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In recent years, we've been hearing more and more about zero-click exploits, especially in relation to the security of smartphones and the apps we use every day. The term may seem technical, but the concept is simple—and that's precisely why it's scary: a zero-click is a cyber attack that requires no action on the part of the victim.
No clicking on suspicious links, no accidentally opening files, no unintentionally granted permissions.
In other words:
👉the device is compromised without the user doing anything.
How is this possible?
Zero-clicks exploit vulnerabilities in functions that run automatically in the background. Many apps and services process data as it arrives to speed up and simplify the user experience.
Some examples of functions that activate without user intervention:
- displaying a preview of a received message
- managing notifications
- automatically loading images
- analyzing file metadata
- decoding multimedia formats (audio, images, video)
If a hacker discovers a vulnerability in one of these "automatic" operations, they can send malicious content that, once processed by the device, executes malicious code.
Concrete examples in the most popular apps
Below are some realistic but generic scenarios, without technical details or procedures that could be replicable, useful only for understanding how a zero-click attack can occur.
1. WhatsApp
WhatsApp automatically processes:
- message previews,
- images,
- incoming calls.
A zero-click in this context could work like this, in theory:
- an attacker sends a “special” VoIP call;
- the app attempts to interpret the call data;
- the vulnerability is exploited during this processing;
- the victim does not need to respond.
This type of mechanism has actually been used in the past by highly specialized groups to install spyware on specific devices.
2. Facebook Messenger
Messenger automatically generates:
- link previews,
- image thumbnails,
- notifications with parts of the content.
A hypothetical scenario:
- a "malformed" image arrives via chat;
- the app tries to generate the preview;
- an internal flaw is exploited during the decoding step.
Again, the user does not have to open the image: the notification or its preview is sufficient.
3. Email apps (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, etc.)
Email apps automatically process:
- HTML formats,
- image previews,
- message headers.
A theoretical zero-click can be activated:
- simply by receiving an email designed to trigger the vulnerability;
- without even opening the message (it just downloads in the background).
This is why many companies disable automatic image loading by default.
4. iMessage (Apple)
It has been one of the most discussed targets in recent years, because iMessage:
- processes many file types,
- generates previewsvery detailed rhymes,
- uses complex multimedia components.
Historically, some vulnerabilities have been exploited by sending a simple message, which, once received, activated the bug immediately, without any touch.
Why zero-clicks are so dangerous
✔ They are invisible to the user
There is no phishing, suspicious links, or anomalous behavior.
✔ They can affect even cautious users
Good digital education is not enough: the attack occurs at the technical level.
✔ They are extremely difficult to detect
Many zero-clicks leave very little trace.
✔ They require great technical expertise
They are very expensive to develop and usually come from advanced groups (cyberintelligence, sophisticated organized crime, etc.).
How to protect yourself (as much as possible)
We can't completely eliminate the risk, but we can reduce it:
✅ Always keep your operating system and apps up to date
Zero-clicks are usually fixed quickly once discovered.
✅ Enable automatic updates
Especially on iOS and Android.
✅ Reduce the attack surface
Some tips:
- Disable automatic previews in emails when possible;
- Limit the number of messaging apps;
- Uninstall apps you don't use.
✅ Use official/unmodified smartphones and PCs
Compromised devices (rooted, jailbroken) are much more vulnerable.
✅ Enable "Lockdown Mode" features if available
For example, on iPhone, this significantly increases security against complex exploits.
Conclusion
Zero-click exploits represent one of the most advanced and insidious forms of cyber attack. These aren't "Sunday hacker" tools: they require significant resources and skills.
The good news is that tech companies constantly monitor them, and security updates are often sufficient to neutralize new threats.
Awareness remains the best ally: knowing how these attacks work helps understand why updating your phone isn't a boring formality, but an essential part of our daily digital security.
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