According to the RSA, mobile platforms account for 70% of all online fraud. You must be cautious because a single fumbling of your finger against a harmful hyperlink could result in the download of malware that locks you out of your phone.
Here are seven ways fraudsters attempt to gain access to your phone.
1. Person-to-person hacking
Not all attacks are carried out remotely. One man broke into his sleeping girlfriend’s phone. He sedated her, raised her eyelashes, and held the phone up to her face because she used facial recognition to open her phone. According to the Daily Mail, once the phone was opened, he stole about $24,000 and gambled it all away.
As you can see, camera ID can be deceiving. As a result, we advocate utilizing passcodes or pattern locks to secure your phone.
2. Stalker software
Stalkerware is a frightening trend. That is when someone installs a tracking app on your phone. These programs provide your stalker access to your device’s GPS location, as well as photos, phone logs, photographs, and even your internet history.
Because these gadgets are designed to be hidden, they can be difficult to find. If you suspect your phone is faulty, the first thing you should do is check the battery. Reduced battery life could indicate the presence of a hidden software running in the background.
3. Incorrect downloads
Take the same precautions with your phone that you would with your computer. You could download a PDF or another document that contains harmful malware.
Just like with a computer, don’t download anything you didn’t ask for or that you’re not certain is safe. This is especially true when it comes to unsolicited text messages and emails. If you don’t know who sent the message, there’s a risk the links within it are malicious.
4. Unsatisfactory applications
Not all apps in the official store of your smartphone are safe. Malware has infected some of them. Because of bogus apps, online fraud is on the rise.
To avoid downloading bogus apps on your iPhone or Android, follow these steps:
To download the banking app, go to your bank’s official website: There are far too many bogus banking apps that appear exactly like the real thing. Look up any bank in your app store to see if there are any knockoffs. They’re difficult to spot, so go the additional mile.
Avoid using third-party app stores:
They lack the same safeguards as established app marketplaces.
First, read the reviews: Once found, other users will notify you if a program is dangerous.
Never open attachments or click links in unsolicited emails or texts: This is a malware recipe.
Earlier this year, cybersecurity researchers discovered a phony VPN app that defrauded customers of $1 million in a single month. If you have this app on your phone, remove it immediately.
5. SIM card changing
Hackers will attack anything, including your SIM card. That’s the little chip inside your smartphone that the mobile network uses to identify it. Criminals contact your mobile phone carrier and pretend to be you in SIM-swapping frauds.
They claim your phone has been lost or stolen and request that you activate a new phone. To pass the identity checks, they simply need to answer a few security questions. Your phone company then deactivates your SIM card and forwards all of your calls and texts to the scammer’s phone.
It’s frighteningly simple for scammers to dupe your mobile phone provider. They can obtain your personal information in a variety of methods, including:
- Examining your social media posts
- Phishing attempts involving keylogging
- Searching for you on people search websites
Your phone will cease working and display the message “No Service.” Use two-factor authentication, never overshare online, and create a PIN for your mobile account to prevent the scam from progressing this far.
6. Bluetooth (Bluetooth Low Energy)
Bluetooth flaws are another opportunity for hackers to gain access to your phone and steal data. This is how it works: When you enable Bluetooth, your phone transmits a device identifier known as a MAC address. It’s how your phone, for example, can communicate with your earphones or automobile.
Hackers can intercept the address and insert modified code into your phone, allowing them to take control of your device. Fortunately, blocking the hackers is as simple as turning off Bluetooth.
Another excellent rule of thumb is to forget about prior Bluetooth devices you’ve associated with because you might locate a hacker’s device on your list of connected gadgets. Also, make sure to update your Android or iPhone as often as possible because cybersecurity experts are always patching these flaws.
7. Charging stations in public places
When your smartphone runs out of charge, USB power plugs can come in handy. The only issue is that hackers can exploit them to steal your info.
That is why you should acquire a USB data blocker, which eliminates the possibility of phone infections or malware injections. It disables data pins, preventing data from flowing into the outlet while charging your device.