How To Keep Smart Phone Secure From Getting Hacked?
We can use our mobile devices to hail a taxi, book a hotel, send and receive money, make online or in-store purchases, communicate and exchange media files, control other devices (such as door locks or security cameras), and much more. But there's also the other side: all of these activities and conveniences generate a massive cyberattack surface. The issue can occur anywhere. Cybercriminals can even utilize your smartphone speakers to convey voice commands to your Google Assistant—for example, malicious software can deliver voice commands to your Google Assistant.
A client-side application that you interact with (what you see on your Android or iOS device) and a server-side application that runs remotely (typically in the form of a web server) are the two essential pieces of a mobile application. The HTTP protocol is used by the client-side software to communicate with the server-side app, just as your browser.
Most programs can't share a memory or private storage by default. Some complex apps, such as photo editors, messaging apps, or social networking apps, may require access to your files, camera, or text messages, or may need to interface with other apps on the device. These have a bigger assault surface area.
At Positive Technologies, we look for weaknesses in legitimate apps that criminals might exploit, as well as other ways to assault smartphone users.
Trojans embedded in apps are the most typical way that mobile users are attacked. Victims unwittingly download malicious programs, giving them access to their text messages and other apps and services.
Hackers may spy on you using your camera and microphone, as well as access your contacts, text messages, and other stored data if you install one of these trojan-laced apps. Trojans can not only take private information invisibly, but they can even impersonate your banking app interface to steal money and log-in credentials, as well as install other dangerous programs. Victims are frequently forced to grant them all of the permissions they require. For example, a trojan application called "Virus Cleaner" can only give the features it advertises if the user grants harmful rights.
Even if you don't have a lot of privileges, rogue programs can cause a lot of harm. If you're using an earlier version of the mobile operating system, malware may take advantage of security holes to get system access and steal all of your data, including logins, passwords, banking information, and more. The identical attack scenario is conceivable for those who root or jailbreak their phone because system privileges become available to any program on the device.
While sitting in a café, many of us like to check social networking apps and messengers, and many of us work remotely using mobile devices. But what if the coffee shop's Wi-Fi router is compromised? According to our data, 43 percent of mobile banking applications are vulnerable to assault in this circumstance. If you use an unsecured internet connection, attackers can read and even modify all of the information on your phone, including your logins, passwords, financial information, messages, and more.
Even if smartphone makers do their utmost to protect your device when it is lost or stolen, there are still ways for attackers to profit. They can read the notifications on a locked screen even if your phone is locked (which can contain one-time passwords when attempting to reset an account). They can connect your phone to a computer using a USB cord and steal data, or they can utilize Siri or Google Assistant to make calls and send messages.
The most deadly attacks, however, are those carried out by hackers who do not have physical access to your phone and do not require you to install the software. To get a footing on your phone, they can send specially created web URLs to your mobile browser or messenger. According to our research, this method can be used to hack 36% of mobile banking apps.
In some circumstances, the only thing that leads to a mobile hack is the installation of a susceptible app. The user is not required to take any action in these "zero-click" attacks. Last year, a zero-click issue in WhatsApp was identified, allowing attackers to attack phones using the voice call feature and install malware programs.
So what can you do to keep your mobile device safe? Here are a few basic guidelines, recommendations, and tricks.
To begin, make sure you only download apps from reputable sources such as Google Play or the Apple App Store. On Apple devices, don't install apps found through a link in the Safari browser, and don't download APK files (Android application files with a .apk extension). Malicious apps are more likely to be distributed through channels other than legitimate app stores.
Consider what rights you give to applications you install or execute next. Game apps, for example, are unlikely to require access to your microphone, location, or text messages.
Here's a brief list of various potentially harmful malware permissions:
Contacts.
Microphone.
[Android only] Read SMS
[Android only] Device Admin
[Android only] Draw over other apps.
[Android only] Accessibility services (features for disabled users).
Microphone.
[Android only] Read SMS
[Android only] Device Admin
[Android only] Draw over other apps.
[Android only] Accessibility services (features for disabled users).
On Android devices, permission to "Draw over other apps" is granted automatically. This permission allows an app to show its own windows over those of other apps. Tapjacking, on the other hand, takes the taps you make on the app that appears on your screen and applies them to a hidden application, potentially giving hackers access to your data. After installing an app, go to Settings -> Apps -> Settings -> Restrictions and revoke this permission. Other apps can be drawn on.
Cryptographic certificates are used to check programs before they are installed, as well as to establish a secure connection between your app and its server. When you visit a website that uses a self-signed certificate or installs an application using Safari, you may need to manually determine whether or not to trust certificates. You may be compelled to do so if your company has a policy that requires you to install a certificate on your device to allow network monitoring. Criminals, on the other hand, can use the same method to infect your device with malware or track the traffic of unsafe programs.
Untrusted certificates should not be installed on the device. Avoid utilizing untrusted Wi-Fi connections, such as those found in public locations, to prevent hackers from viewing all data traveling to and from your device. Applying operating system and application updates on a regular basis can considerably reduce your risk of being targeted by mobile malware or remote hackers.
Someone can easily read your banking one-time password from notifications on your lock screen if you leave your device unattended. In this case, turning off lock-screen notifications will help preserve your privacy.
Avoid clicking on strange links on your mobile browser, as well as untrustworthy links in other mobile apps. Some vulnerabilities can be exploited via URLs sent via Messenger, email, and a variety of other apps. For the apps that support it, enable two-factor authentication.
Hire a Hacker to keep your mobile phone secure.
