--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our mobile phones have become the…" description: "\"Our mobile phones have become the greatest spy on the planet.\" — John McAfee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-mcafee-8137_become_our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greate_79642.jpg" --- # Our mobile phones have become the greatest spy on the… ![“Our mobile phones have become the greatest spy on the planet.” quote by John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-mcafee-8137_become_our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greate_79642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-mcafee-8137_become_our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greate_79642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-mcafee-8137_become_our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greate_79642.jpg) > “Our mobile phones have become the greatest spy on the planet.” [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mobile devices constantly collect personal data, turning them into pervasive surveillance tools. **In simple terms:** Privacy erosion via ubiquitous tech Key Takeaway Phones act as silent observers Themes privacy surveillance technology societal impact data collection Mood concerned cautious Type observation cautionary When to use this quote - using smartphones in public - browsing online - installing apps Key Concepts personal data tracking digital footprints Practical Applications - privacy risk assessments - designing privacy‑preserving apps Questions to Reflect On - How much personal data are you comfortable sharing? - What safeguards could limit phone surveillance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mobile Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobile-phone/) [Mobile phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobile-phones/) [Phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phones/) [Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet/) [Spy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy/) ## Related quotes > [Many students don't really like it (fashion). If they don't like it, they won't be able to tell you who the stylists are or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/many-students-don-t-really-like-it-fashion-if-they-don-t-like-it-they/) [Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/) > [The mobile phone, the fax, emails. Call me old fashioned, but what's wrong with a chain of beacons?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hill/the-mobile-phone-the-fax-emails-call-me-old-fashioned-but-what-s/) [Harry Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hill/) > [When I was a student I did a report on Madagascar, and ever since then it was my biggest dream to go there. Three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/when-i-was-a-student-i-did-a-report-on-madagascar-and-ever-since-then/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [I always cheerfully say, "Well, you know, the species is adapting, and whatever it needs to do, it'll do," but I do think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-always-cheerfully-say-well-you-know-the-species-is-adapting-and/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [There is a generation of skimmers. It's not that they don't want to read in-depth content, but they want to evaluate what the content…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-d-aloisio/there-is-a-generation-of-skimmers-it-s-not-that-they-don-t-want-to/) [Nick D'Aloisio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-d-aloisio/) > [In 1999, I said that in about a decade we would see technologies such as self-driving cars and mobile phones that could answer your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/in-1999-i-said-that-in-about-a-decade-we-would-see-technologies-such/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [The mobile phone... is a tool for those whose professions require a fast response, such as doctors or plumbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-mobile-phone-is-a-tool-for-those-whose-professions-require-a-fast/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [We try to 'self-medicate' ourselves against boredom with mobile phones in any given moment of free time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bogusky/we-try-to-self-medicate-ourselves-against-boredom-with-mobile-phones/) [Alex Bogusky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-bogusky/) > [Life will be much more exciting when we stop creating applications for mobile phones and we start creating applications for our own body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-will-be-much-more-exciting-when-we-stop-creating-applications/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to go out wearing any old rubbish, no make-up, nothing, but since mobile phones, that has all had to stop. People do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/i-used-to-go-out-wearing-any-old-rubbish-no-make-up-nothing-but-since/) [Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/) > [In Africa it's difficult to carry the money, it's difficult to have a banking system with tellers, with distribution of cash. So they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-levy/in-africa-it-s-difficult-to-carry-the-money-it-s-difficult-to-have-a/) [Maurice Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-levy/) > [Have I got a black book? Yes, it's called a mobile phone. I do get offers. There is no shortage of people if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/have-i-got-a-black-book-yes-it-s-called-a-mobile-phone-i-do-get/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [Sending a message on a mobile phone is not the most natural of ways to communicate. The keypad isn't linguistically sensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/sending-a-message-on-a-mobile-phone-is-not-the-most-natural-of-ways/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [I don't have a Facebook page. I don't use Twitter. I don't give anyone a lot to grab onto. Sometimes, I even take out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-don-t-have-a-facebook-page-i-don-t-use-twitter-i-don-t-give-anyone/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [So actually I only got a mobile phone the day after I left being Prime Minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/so-actually-i-only-got-a-mobile-phone-the-day-after-i-left-being/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) ## More by John McAfee > [Limit use of shareware and public domain software to systems without fixed disks. If you do use them on fixed disks, allocate separate subdirectories...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/limit-use-of-shareware-and-public-domain-software-to-systems-without/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Belize is still a pirate haven and is run more or less along the lines established centuries ago by the likes of Captain Morgan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/belize-is-still-a-pirate-haven-and-is-run-more-or-less-along-the/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Donald Trump is proud of the fact that he's never written an e-mail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/donald-trump-is-proud-of-the-fact-that-he-s-never-written-an-e-mail/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Liability is being assessed against companies who inadvertently have shipped a virus to another company. Rather than risk the incredibly bad PR, these companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/liability-is-being-assessed-against-companies-who-inadvertently-have/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [You'll see a movie about someone you hate or someone you love. Will you see a movie about grandma making apple pies? No, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/you-ll-see-a-movie-about-someone-you-hate-or-someone-you-love-will/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [I simply would like to live comfortably day by day, fish, swim, enjoy my declining years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/i-simply-would-like-to-live-comfortably-day-by-day-fish-swim-enjoy-my/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Libertarian principles are very simple, but you can't violate any of them and still call yourself Libertarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/libertarian-principles-are-very-simple-but-you-can-t-violate-any-of/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [We are losing privacy at an alarming rate - we have none left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/we-are-losing-privacy-at-an-alarming-rate-we-have-none-left/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [The gig economy is empowerment. This new business paradigm empowers individuals to better shape their own destiny and leverage their existing assets to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/the-gig-economy-is-empowerment-this-new-business-paradigm-empowers/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [History is sympathetic to its authors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/history-is-sympathetic-to-its-authors/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Marketing is the obverse of programming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/marketing-is-the-obverse-of-programming/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Politicon should be applauded for recognizing the increasing impact of technology, not only on American social and economic systems but on the very structure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/politicon-should-be-applauded-for-recognizing-the-increasing-impact/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Bitcoin, generally, is a great idea. Keeping wallets on smartphones is the worst idea of the decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/bitcoin-generally-is-a-great-idea-keeping-wallets-on-smartphones-is/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [I do know that the world knows or thinks that I have money and lots of it. They perceive me as an old weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/i-do-know-that-the-world-knows-or-thinks-that-i-have-money-and-lots/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [There's not a single flashlight app that's not spying on you right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/there-s-not-a-single-flashlight-app-that-s-not-spying-on-you-right-now/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) [Explore all 84 John McAfee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) ## More Become quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [If someone has the opportunity to become a model, I would say, 'Do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/if-someone-has-the-opportunity-to-become-a-model-i-would-say-do-it/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > [I had a talent for copying the signatures of dignitaries like Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and so on. So, I wanted to become someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-had-a-talent-for-copying-the-signatures-of-dignitaries-like-indira/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [Sometimes when you're in different countries, everything has become so homogenised and there's a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere, and you could feel like you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-yun-lee/sometimes-when-you-re-in-different-countries-everything-has-become-so/) [Will Yun Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-yun-lee/) Browse all 4,184 Become quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our mobile phones have become the greatest spy on the planet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John McAfee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greatest-spy-on-the-planet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Become" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greatest-spy-on-the-planet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-mcafee-8137_become_our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greate_79642.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-mcafee-8137_become_our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greate_79642.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/954/john-mcafee-8137_become_our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greate_79642.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our mobile phones have become the greatest spy on the planet.” — John McAfee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John McAfee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our mobile phones have become the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greatest-spy-on-the-planet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/our-mobile-phones-have-become-the-greatest-spy-on-the-planet/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```