Can someone hack your phone and listen to your calls
Topic Android Security How To Protect Your Phone From Being Hacked [Without Even Touching It]By Ruslana Lishchuk Show
Updated: Nov 23, 2021 11 min read Updated: Nov 23, 2021 11 min read Is there a way to hack into someones phone without them knowing? The answer is yes, and it no longer takes a tech genius to make this happen. TechCrunch recently discovered a security issue that puts thousands of peoples private phone data at risk. And it all points to spyware that anyone can access. Worse still, it has become easier than ever to purchase consumer-grade software that lets you install stalkerware on someones phone. This makes it simple to access someone elses private text messages, call records, geolocation, photos, videos, and browsing history. Learning how bad actors can infiltrate the device of a nonconsenting target will keep you from falling victim to the ploy.
How does hacking into an Android phone happenNowadays, all it takes to hack an Android phone is a quick sign-up with a popular spyware app and a few minutes of physical access to the target device. Government agencies and seasoned cybercriminals can easily hack into an Android phone remotely. Legitimate spyware appsPeople use spyware apps for various legitimate reasons, including parental control of a childs phone, tracking a lost device, or keeping tabs on employee activities. However, these tools can also be used with malicious intent and without the targets knowledge. So, are you vulnerable to such an attack? The good news is that spyware apps often require physical access to your device at least once. The bad news is that if it happens once, then the phone hacking can continue from afar. You wont even realize youre being monitored. Some of the most commonly used apps for spying on other devices are mSpy, Spyic, and Cocospy.
Spyware TrojansSome forms of spyware are packaged as Trojans. They appear as harmless or even helpful pieces of software. But their goal is not harmless at all: they try to get any targets to download the spyware hiding inside the Trojan. To make this happen, hackers use social engineering tactics or psychological manipulation. For example, they may send emails promising a free giveaway to convince their targets to download a program. SpyNote, an Android remote access trojan (RAT), is one threat you should watch out for. It can view text messages, access your phones video camera, listen to audio captured by the microphone, and determine the last known GPS location. You may unknowingly add it to your system by downloading apps from third-party sources outside of Google Play.
Serious spywareYou may have read about Pegasus in the news. This powerful piece of spyware can secretly access your messages, record your calls, and activate your camera. It essentially turns your phone into a 24-hour surveillance device. And hackers dont even need to touch your phone or convince you to click on a link to infiltrate your system. All they have to do is make a WhatsApp call to your phone, and Pegasus will be on its way. You dont even have to answer it! Now, the good news is that potent tools like Pegasus are accessible only to government agencies. Unless youre a journalist, human rights activist, chief executive, or government official, you wont have to worry about becoming a target.
How does hacking someones phone camera remotely happenAs we mentioned, invaders can easily hack your camera from afar using solutions like SpyNote. All it takes is persuading you into clicking on a malicious link. Spyware apps marketed for parental control also provide cybercriminals with a handy way to hack your camera. Popular apps like FlexiSPY and MobileSpy provide live access to a phone camera, allowing hackers to take videos and photos using the target device. But just like with most legitimate spyware apps, hackers need physical access to your phone to install the malware. So, to avoid such an attack, make sure you keep your phone on a leash never hand it over to people you dont trust. How does hacking phone with just their number happenGovernments, as we just said, can use surveillance tools like Pegasus to tap into someone's cell phone without touching it. All it takes is a WhatsApp call. Once they get a hold of your phone number, youre fair game. Now, you may wonder if cybercriminals can do as much with just a number. German security researcher Karsten Nohl once demonstrated to a CBS show a technique attackers use to hack phones. He successfully infiltrated a US congressmans phone and used it to track the statesmans whereabouts, record his calls, and read his messages. This technique takes advantage of the vulnerability coming with the network interchange service called Signalling System No. 7 (SS7), which allows different mobile phone networks to exchange data and bills correctly. The trick requires advanced technical skills and is accessible only to seasoned hackers. Still, its best to share your phone number only when necessary. Keep it out of the publics eye. How to protect yourself from spywareTo prevent spyware from creeping into your phone, you need to make sure your device never falls into the wrong hands. Try to avoid clicking on suspicious links, opening malicious websites, or downloading apps from unknown sources. That said, you can do everything to protect your phone and privacy, but some forces are just greater than your best efforts. Fortunately, you can equip your device with cybersecurity software that will do a better job than you. Follow these quick and easy steps to protect your Android phone from spyware:
Clario also checks every new app for malware and informs you if it detects a threat. *** Someone could be reading your WhatsApp messages, taking photos with your camera, and recording your keystrokes to figure out your passwords all without your knowledge! Now that we do almost everything on our phones, this threat is more alarming than ever. Fortunately, cybersecurity software providers are fast catching up with these threats. With the right app, you get to keep your peace of mind in this chaotic new world. Keep reading:
By Ruslana Lishchuk Updated: Nov 23, 2021 11 min read Updated: Nov 23, 2021 11 min read Devoted Mac user and tech writer with over 5 years experience in supporting Apple users. |