Remember when you first showed off that new smartphone you
bought, bet you didn’t think you’d be attacked by it either. At least not in the literal sense. I started reading up on how someone could
gain access to your phone to steal what data you have on it, and the surprising
fact is that it’s damn hard. TV and
Hollywood like to portray the sophisticated hacker or criminal as having some
mystic power that allows them to take over any device, doesn’t happen anymore
unless you’re stuck in the early 90’s.
Back when Bluetooth and later Wi-Fi came out it was very easy for
someone to piggyback onto your phone, listen to who you called, read your
personal contacts, and transfer data.
Manufacturers have worked very hard to close those old security holes,
but they can still gain access via these gateways through homebrew devices they
make as well as software. Also, did you
know that the number one platform that is currently targeted for attacks is
Android, because most of us download more free apps than Apple, Windows, and
Blackberry users combined. So how do I
protect myself from an attack?
- Don’t use public Wi-Fi if you don’t have
to. These are the first places criminals
will hang out at and wait for someone to use.
Most businesses think that their Wi-Fi is secure but it really is like any
other network that someone with the right equipment can use to see what devices
are logged on. Stick to using the phone’s cell network as
that hasn’t been broken into yet, unless you happen to work for the NSA
- Remember to turn off your Bluetooth. This is another wireless connection that can
be accessed if a hacker has the right tools and has found a security vulnerability
that hasn’t been identified or fixed yet.
- Don’t download apps that haven’t come from your platform’s store. In the store, developers have to be verified and meet that platform’s standards and use policy. Downloading through the internet a hacker can create a legitimate app that could have a hidden agenda that you wouldn’t become aware of until it’s too late.