Even the Smartest are Often Duped by Hackers

The brilliant cyber hackers you see in science fiction movies could make you think, “Well, that’s only in movies; there’s no way these hackers could access such complicated systems so effortlessly as if it were a stroll in the park.” Well, here’s some breaking news for those of you who believe such scenarios exist only in the movies and can never be replicated in real life. Kaspersky Lab, a cybersecurity firm, has discovered approximately 3.5 million assaults on mobile users in 2021 alone. That is merely the number of mobile devices that have been compromised.  

Criminals, fraudsters, and hackers alike recognize the value of a user’s mobile device as a gateway to private information and resources. It’s so profitable to steal your personal information through hacking that whole companies have sprung up around the practice. Over 45,000 malicious apps were discovered in app stores in 2020. With roughly 84% of the world’s population now possessing a smartphone and our dependency on them expanding all the time, these devices have become a tempting target for hackers. In this article, Sirwiss-partnered software engineers will shed light on the modern-day hacker’s tricks. Read on to learn all there is to know about the possibility of your mobile device being hacked if you are the kind of person who thinks it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

What Enables a Phone to Get Infected? 

Mobile phones are just as susceptible to viruses as laptop computers. The Hummingbad virus infected 10 million Android devices within a few months of its inception in 2016, putting up to 85 million at risk. Just as malicious code may infect a computer and then spread to other computers through email or file sharing, harmful malware can infect a mobile phone and then spread to other devices by automatically texting or emailing your contact list. 

Scamwatch got 16,000 complaints of the Flubot malware in only eight weeks in 2021. This virus sends text messages to Android and iPhone users that include links to malware. Clicking on the URLs may result in the installation of a malicious program on your phone, allowing criminals access to your personal information. Flubot fraudsters often alter their target nations. FluBot operators, according to cyber security company Bitdefender, targeted Australia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Austria, and other European countries. 

Root Causes Why Your Phone Was Hacked 

There are a number of factors that might lead to your phone being hacked, some of which are out of your control. 

1. Clicking on social media links that direct you to a website that installs malware on your phone.  

2. Clicking on links in phishing emails that lead to the installation of dangerous software.  

3. SIM card hacking, in which the hacker persuades your service provider to provide them a new SIM card.  

4. Hackers connecting to your phone over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. 

The repercussions are typically the same, regardless of how hackers installed malware or a virus on your phone. The hacker will try to benefit from any information on your phone. They may look through your phone’s data for personal or sensitive information such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, or internet account passwords. 

5 Indications of Phone Hacking 

We all know that cellphones have their quirks now and then; no electronic gadget is flawless. So, how can you determine whether or not the problem is only temporary? Knowing how to detect a hacked phone is key in such a scenario. It’s a good thing, too, since we can provide solutions. Read this article to get the scoop on phone hackers, the telltale indicators of a compromised device, and some tips for keeping your device secure.  

Taking the time to understand how to effectively safeguard one of your most used devices is time well spent. You should be concerned that your phone may have been hacked if it displays any of the following strange behaviors, and particularly if it exhibits many. 

1. Weird or unnecessary pop-ups: Nonstop pop-ups are an obvious indicator of a hacked phone. Vivid, flashing ads or X-rated material appearing on your phone is a clear indication that your phone has been hacked.  

2. Texts or phone calls that were not initiated by you: Being the owner of your gadget, you most certainly recall every time you use it during the day. If you see messages or phone calls from your phone that you did not make, your phone may have been hacked.  

3. Excessive data consumption: There are several causes for excessive data consumption (for example, increased use of a new app). But, if your phone behavior has been consistent while your data use has soared, it’s time to look into it. 

 4. Mysterious apps on your phone: Remember that new phones often arrive with pre-installed applications. But, if you discover additional applications appearing after you have purchased the phone, there may be spyware involved.  

5. Rapid phone heating and battery draining: Phone batteries aren’t supposed to last forever, but they are also built to be efficient. Hence, if your phone use habits have not changed but your battery is draining faster than usual, hacking might be to fault. 

How to Prevent and Restore Phone Hacking 

If you have reason to believe that the phone you are using has been hacked in any way, there are a few things you may do to address the situation. Before you get started, we strongly suggest that you inform all of your contacts that your phone has been compromised and that they should avoid clicking on any links that seem to be suspicious that they may have gotten from you. The following is a continuation of the actions you may take. 

1. Remove any suspicious apps: A popular technique to invite malware into your phone is to download a questionable software. If you discover that your phone has been hacked, go through your applications and remove everything that originated from a third-party source (in other words, not the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store). Check that any applications you’ve recently downloaded are from reliable developers and have positive ratings. If not, remove them from your phone.  

2. Install anti-malware software: Anti-malware software may assist you in identifying and targeting malware on your phone. You should run this on a regular basis, but if you haven’t before, now is an excellent time to start. If you’re worried about malware, try using reputable security software such as Norton 360 Deluxe to help safeguard your devices and online privacy. 

3. Reset the lock screen and PIN code on your Android device: This ensures that if a hacker did get access to your login data and hijack your phone in this manner, they will be unable to log back in after you restart your Android. For further protection, you can also use screen pinning to lock applications.  

4. Update account passwords: If you utilize Office 365 applications, you may need to change your Microsoft account, your Instagram password, or even your Gmail account. Changing all of your passwords might be inconvenient, but if a hacker has been active on your phone, it’s the only way to re-secure all of your accounts. 

5. Reset your phone: The bulk of viruses may be eliminated from your phone by doing a factory reset. This will, however, erase all data saved on your smartphone, including images, notes, and contacts, so make a backup before resetting your device.  

To reset your iPhone or Android, follow the steps below. 

1. Resetting an iPhone  

1.1 Open Finder on a Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15. Else, launch iTunes.  

1.2 Attach your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.  

1.3 On your computer, choose your device.  

1.4 Choose “Restore iPhone.”  

1.5 Visit Apple support for more thorough instructions.  

2. Resetting an Android Phone  

Android reset steps differ depending on the manufacturer. For exact instructions, go to the website of your phone’s manufacturer. You can get the reset option on most Android phones via the Settings menu or by holding down the power and volume keys. Google support has more detailed instructions.

Protecting Your Phone from Infection 

Now that you’ve restored your phone, it’s critical to protect it from future viruses and other security threats. The aforementioned mobile security measures will assist in this endeavor. You may, however, also:  

1. Don’t click on strange pop-ups or links in strange text messages, social media postings, or emails.  

2. Always install programs from official app stores like Google Play or Apple’s App Store.  

3. Try not to jailbreak or change your phone. 

Phone Hacking FAQS 

Have questions about how to determine whether your phone has been hacked?  

We have answers.  

1. How are phones hacked?  

To infiltrate mobile phones, smartphone hackers use a number of techniques.  

Here are some examples:  

1.1 Phishing attempts  

1.2 Smishing assaults  

1.3 Spyware  

1.4 Scareware  

1.5 Unsafe Wi-Fi Apps that are malicious  

2. Is it true that restarting your phone removes viruses?  

Absolutely, doing a factory reset is one method of possibly removing a virus from an infected mobile device.  

3. Why do hackers break into your phone?  

Hackers breach cellphones in order to get access to the personal information contained on each device, frequently abusing and/or selling what they find.  

4. Is it true that shutting off your phone deters hackers?  

Absolutely, shutting off your phone helps deter hackers since the majority of cyberattacks on mobile phones need the device to be switched on.  

5. Can hackers hear what you’re saying?  

Indeed, if hackers have obtained access to your phone’s camera and microphone, they may be able to hear you.  

6. Does airplane mode keep hackers out?  

Turning on airplane mode may temporarily prevent hackers from accessing your smartphone when it is not connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network.  

7. What could a hacker do with your phone number?  

Phone numbers are often compromised by hackers in order to:  

7.1 Validate 2FA requests  

7.2 Send malicious links  

7.3 Vishing attacks in their entirety  

8. Can someone hack into your phone and activate your camera?  

Certainly, hackers are capable of hacking phones in to gain access to mobile cameras.