Is your phone spying on you? 7 warning signs Kim Komando says to check now

Here’s something terrifying. Hundreds of people recently got legitimate notifications saying their iPhone or Android had been targeted by sophisticated spyware. This isn’t your average malware. It’s the kind that sees everything you do on your phone and can even crack your encrypted Signal and WhatsApp messages. 

The most infamous spyware is Pegasus, which has been used by governments and others worldwide to target high-profile individuals. But similar tools are available to anyone with enough money and motivation, including abusive partners, corporate spies and criminals. 

If you’ve got something worth knowing, you might be next.

🌎 Who got hit? 

Jeff Bezos because they wanted his business dealings, texts, pics and videos. Jamal Khashoggi’s widow to monitor her communications. Journalists covering cartels and corruption in Mexico, South America and the Middle East. Human rights lawyers in Spain. U.S. State Department officials. Even hedge fund managers because stock picks are worth spying on.

👀 Look for these signs

Spyware can get on your phone through a single malicious link, a compromised app or worst case, a zero-click attack where just receiving a text or call infects your device without you doing anything at all.

• Battery drains unusually fast, and phone feels hot during idle periods
• Unexpected data usage spikes
• Unfamiliar apps or strange permission requests appear
• Sudden performance issues like slowdowns, crashes or apps loading slowly
• Unusual sounds during calls (clicking, static or echoes)
• Strange behavior like the screen lighting up or settings changing on their own
• Receiving texts with random characters or unusually slow shutdown times

If you’re experiencing several of these simultaneously, it’s worth running a security scan with reputable antivirus software and doing a complete factory reset after backing up your data.

🔐 Going to extremes

Both Apple and Google have ultra-secure features to stop spyware like Pegasus. It’s like putting your phone in a nuclear bunker, but also miserable to use.

With Lockdown Mode on your iPhone, you can’t receive message attachments. Link previews? Gone. FaceTime calls from people you don’t know? Blocked. Your phone won’t auto-join Wi-Fi networks.

Android’s version is similar. It blocks you from installing apps from anywhere but Google Play, breaks some websites because it disables certain Chrome features, and you can’t turn off the security features it locks in place.

If you’re a high-profile person, a journalist on a sensitive story or doing activism work, then yeah, these features might be worth the headache. Otherwise, don’t do it.

🍎 iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode > Turn On & Restart.

🤖 Android (you’ll need Android 16): Head to Settings > Security & Privacy > Advanced Protection > toggle on Device Protection > Restart or Restart later.

Unless you’re investigating cartels or exposing government corruption, you probably don’t need to turn your phone into Fort Knox. Do the boring stuff that works: Update your software, use a password manager, use an authenticator app and don’t click sketchy links.

📣 Got friends who are journalists, lawyers or work with sensitive business info? They need to read this. Heck, even if they’re not spy-worthy, knowing how this stuff works matters. Click the email icon to send them a copy, or use the share icons on your social media.

Tags: Android, Apple, Google, malware, security