---
title: "How to protect your phone from spyware with free built-in settings"
description: "Some spyware needs no click. Apple, Google and WhatsApp offer free settings that are the best defense available today."
url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/phone-features-protect-against-spyware
language: en # English
type: news
published: 2026-05-23T16:00:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-02T04:31:50.000Z
author: "Osamah Ismail"
author_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/author/1
section: "How-to"
tags: ["Spyware","Lockdown Mode","Android","WhatsApp","Security"]
sources: ["TechCrunch","Apple Support","Google","WhatsApp Blog"]
image: https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/advanced-20protection-20combined-60bcff4b.png
translations:
  ku: https://kurddevelopers.com/news/phone-features-protect-against-spyware
  ar: https://kurddevelopers.com/ar/news/phone-features-protect-against-spyware
publisher: Kurd Developers
publisher_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/
---

# How to protect your phone from spyware with free built-in settings

> Some spyware needs no click. Apple, Google and WhatsApp offer free settings that are the best defense available today.

![Image: Google](https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/advanced-20protection-20combined-60bcff4b.png)

## The problem
Advanced **spyware** can infect a phone without you clicking anything. These free settings help.

## iPhone: Lockdown Mode
- **Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode**.
- Apple said as of March it has never detected a successful spyware attack on a device with Lockdown Mode on.

## Android: Advanced Protection Mode
- Extra device protection.
- Auto-reboots a phone that's been locked for **72 hours**.
- Google accounts also have the **Advanced Protection Program**.

## WhatsApp: Strict Account Settings
- WhatsApp has more than **3 billion** users.
- **Strict Account Settings** adds protection, but you must turn it on.

Security expert Runa Sandvik: "These features are free, easy to enable, and the best defense we have today against sophisticated spyware."

**Sources:** TechCrunch, Apple Support, Google, WhatsApp Blog

---

Published by [Kurd Developers](https://kurddevelopers.com/) on 2026-05-23. Cite as: “How to protect your phone from spyware with free built-in settings”, Kurd Developers, https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/phone-features-protect-against-spyware