ESET warns of smartphone camera spying via spyware

Cybersecurity firm ESET has issued warnings regarding the potential for spyware to allow criminals to remotely access and monitor smartphone cameras. Such tools can enable attackers to spy on users or mirror their device screens to view all displayed content.

Key indicators of a compromised device include unexpected camera behavior, such as the camera activating on its own or being inaccessible due to another application using it. Users should also look for unknown photos or videos in their galleries.

Other technical red flags include abnormal battery consumption, device overheating, unusual increases in data usage, and general performance issues, as malware often consumes significant system resources to transmit captured data to attackers.