(Image source: The New York Times ) BY MICHELLE SCHUELKE ANCHOR CANDICE AVILES A third party could have easily been accessing phone numbers, text message content, and browsing your internet history on your HTC mobile device.   The Federal Trade Commission charged HTC with customizing the software on its Android- and Windows-based phones in ways that let third-party applications install software that could steal personal information, send text messages or enable the device’s microphone to record the user’s phone calls.   The New York Times reported HTC “ agreed to settle the civil suit with the commission by issuing software patches that close the security holes, and by creating a security program that will be monitored by an independent party for the next 20 years. ”   According to PCMag , HTC had already started to update its software and distribute the patch to users of some, but not all, of the affected phones. [Video: YouTube ]   In a statement, the company said: “ Privacy and security are important, and we are committed to improving practices that help safeguard our customers' devices and data. ... We're working to rollout the remaining software updates now and recommend customers download them once available. ”   The Financial Times reports it is no surprise mobile phones are targets.  “Mobile devices are a growing target for cyber criminals, because of the trove of personal information they contain. Online security provider McAfee this week said that it found 44 times as many samples of mobile malware in 2012 as in the prior year.”   If HTC is found to have violated the Federal Trade Commission's restrictions and requirements, it faces civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation.