It is possible to hack a smartphone in a different way, depending on how careful you are (or not) with your device. Here are five methods of hacking a mobile device, some more popular than others, and we explain what you should do to avoid having stolen data – according to expert advice.
How can I break into a cell phone?
There are some ways to get into a cell phone, which vary depending on the security level of the device and the habits of its user. Let’s look at the main ones below:
1. Direct physical access
This is the simplest, most guaranteed method of attack to lead to catastrophic results and, ironically, one of the most common. It depends on the total neglect of the user, when leaving the cell phone unlocked or without any type of security lock (password, PIN, biometrics, etc.), allowing anyone who picks up the device to access what they want.
In addition to direct access, there are Evil Maid attacks in which the hacker accesses the device, plants malware and waits for the user to reuse it to collect passwords, addresses and other data that the owner of the device in the navigation. In general, physical access is a “Game Over”.
2. Exploitation of critical vulnerabilities
Often, apps and operating systems bring code faults that if exploited by hackers can allow access to sensitive data from their users. WhatsApp recently introduced one of the kind, involving the calls and the user neither needed to answer, present in both iOS (iPhone) and Android.
Unseen faults of the general public, called 0-Day, are usually aimed at specific targets. But, in general, they are rarer according to the complexity of the method, since they require of the hacker extensive knowledge in Information Security.
3. Yes Swap (SIM card cloning)
This is a controversial and unusual blow because it consists of an attack where an employee of an operator acts as an accomplice of the hacker. Here, the victim’s cell phone number is replicated (SIM cloning) on a second SIM card. This allows the attacker access to number-authenticated applications, such as WhatsApp or Telegram.
Although this attack is quite applied in all around the world, it is easy to detect because once the hacker activates the app on your device with the cloned card, it stops working in the victim’s app; so it can act to block access and prevent data theft.
4. Social Engineering
This is by far the most widely used method of data theft on a cell phone, as the hacker abuses user ingenuity. Through SMS messages, calls or other means, the criminal tries to convince the victim that something is wrong on his side.
It then encourages the victim to provide critical data such as messaging application recovery code, and other things, that allow you to steal not the SIM card, as in the example above, but your personal accounts in applications such as messengers.
One of the latest social engineering scams targets OLX, ZAP, and Open Market vendors who, as they fall, lose access to their WhatsApp accounts.
5. Attack via SS7 protocol
The SS7 protocol is an old concern because it is old and prone to vulnerabilities; it has been used by espionage agencies in the past.
Outside authorities, the failure of the SS7 protocol is quite exploited in bank fraud in Europe to clean user accounts; as well as the second method this is quite complex, requires high level knowledge and is not so popular.
In addition to allowing access to the mobile device, it also allows you to intercept messages in instant messaging and SMS applications. “There are videos from 2016 showing conceptually the use of this technique to hack WhatsApp and Telegram. It is important for people to be aware of this vulnerability so that they understand the real challenge of ensuring secure communication, “said Fabio Assolini of Kaspersky.
How to Protect Your Cell from Invasions
Using secure messaging applications such as Signal, or enabling 2-step authentication to prevent account theft are essential steps. It is also important to enable screen locking by combining password or PIN with a biometric scanning method, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, when available.
However, the most important tip of all remains one: do not bother.