How to Hacker-Proof Your Cell Phone

Without being aware of it, phone hacking can affect your privacy and identity. Fraudsters constantly improve their methods and techniques, which makes it harder to catch. This means that average users are more prone to getting blind-sided by attacks. To protect yourself, you should always be aware of the latest hacks.

Since smartphones have made it easy for users to store their private data and accounts, they are ideal targets for criminals. All of your social media, banking, and email activities are linked to your device, which means that apps that you use are also vulnerable to exploitation.

An attack known as phone hacking involves forcing someone to access your phone or communications through various methods. Some of these include listening in on your phone's internet connections, performing physical theft, or brute force. It can happen on various types of mobile devices, such as iPhone and Android. Because of how easy it is to get access to your device, users should always learn how to identify compromised ones.

The malicious software used by fraudsters and malware often consumes a lot of power. When your device is compromised, it will give the hacker access to all its processing power, which can slow down your device. Some symptoms include unexpected freezes, crashes, and restarts.

When you notice unusual activity in your online accounts, it's likely that the hacker is trying to access your accounts. Some of the possible steps that the hacker could take include establishing a new login or password in your email or social media accounts.

In your logs, you may notice strange texts or calls. The hacker could be using an SMS trojan or impersonating you in order to steal personal information from your relatives.

How Exactly Can a Mobile Phone Be Hacked?

Smartphone users are prone to getting hacked by criminals, who use various tricks to steal their data. In phishing attacks, a hacker sends an email or text message that looks like it's from a trustworthy source. The link will then download malware onto your device or take you to a fraudulent website.

Social Engineering

Social engineering is a type of criminal activity that involves using fake social media profiles and text messages to trick people into disclosing personal information. The goal of the hacker is to convince them to download malicious apps or grant remote access to their device.

Malware

A type of malware is usually installed on a phone without your consent. It can start collecting sensitive data about you, such as your location, internet use, and other activities. It can also spam you with ads and demand a ransom.

Public Wi-Fi Risks

Unencrypted public Wi-Fi networks, which you can access without a password, are also often vulnerable to exploitation. A hacker can access your network and collect sensitive data such as credit card details.

Security Concerns with Apps

Every app and operating system update is necessary for security reasons. A hacker can find and exploit flaws in the software or system to take over your device. Although security patches and system updates are released to patch the vulnerabilities, your device still remains vulnerable if you don't install them. 

How to Secure Your Cell Phone From Hackers

There is always a way for modern day technology to gather your information, and most of the time we aren’t even aware of what’s being tracked about us. Follow these steps to help ensure that your mobile phone stays protected from the threat of cyberhackers being able to collect your personal information and data. 

Always Use a Strong Password

A weak password can be like leaving your door wide open. Having a strong password is important to keep people from accessing your data, and it’s the most important part of creating your device's encryption.

Creating a strong password starts with mixing in some letters and numbers, and it should be unique. Your phone's security system relies on a strong password, and it's important that you make it count. Having a good password is also the difference between protecting your private information and letting it be seen by others.

Enable Phone Tracking and Wiping

Both Android and iPhone smartphones have features that allow users to remotely wipe, lock, or find their devices.

On iOS, users can use the Lost Mode feature to find their device and update their contact details. Doing so requires logging in to their iCloud account.

With the added feature known as Stolen Device Protection, users can restrict certain actions on their iPhone whenever they are in an unfamiliar location. This feature will not turn off the Find My feature or Lost Mode.

Users can use the Find My Device feature on Android devices to lock, wipe, or customize their device remotely. To do so, they need to log in to their Google account.

Enable Biometric Authentication 

Instead of remembering complicated passwords or worrying about someone looking over your shoulder when you unlock your phone, make your life easier by using biometric authentication. Your fingerprints and facial features are very unique, and with biometric authentication, you can turn these into a high-tech key.

Keep a Close Eye on App Permissions

We all know how excited we are when we install a new app and immediately tap "Accept" on the app's pop-up. However, do you really think that these are really harmless permission requests?

A lot of these are just requests that allow someone to access your digital home. For instance, if a flashlight app asks for access to my contacts, it's like a plumber asking for the keys to my safe.

Unnecessary permissions are just as risky as allowing malware to operate on your device. Some apps may be able to access your location, take photos without your consent, or listen in on your conversations.

Before you install a new app, make sure that you have a permissions audit. This will help you identify which apps have been up to no good and which ones need to be stopped. Before you allow a new app, ask yourself if it really needs to be granted access.

Keeping your app permissions minimal is more important than being paranoid. Doing so will help you avoid being vulnerable to unauthorized access.

Be Cautious with Public WiFi Resources

Even though free Wi-Fi is tempting, you should keep in mind that it can be hazardous to your data. The networks in airports, hotels, and coffee shops can be exploited by cybercriminals.

When you connect to the public Wi-Fi network, you're essentially sharing it with everybody else, which can be very dangerous. Your private messages, credit card details, and passwords could be stolen by cybercriminals.

If you're a connected traveler, you should avoid using public Wi-Fi for anything that's sensitive. However, if you have to use it, you should use a VPN to protect yourself.

A VPN is a type of secure tunnel that prevents unauthorized access to your data. It works even on networks that have been compromised.Free public Wi-Fi may come with a price. Always be cautious and ensure that you're connecting to a secure network.

Backing Up Your Data

Although backing up your device won't protect it from hackers, it can help minimize the damage they can do to it. If you're infected with ransomware, you can still try a factory reset to get your device back. However, even if this process successfully recovers your device, all of its data will be lost.

Regularly backing up your apps and files can help keep important data safe from unauthorized access. Doing so can also help prevent data loss in case of an accident or a theft.

Double Check the Links and Downloads You Use

Mobile security can be affected by identifying fake apps, phishing websites, and links in emails. Scammers try to make their calls and emails look and sound legitimate.

Before opening an email, make sure that it is formatted properly, has a clear and prominent sender ID, and that it is spelled correctly. Also, make sure that the text and email are genuine.

You should never provide personal or financial data, such as your bank account number or password, to callers who are posing as an institution.

Before downloading anything, make sure that you thoroughly check the reviews of apps. Also, avoid using apps from websites or stores that you don't trust.

Always Use Two-Factor Authentication 

With two-factor authentication, your smartphone's most critical accounts can be protected from unauthorized access. When enabled on Google or iCloud, you will need to enter a password first, followed by a second verification code that's sent or generated by an app or device. This ensures that even if a hacker tries to crack your password, they'll still be locked out.

Although it might seem like a minor inconvenience, two-factor authentication is very important for your accounts as it can help protect them from unauthorized access. Even though your smartphone is only as safe as the accounts it's connected to, having two-factor authentication can help keep your digital life secure.

How Should a Company Implement Mobile Security for Their Employees?

Before an organization allows its employees to use their personal devices at work, it must first implement effective security measures.

A comprehensive mobile security policy should cover various aspects such as anti-theft measures, settings, and acceptable use. It should also include monitoring and remediation of any issues.

One of the most effective ways to improve the security of your mobile device is by separating users into roles and groups with varying privileges. This approach can help prevent unauthorized access to your device. It can also prevent the installation of harmful software.

When it comes to protecting your device from theft or compromise, it's important to prevent the malicious user from accessing its data. This can be achieved through the use of an identity management system or data protection solution.

Importance of Mobile Phone Security & The Protections Behind REALLY

It’s time to take mobile security and phone security seriously, as hackers keep targeting these devices. They are just as vulnerable as computers and other types of devices. Various techniques can be used by criminals to hack a mobile device, such as phishing and fake apps. Being proactive about your phone security can help prevent hackers from accessing it.

The REALLY Network is a privacy-focused mobile phone service that takes pride in being the first completely encrypted and secure service of its kind. It uses a combination of the 5G and REALLY DeWi networks to ensure that its users have total control over their data.

REALLY encourages the utilization of robust encryption protocols to ensure that only authorized users can access the contents of the phone's database. A crucial component of the network is the Really DeWi, which allows users to voluntarily contribute their own infrastructure to the network, which could enhance privacy.