Spyware can be used by anyone, not just hackers One popular app, mSpy, boasts the ability to monitor text messages, calls and social media interactions. The app can be installed remotely on an iPhone if you have the proper iCloud credentials. For Android phones, someone will need to install it on the phone directly.

Whether someone can see your texts depends entirely on the messaging platform you are using and the security of your network. If you are using standard SMS (Green bubbles) over a public Wi-Fi network, the messages are unencrypted and could theoretically be intercepted by a sophisticated "packet sniffer" on the same network. However, most modern messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, and Signal use end-to-end encryption (E2EE), meaning that even the owner of the Wi-Fi network or the service provider cannot read the content of your messages; they can only see "metadata" like the time sent and the destination server. The most common way someone sees your texts in 2026 is not through hacking, but through "physical" access (looking over your shoulder) or by having access to a synced device like a tablet or laptop. To ensure total privacy, always use an E2EE app, enable "Disappearing Messages," and use a VPN when on public Wi-Fi to mask your metadata from the network administrator or potential eavesdroppers.