scanning mechanisms to detect fraudulent emails or malware.
The Chrome browser also automatically warns users when accessing dangerous websites or downloading suspicious files.
On Android, Google also deploys Advanced Protection Mode, which is a comprehensive protection mode for phones.
When activated, the device will block the installation of applications from an unidentified source, automatically locking if signs of theft or prolonged network connection loss are detected.
Some other features are also added such as 2G network blocking, forcing browsers to use HTTPS connections and partially disabling JavaScript to limit the risk of exploiting security vulnerabilities.
Notably, Android also has an automatic restart mechanism if the phone is locked continuously for 72 hours. This helps to make it difficult for specialized tools used to unlock and extract data from the device.
According to security experts, there is no absolute safe solution against sophisticated cyberattacks.
However, activating advanced protection features is still one of the most effective measures currently to reduce the risk of being tracked or personal data stolen.
