There are about one million hacking cases every day. With the ever rising number of tech-savvy people, internet and network security is becoming more and more important for everyone using a computer or phone. Every device that is connected to the internet, runs some programs and goes through a browser at some point is a potential target for hackers. They are able to access your photos, videos, voice recordings, WhatsApp texts, Snapchat pictures, or even hack someones telegram account.
These, very simple devices that we keep on our nightstand or desk and check almost every hour of the day are actually vulnerable to cyber attacks and once they get hacked, it can cause serious damages. So, if you have experienced your phone being hacked before, know that you are not alone. In most cases, it can be prevented and most of the times all you need is a few minutes.
Ways Your Phone Can Be Hacked
Let’s check together some of the most common hacking tricks that cyber criminals use to hack into your phone or computer and how to prevent them:
Check browser history and bookmarks:
Hackers check for websites that were visited and bookmarked by the victim using their device. They can then use that information to create a clone of those sites and redirect you there once they get hold of your login credentials for that website. So, if you regularly check online banking websites, social media platforms and other similar websites, you should always clear your browser history afterwards. Also, if you have bookmarked any online banking websites, don’t save the bookmark on your desktop. Instead, create a folder in the menu bar and use that for storing bookmarks related to finance or anything sensitive you want to protect.
Snooping around location services:
If you are using an iOS device, go into Settings > Privacy > Location Services and then check which apps have access to your location. If there are any apps that you don’t want having this information, simply switch off the toggle next to them.
Snooping around microphone:
There may be an app on your phone listening in on your conversations and capturing the audio data without your knowledge. Though Android and iOS are both tightly locked down when it comes to this function, keeping an eye out for apps that have permission to start recording audio is the best way to avoid any nasty surprises.
Snooping around messages:
Using an untrusted app could give someone access to all of your messages on your phone, so be wary of downloading apps from dodgy sources or allowing people to use your phone for this purpose.
Snooping around the camera:
Just like with audio recording, attackers can gain access to your camera without you knowing and start spying on your life. You’ll want to keep an eye out for any suspicious apps that have permission to access the camera, so switch off the camera on your phone or only allow trusted apps to have access.
How To Prevent Hacking?
According to a recent article by Business Insider, you can protect yourself from hackers by keeping an eye out for any strange behaviour on your phone and shutting down suspicious activity as soon as possible.
To begin with, make sure that any app you download has been approved by Google Play. Software that hasn’t been approved by Google is likely to contain harmful bugs and flaws which can provide hackers with the opportunity to gain access to your phone.
Apps of this kind are also more likely to have permission for access to more things on your phone than they should, so you’ll want to be extra careful when downloading them. While untrustworthy apps will often ask for permission to access your camera, messages and contacts on the phone, they’re unlikely to need these things. If an app appears on Android’s Google Play that you haven’t downloaded yourself or that seems suspicious in any way, don’t download it.
If you come across any of these signs while using your phone, it may be a good idea to do a factory reset on your phone and reinstall apps one by one so you can check their permissions.
Making sure your phone is protected from hacking should be a priority, as hackers can use this access to take all kinds of information from your device.
Conclusion
Your phone can provide easy access to your private life for hackers. If you keep an eye out there are some simple steps you can take however, like using legitimate apps and not downloading mystery software. Keeping your phone safe is important for its security and yours.
This article should be used as a resource to learn about protecting your phone from hacking. While the information contained in this article is correct, using it as a guide or step-by-step guide is not recommended. This article provides general knowledge of how to protect your phone from hacking.
Taylor is a freelance SEO copywriter and blogger. His areas of expertise include technology, pop culture, and marketing.
