How to Protect Your Cell Phone and Avoid Phone Hacking

Smartphone hacking, formerly thought to be a headache only for celebrities, has transcended the VIP vs. general public mental barrier and is now a real concern for any cell phone owner.

But for the average person, is this really that big of a problem? Do people find our voicemail messages intriguing enough to violate our privacy and listen in? It’s wise to evaluate what phone hacking is and whether you really need to worry about it before we go barking up the wrong tree.

Phone Hacking’s Security Risks

There are numerous different ways to hack a phone, from breaking into someone’s voicemail or live chat to hacking into data saved on a smartphone. Although anyone might become anxious by the unknown, the person most likely to break into your voicemail or live chat is someone you already know, and in the age of smartphones, phone hacking is becoming a bigger security risk. Sensitive data is being stored on mobile devices more and more, which gives shady friends, ex-partners, or random strangers additional opportunities to take advantage of privacy flaws.

Phone hacking software is a cottage industry, purportedly designed for legitimate purposes but easily misused by anybody (two examples are password crackers, fittingly titled John the Ripper and Cain and Abel). Hackers that take advantage of opportunities might cause chaos by erasing data or installing harmful software that collects login credentials for bank accounts and private company emails. How then can you make the game more difficult for hackers?

How to Protect Your Phone From Cybercriminals

There are a few preventative steps you may take to guard against phone hacking, the most of which just need common sense. Furthermore, there are cutting-edge techniques to make sure your phone is as safe as possible (without sacrificing all of its features). As an illustration:

Rudimentary advice on phone security

When it comes to thwarting easy hacking attempts, casual phone users should start by following the fundamentals:

• Don’t ever leave your phone alone. The first and most important rule to abide by when in a public area is to always have your phone with you.
• Modify the default passcode on your phone. Those who know can take advantage of the basic, predictable default password that most phones have. Instead of using the often used “1234,” “0000,” and “2580” codes, try something more sophisticated.
• Control the Bluetooth security. When not in use, turn off your Bluetooth service and stay away from unsecured Bluetooth networks.
• Safeguard your credit card information and PIN. To store credit card details and PINs, use a secure app, or better yet, never store them on your phone.

Innovative Techniques to Stop Phone Hacking

There are other security precautions you can take if hacking is still a concern. But going too far will negate the whole point of owning a smartphone.

• Steer clear of unprotected public WiFi. Hackers frequently use public WiFi to target crucial sites, such bank accounts, which are frequently left unprotected because of low security regulations or none at all.
• Disable your autocomplete function. You can stop important personal data from being accessed by doing this.
• Delete your cookies, cache, and browsing history regularly. Reducing your digital footprint is crucial for reducing the quantity of information that could be obtained by unscrupulous parties.
• Possess an iPhone? Turn on “Find My iPhone.” You can find your phone if you misplace it before the hackers get a hold of it by activating the feature in your settings.
• Use a security app to improve defences. Webroot provides an all-in-one Mobile Security for Android app for Android users, which not only gives antivirus protection but also lets you remotely locate, lock, and delete your phone in case you misplace it. Webroot provides a free safe web browser for iOS users to enhance mobile security on their iPhone and iPad.

Recall that you can turn off your phone, take out the battery, and tuck it under your pillow for some nice, lithium-ion-induced dreams if the idea of hacking is keeping you awake at night. Alternatively, you may bolster your mobile device security with mobile security solutions that provide secure online browsing together with real-time protection against phishing scams.