The microphone LED on my phone turns green every once in a while and when I swipe the notification bar down I see the mic logo. Blocking mic access turns it off. It sometimes turns off automatically and back on its own. I've blocked all apps from the mic permission but it stays on
Microphone access indicator bug
Force stopping WhatsApp stopped the mic... Interestingly I had blocked mic permission to WhatsApp and it was still green.
I'm still concerned... Is WhatsApp spying on me?
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I recommend reading this: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/20420-have-you-ever-suspected-your-phone-was-hacked-what-steps-did-you-take/2
DeletedUser218 I'm still concerned... Is WhatsApp spying on me?
If you deeply care about privacy, do not use Whatsapp. It's owned by Meta/Facebook and is not open source, so nobody can verify which privacy violations it may or may not do.
You can choose to use Signal/Molly, Threema, SimpleX and others. But of course you will have to convince those who you really want to comminicate with to use that app too.
Snibby the way I did this, I informed those who I care about I will be leaving Whatsapp and that I will be only reachable on Signal (Molly). I explained why I'm doing this to some raised eyebrows. Those who did care about staying in touch with me did get yet another messenger. Works well for me. As for the rest, they can use postal services or see me in person.
Snibby I'm gonna have to disagree with that person though.
Ik it's super case specific but still, its not always so hidden. Let's say someone exploited the WhatsApp zero day hack then I would likely see the mic turn on right? I also saw some hacking demo and when the guy took a photo the webcam light still lit on.
In regards to quitting WhatsApp, I can't. All my "friends" are on there and important contacts who won't definitely switch.
DeletedUser218 did you check which Apps accessed it in the privacy dashboard?
DeletedUser218 change microphone and camera permission from "Allow while using the app" to "Ask every time"
DeletedUser227 thanks for the tip
TheGodfather I did and im saw WhatsApp on my mic really recently again
DeletedUser218 All my "friends" are on there and important contacts who won't definitely switch
I'm in the same Situation. But I'm about leaving WA.
At the moment i answer messages I receive on WA after a couple of days and tell my contacts they would get a quicker reply if they write me on signal.
If you are important for those contacts too, they maybe will switch.
DeletedUser227 Those who did care about staying in touch with me did get yet another messenger. Works well for me. As for the rest, they can use postal services or see me in person.
DeletedUser218 In regards to quitting WhatsApp, I can't. All my "friends" are on there and important contacts who won't definitely switch.
brandy078 If you are important for those contacts too, they maybe will switch.
Yes, if you are important to someone, they will install another messenger like Signal too. When I did this years ago, Signal was not even that widespread. But now, some of those people who installed Signal mostly to stay in contact with me, are getting more and more contacts and even whole groups on Signal, which is great.
I do recommend to keep the entry "fee" low though, meaning choose an app which is very similar to what they already use. Signal is a good candidate for that. Threema is as well, but unfortunately lots of people are not willing to pay coffee money for a messenger app...
It seems like the described behavior is merely a display bug introduced by the latest QPR.
It is highly unlikely that this is a compromise, nor that a compromise would ever show in such a way.
pxlkng thanks
My contacts that I need to stay in touch with (like my classmates so I can ask them for the school material if I missed it or my soccer coach who needs me to tell him if I can't attend for some reason) do not need to stay in touch with me and won't switch so I'm stuck with Whatsapp. Either way, Whatsapp will know who I am regardless of if I have the app because people who do have Whatsapp save me as a contact.
Anyways pxlkng was likely the answer so this is resolved
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DeletedUser218 Disagreeing is fine, you shouldn't blindly follow some internet advice no matter how knowledgeable the person may seem. Good for you on that part.
But your reasoning for why you do not want to agree is flawed. First, let's assume meta decides one day to spy and listen on their users via their phones, do you really think they would just allow the mic to turn on for everyone to see this?
If you'd be a target, again the potential threat actor being able to compromise your device and remotely enable mic would not allow the led to go on just like that randomly.
As for the 0day, do you even understand what's a 0day is for such an app as Whatsapp? The price for such exploit for whomever discovered it would allow them to not work for the rest of their live, and it would not be used on some random internet stranger. Least to say again it would not turn your mic notifications on that's the entire gist of such exploit.
As harsh as it may sound, you're not someone worth targeting with such attack. And meta have better ways of tracking you.
0xsigsev you hit the nail on the head with this one.
0xsigsev Thanks for your answer and I completely agree with what your saying but isn't it possible that a zero day was sold, and some random people are just mass listening to microphones and their software isn't great at hiding it for my device or something?
It's not harsh at all to say that I'm not a high value target but some zero day exploit buyer could definitely have an interest in listening to a bunch of phone mics and running them through an AI to filter important conversations right?
Maybe I watch too many movies and if thats the case, mb.
People from other countries who live in authoritarian regimes and are in contact with important people are definitely being monitored and if this is in a third world country it can be sloppy. (I know this from "second hand" experience) Couldn't it have been that it's just sloppy malware? I really hope I don't sound like some "tinfoil hat wearer".
Either way pxlkng is likely right so it's probably nothing
DeletedUser218 but isn't it possible that a zero day was sold, and some random people are just mass listening to microphones and their software isn't great at hiding it for my device or something
No. If you can afford to buy a zero day, especially one for Whatsapp you don't burn it like this.
DeletedUser218 some zero day exploit buyer could definitely have an interest in listening to a bunch of phone mics and running them through an AI to filter important conversations right?
Again, no. This is not how you use a zero day.
You don't have anything to worry again, this was most probably just a visual glitch.
7 days later
Still notice the microphone indicator always staying on despite no apps currently using it. Still a thing on others with p7/p8 phones?
other8026 changed the title to Microphone access indicator bug .