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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFor someone who may be individually targeted by mercenary spyware, an up-to-date iPhone with Lockdown Mode has the clearest purpose-built defense. A supported Android 16 phone with Advanced Protection is a serious alternative, and Android 17 adds further controls on some devices. There is no universal winner: the safer choice is the device that receives timely security updates, supports its platform’s high-risk mode, and is configured and maintained correctly for your threat model.
Neither platform is immune. Targeted spyware campaigns exploit unusual software bugs, compromised accounts, social engineering and, in some cases, attacks that require no tap at all. Your practical protection comes from reducing attack surface, keeping every device current and getting specialist help when a credible targeting alert appears.
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What “targeted spyware” means
Targeted mercenary spyware is built for a small, selected group of victims rather than mass infection. Operators may choose journalists, activists, elected officials, public figures, government critics or people involved in sensitive disputes. The objective is usually access to messages, contacts, location, files, microphones, cameras or authentication data while remaining difficult to detect.
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Amnesty International’s 2023 reporting on the Pegasus Project described a leaked list of 50,000 potential spyware targets. The documented names included journalists, activists, heads of state and government critics. A list entry is not proof that a device was infected, but it illustrates how deliberately these campaigns select people.
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Zero-click and one-click attacks
A zero-click attack compromises a phone without the victim tapping a link or approving an installation. Amnesty has documented zero-click attacks in which specially crafted content was processed by a messaging or communications component. The victim may see no warning.
A one-click attack requires an action such as opening a malicious link, visiting a booby-trapped page or accepting a prompt. Apple says browser attacks that require one click remain a critical entry path on iOS, Android and Windows. “No click required” therefore does not mean every attack is zero-click; it means the operator has more than one route into the device.
Why ordinary antivirus advice is not enough
Mercenary spyware exploit chains are expensive, short-lived and tailored to a particular victim. Apple’s 2025 security-bounty article says the company observes system-level iOS attacks in the wild mainly as highly sophisticated mercenary-spyware chains aimed at a very small number of people, and that such chains can cost millions of dollars to develop. These attacks are outside the assumptions behind routine consumer malware advice.
Apple Support’s Lockdown Mode guidance also notes: “Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.” That does not make the risk irrelevant for a reporter covering a repressive government, an opposition organizer, a high-profile executive or another person who has a credible reason to expect surveillance.
Android and iPhone: the security comparison that matters
There is no current, apples-to-apples infection-rate statistic establishing that one platform suffers fewer targeted-spyware infections. A useful comparison instead examines the protections available on your exact model, how quickly updates arrive, which attack surfaces are closed, and whether you can live with the resulting restrictions.
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| Decision factor | iPhone with Lockdown Mode | Supported Android 16 with Advanced Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Optional extreme protection for people who may be targeted by highly sophisticated attacks such as mercenary spyware. | Device-level protection for at-risk users; Google describes Advanced Protection as its strongest mobile security. |
| Availability | Available on supported, current Apple operating systems; confirm that every Apple device you use supports and has it enabled. | Only on supported Android 16 devices; hardware and manufacturer availability vary. |
| Sideloading and app sources | Lockdown Mode restricts some app and service behavior; the exact effect depends on Apple’s current operating-system rules. | Android 16 Advanced Protection adds restrictions around sideloading, while Play Protect continues scanning apps from multiple sources. |
| Accessibility permissions | Lockdown Mode limits selected capabilities and app behavior; Apple does not describe it as an immunity guarantee. | Advanced Protection adds controls around accessibility permissions, a powerful mechanism that spyware can abuse. |
| Browser and media attack surface | Lockdown Mode restricts selected websites, media handling and other features, so some pages and content may not work normally. | Advanced Protection reduces selected risky behaviors; Google’s Android 17 update adds further restrictions on some devices. |
| USB and physical access | Lockdown Mode restricts some connectivity functions; Apple warns that the phone will not function normally. | Android 17 Advanced Protection can include USB Protection, but availability varies by device. |
| Intrusion visibility | Apple provides threat notifications and specialist assistance in certain cases; Lockdown Mode itself is not a forensic report. | Android 17 can add optional intrusion logging on supported devices; availability varies. |
| Independent infection-rate proof | Not stated. Public primary sources describe exploit chains and mitigations, not a current head-to-head infection rate. | |
What Lockdown Mode changes on an iPhone
Apple designed Lockdown Mode as an optional, extreme setting for people who may be targeted by highly sophisticated attacks. It restricts categories of behavior that are useful to an attacker, including selected app functions, websites, media handling, connectivity and other services. The protection is deliberately disruptive: Apple warns that the phone will not work normally while it is enabled.
Typical trade-offs
- Some websites, embedded content, media types or communication features may be limited or unavailable.
- Convenience features can require extra confirmation or stop working as they did before.
- Apps that depend on unusual web, file, accessory or connectivity behavior may need an exception or an alternative workflow.
- Protection must be enabled on all Apple devices used by the same person for complete coverage; leaving an iPad or Mac unprotected can preserve an avenue into accounts and data.
The exact list changes as Apple updates its operating systems. Read the on-device explanation before enabling the mode and test essential work tasks with it turned on.
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- Update the iPhone and every linked Apple device to the latest available security release.
- Open Settings and go to Privacy & Security.
- Select Lockdown Mode, review the listed restrictions, and choose the command to turn it on.
- Restart when prompted, then repeat the process on each Apple device you use for sensitive accounts or communications.
- Check your essential messaging, publishing, navigation and authentication workflows. Do not disable the mode casually to make one convenience feature work; decide whether that feature is worth reopening the attack surface.
Apple’s wording and menu placement can change between iOS releases, so use the Lockdown Mode panel on your current version as the final authority.
What Android Advanced Protection adds
Google says Android 16 extends Advanced Protection with a device-level security setting for at-risk users such as journalists, elected officials and public figures. On supported Android 16 devices, a single setting adds protections around sideloading and accessibility permissions, while Google Play Protect continues scanning applications from multiple sources.
“Supported” is the critical word. Android is an ecosystem of many manufacturers, chipsets and update policies. Two phones running Android branding may differ in whether Advanced Protection is present, when patches arrive, which controls are enforced and how long the device remains supported.
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Android 17 additions
Google’s 2026 Android 17 update describes additional Advanced Protection features, including optional intrusion logging, USB Protection, tighter restrictions on accessibility services and disabling WebGPU in protected mode. Availability varies by device. These controls can be valuable against attacks that abuse physical USB access, accessibility privileges or complex browser graphics paths, but they should not be assumed on every Android 17 phone.
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How to evaluate and enable it
- Install the latest Android system and security updates offered for your exact model.
- Open the phone’s Security or Security & privacy settings and look for Advanced Protection. Manufacturer labels and menu paths may differ.
- Read the device-specific list of restrictions before switching it on. Confirm whether sideloading, accessibility services, USB connections, WebGPU or logging behavior will affect your work.
- Enable the setting, then review which apps have accessibility access, which apps were installed outside the official store and which USB accessories you routinely use.
- Recheck the panel after major Android updates, because new controls may be added and some features may remain unavailable on your model.
Updates and hardware support can outweigh the logo
A phone that cannot receive current security fixes is a poor choice for a high-risk user, regardless of whether it runs iOS or Android. Check the manufacturer’s stated support period, the date of the latest patch actually installed, and how quickly your carrier or regional variant receives updates.
- iPhone: use a model that still receives the current iOS security releases and supports Lockdown Mode. Include Macs, iPads and other Apple devices that access the same accounts.
- Android: choose a model with a documented, long update commitment and confirmed Android 16 or Android 17 Advanced Protection support if you need those controls. Verify the exact regional and carrier variant.
- Used or imported phones: confirm bootloader status, update eligibility and the date of the last security patch before moving sensitive accounts.
- End-of-support devices: do not treat a clean factory reset as a substitute for security maintenance. A reset removes data; it does not create new vulnerability fixes.
For a journalist deciding between two phones, a well-supported Android model can be safer than an older iPhone that cannot run the latest protections, and a current iPhone can be safer than an Android model whose manufacturer delays patches. The comparison must be made at the model and software-build level.
How targeted spyware reaches phones
Malicious links and browsers
One-click browser attacks remain a critical entry vector across iOS and Android. Treat unexpected links in text messages, email, direct messages and calendar invitations as hostile, especially when they create urgency, claim to show leaked documents or ask you to sign in. Lockdown Mode reduces selected browser capabilities; Android’s protected modes reduce selected risky behaviors, but neither removes the need for cautious handling.
Messages and media processing
Zero-click campaigns can target the code that parses a message, image, video, document or call invitation. You may not be able to identify the malicious content by looking at it. Keeping the operating system and communication apps updated is therefore more important than trying to recognize a suspicious attachment after delivery.
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Sideloaded applications
Applications installed from outside the official distribution channel can bypass some review and reputation systems. Android 16 Advanced Protection specifically adds restrictions around sideloading, while Play Protect scans apps from multiple sources. Avoiding unknown installers remains prudent even when a protection mode is enabled.
Accessibility and other powerful permissions
Accessibility services can read screen content and interact with controls, making them attractive to spyware. Android 16 Advanced Protection adds controls around these permissions, and Android 17 can restrict accessibility services further on supported devices. Review every app with accessibility, notification access, device-administrator or similar elevated privileges, and remove access that is not essential.
Physical USB access
A seized or unattended phone can face a different threat model from a remotely attacked phone. Android 17’s USB Protection is intended to reduce some of that risk on supported devices. Apple’s Lockdown Mode also restricts selected connectivity behavior. Do not assume either feature applies identically to every accessory, computer or software release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing by threat model
Journalist or human-rights investigator
Start with the platform whose high-risk mode is supported on your exact device and whose updates arrive reliably in your region. If you can accept substantial feature restrictions, an iPhone with Lockdown Mode is the most clearly documented purpose-built option. A current Android device with Advanced Protection may be preferable when its update policy, hardware support and required accessibility or USB controls fit your field workflow better.
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Assume that account takeover and physical access matter alongside spyware. Use a current supported phone, enable the strongest available protection, separate personal and official accounts where policy permits, and require strong multifactor authentication. A FIDO2 security key can protect important accounts against phishing because the key verifies the legitimate website rather than approving a look-alike page.
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Targeted spyware is not the only concern. Review account sessions, shared family accounts, location sharing, device-management profiles and who can access your recovery email or phone number. High-risk modes help with sophisticated exploitation, but they cannot correct an attacker who already controls an account or a trusted person’s device.
General user without a specific targeting indicator
Do not accept the inconvenience of an extreme mode automatically. Most people are not targeted by mercenary spyware, as Apple notes. You still benefit from current updates, official app sources, strong account authentication, screen-lock protection and skepticism toward unexpected links.
A practical hardening checklist
For either platform
- Install operating-system and app updates promptly, then verify the resulting security-patch date.
- Use a long device passcode rather than a short, guessable code.
- Protect email, cloud storage, messaging and social accounts with strong multifactor authentication; use a FIDO2 key for the most important accounts when practical.
- Remove applications, browser extensions and account sessions you no longer recognize.
- Do not install software from an unexpected link or permit an unknown app to use accessibility, device-administrator, notification or screen-recording privileges.
- Keep backups current, encrypted where possible and separate from the phone so a compromised device cannot silently alter every copy.
- Tell close colleagues and family how you verify urgent requests. Attackers often target a trusted contact to reach the intended victim.
Additional iPhone steps
- Confirm that the iPhone supports the current iOS release and Lockdown Mode.
- Enable Lockdown Mode from Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode when your risk justifies the restrictions.
- Enable it on every Apple device used with sensitive accounts, not only the phone.
- Review which websites, attachments, media formats and accessories your work requires before an emergency, then establish safer alternatives.
Additional Android steps
- Confirm the exact model’s Android 16 or Android 17 support, security-patch schedule and Advanced Protection availability.
- Enable Advanced Protection in the phone’s security settings and read the manufacturer-specific restrictions.
- Audit sideloaded apps and accessibility services immediately after enabling it.
- If Android 17 offers USB Protection or intrusion logging on your device, decide whether to enable those options and document how your team will review logs.
What these protections cannot promise
- No absolute immunity: Lockdown Mode and Advanced Protection reduce attack surface; they do not prove that exploitation is impossible.
- Incomplete ecosystem coverage: Leaving a companion device, computer or cloud account unprotected can preserve an attacker’s route to your data.
- Feature loss: Apple explicitly warns that Lockdown Mode changes normal phone behavior. Android restrictions can also break legitimate workflows.
- Uneven availability: Android 16 and Android 17 features vary by device. A feature described by Google may not exist on your particular model.
- Detection limits: A clean-looking phone does not prove that no sophisticated exploit occurred. Intrusion logging, where available, is evidence to review, not a guarantee of complete visibility.
- Account compromise: Platform hardening cannot undo stolen passwords, reused credentials or an attacker-controlled recovery channel.
What to do after a credible targeting alert
Do not click through an alert to “verify” it, install an app offered by an unsolicited caller or immediately erase the phone if you may need forensic evidence. Preserve the alert and surrounding context, keep the device powered and connected only as your security adviser recommends, and contact a qualified incident-response or digital-forensics organization. Apple and Google may provide guidance for some threat notifications, but the correct response depends on the alert, your accounts, your jurisdiction and whether legal evidence must be preserved.
After receiving expert advice, update the operating system and apps, change compromised credentials from a known-clean device, revoke unfamiliar sessions and review recovery methods. If the expert recommends a new phone, move accounts only after documenting what must be retained and how the old device will be handled.
Bottom line for the platform decision
Choose an iPhone with Lockdown Mode when you face a credible mercenary-spyware risk and can accept Apple’s deliberate restrictions across your devices. Choose a current Android phone with confirmed Advanced Protection when its update support and hardware controls are stronger for your circumstances; Android 17’s USB, accessibility, WebGPU and logging options can matter, but only where the exact device exposes them.
Whichever platform you choose, the decisive safeguards are current software, a supported model, the strongest mode you will actually keep enabled, cautious link and app handling, hardened accounts and expert assistance after a credible alert.
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