Microsoft’s options are more limited, but the company could add a warning to the Phone Link app that it should only be used with your own devices and not those of other people. Apple could develop a similar visual clue that would tell people when notifications or messages are being shared with a Bluetooth-connected device. With iOS 14 and higher, your iPhone displays a green or orange dot at the top of the screen when your microphone or camera is being used. With that in mind, Certo suggests a couple of steps that both Apple and Microsoft can take to warn users of a potential threat. Though the Phone Link app for both Windows and iOS is designed to help users, there is this potential for abuse. What Apple and Microsoft could and should do Must-read security coverageĪtlas VPN Review (2023): Features, Pricing, AlternativesĪustralia, New Zealand Enterprises Spend Big on Security - But Will It Be Enough? Rather, this is more something that a stalker could potentially pull off, meaning a family member, spouse or significant other who wants to spy on someone they know. Therefore, this is not a threat posed by anonymous cybercriminals. To be clear, this isn’t a process that could be done remotely - it does require that the person have physical access to the victim’s phone. Secondly, a notification is shown on the phone when a connection to a computer is active.” Firstly, the Link to Windows app must be installed from the Play Store. “However, it’s much easier to spot on Android for a few reasons. “This method can also be used against Android phones, and you can see more data from the phone too, for example, Photos,” Certo co-founder Simon Lewis said. Image: Certo How Android phones can be exploited this wayĪndroid phones can also be exploited this way however, there are a couple of differences between Android and iOS devices. Beyond accessing personal information, someone could potentially view work information, thereby putting the victim and the victim’s organization at risk ( Figure B).įigure B Phone Link lets people send and receive messages from linked devices. But now, they would be able to view sent and received messages, send new messages to contacts, view a history of phone calls, make phone calls, and view all notifications. Once the person has set up Phone Link on their own computer and someone else’s phone, they no longer need the phone. Drilling down into the Bluetooth setting on the phone lets you sync contacts and notifications from the phone with Windows ( Figure A).įigure A You can easily use Phone Link to pair an iPhone with a Windows PC. In Windows 11, the person would launch the app and then scan its QR code from their phone to automatically connect and pair the phone and PC. The risk here is that a person who’s able to even temporarily grab someone else’s phone could enable Phone Link on their own Windows PC and use the app to spy on the victim’s phone calls and text messages without their knowledge or permission.Īctivating Phone Link is a relatively simple process, even with an iPhone. Setting up Phone Link requires physical access to the phone and to a Windows computer. In the past, the app has supported just Android phones, but a recent update from Microsoft allows Windows 11 users to set up Phone Link to work with certain models of iPhones. Windows Phone Link is a free Microsoft app that lets people view and access phone calls, text messages and notifications from their smartphone directly on their Windows 10 or 11 PC. How a cyberstalker could access an iPhone through Phone Link How the Windows Phone Link app works What Apple and Microsoft could and should do.How a cyberstalker could access an iPhone through Phone Link. In a report released Thursday, software maker Certo explains how Microsoft’s Phone Link app could be used against iPhone owners and how they can protect themselves against this type of threat. Image: Pungu X/Adobe StockĪ Microsoft app that helps people use their Windows PC and iPhone or Android phone in tandem could also be abused by cyberstalkers to snoop on personal information. Someone who gains physical access to an iPhone or Android phone could use the Phone Link app to spy on the user’s text messages, phone calls and notifications, says Certo. How cyberstalkers could access your iPhone using the Windows Phone Link app
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