European Lawmakers Find Spyware on Phone After Investigating It

Citizen Lab researchers found commercial spyware on the phone of a European Parliament member who was part of a committee investigating the abuse of surveillance tools. The Parliament member called this discovery a direct attack on the rule of law. This incident shows that Pegasus, a sophisticated phone surveillance tool, reached even those working to expose its misuse.

Most everyday families do not need to worry about being targeted by Pegasus specifically. This spyware costs millions of dollars and is sold only to governments. It's used to spy on high-profile targets like politicians, human rights activists, and journalists.

However, this story matters because it shows how vulnerable our phones are to determined attackers, and it reminds us that privacy protections affect everyone. You can take practical steps to protect your family's phones from more common threats.

1. Enable automatic updates on all family phones so security patches install right away.
2. Never click links in unexpected text messages, even if they appear to come from your bank, a delivery service, or someone you know.
3. Use strong, unique passcodes on each family member's phone (not 1234 or birthdays).
4. Turn on Find My iPhone or Find My Device on all family phones in case they're lost or stolen. Build awareness of phone security into your family culture. Talk with your kids about why they should think before clicking any link. Explain that phones hold the keys to your whole digital life: banking apps, email, photos, and messages. While targeted spyware like Pegasus isn't your biggest threat, scammers and criminals use simpler tricks every day to access phones and steal information. The same careful habits that protect against common threats also make you more secure overall.