“My phone’s been hacked!” These are words you never want to hear or say. Ever. You are not alone in this sentiment.
Our phones have become the central hub of our lives, storing everything from personal and financial information, access to payment apps, files, photos, and contacts. This has made our phones irresistible, prized targets for cyber criminals. And because these devices are always on and always with us, the opportunity for attack is constant. What are the signs that you have been hacked and how can you reclaim your control? This guide walks you through the common indicators of a hacked phone and what steps you can take to protect your data and privacy.
Phone hacking is the unauthorized access and control of your smartphone and its data. It can happen to any person and any device, whether it’s an iPhone or an Android. To achieve this, cybercriminals—also called hackers—use various types of malicious software, sometimes called malware, such as:
These attacks are typically motivated by financial gain, such as stealing banking credentials, or by a desire to monitor someone’s personal life.
Phone hacking isn’t just a technical or convenience issue. It has real and often costly consequences for your personal life, finances, and privacy. Here, we list the kinds of losses you might face with a hacked phone:
The consequences of a hacked phone go far beyond inconvenience. This is why it is so critical to stay alert for the warning signs of a compromise and know exactly what to do if your phone is hacked.
The unfortunate reality is that anyone’s phone can be targeted and successfully hacked. Cybercriminals have developed several sophisticated methods that allow them to remotely take over your device. These tactics are done mainly by surreptitiously installing malicious software or malware, monitoring calls and messages, stealing personal information, or even taking over your various accounts. Here are detailed explanations for each hacking method:
To be certain that your phone has been hacked, here are some signs you should consider. Note that these might be signs of a hacked phone, yet not always.
If you see several of these signs, it’s crucial to take immediate action to secure your device and data.
Ultimately, the biggest factor in security is user behavior. Regardless of whether you use Android or iOS, practising safe habits—like avoiding suspicious links, using strong passwords, and keeping your operating system updated—is the most critical defense against having your phone hacked.
This is a long-standing debate, and the truth is that both platforms can be hacked. Android’s open-source nature and accommodation of third-party sources apps create more potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, security updates can sometimes be delayed depending on the device manufacturer. iPhones, while generally more secure, can be vulnerable if a user jailbreaks the device or falls victim to phishing and other social engineering scams.
Simply answering a phone call cannot install malware on a modern, updated smartphone. The real danger comes from social engineering, where the caller will convince you into taking an action that compromises your security such as giving your personal information or installing something yourself. This is often called vishing or voice phishing.
Yes, your phone’s camera and microphone can be hacked, a process known as camfecting. This is typically done using spyware hidden in malicious apps disguised as legitimate software that you may have been tricked into installing. Signs of a compromised camera include the indicator light turning on unexpectedly, finding photos or videos in your gallery that you didn’t take, or experiencing unusually high battery drain.
When your phone is completely powered down, its network connections and most of its hardware are inactive, making it impossible to be actively hacked over the internet. However, some modern smartphones have features that remain active even when the device seems off, like the location tracker. Sophisticated, state-level spyware like Pegasus are also theoretically capable of attacking a device’s firmware even while turned off.
Sometimes you are fortunate enough to catch the hacking attempt while it is in progress, such as during a vishing incident. When this happens, you can take these immediate steps to thwart the hacker before, during and after:
Discovering that your phone has been hacked can be alarming, but acting quickly can help minimize the damage and restore your privacy. Here are the actions to take to regain control and protect your personal information:
Applying security measures the moment you bring home your brand new phone helps to keep your phone from getting hacked in the first place. It only takes a few minutes. Follow these tips to find yourself much safer from the start:
Protecting your phone from hackers doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By remaining vigilant for the warning signs, keeping your software updated, and using trusted security tools, you can significantly reduce your risk of getting your phone infiltrated. Think of your digital security as an ongoing practice, not a one-time fix.
Mobile security solutions like McAfee Mobile Security are specifically designed to scan your device for malware, spyware, and other malicious code. Key features to look for in a quality security app include real-time antivirus protection, web protection to block dangerous websites, and privacy monitoring to check which apps have access to your personal data. McAfee Mobile Security also offers award-winning antivirus, real-time malware scanning to stop malicious apps before they can cause harm. The included Secure VPN encrypts your connection, making public Wi-Fi safe for browsing and banking. With features like Identity Monitoring to alert you if your details are found on the dark web and Safe Browsing to block risky websites, you’re protected from multiple angles.
Be very cautious of fake anti-hack apps; these could be scams that can install malware themselves. To be safe, always download security software from reputable providers through official channels like the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.
The post How to Know If Your Phone Has Been Hacked appeared first on McAfee Blog.
As we continue to evolve technologically, so do cybercriminals in their never-ending quest to exploit vulnerabilities in our digital lives. The previous years have clearly shown that cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging new technologies and trends to trick their victims. As we move into another year, it’s crucial to be aware of the tried and tested tactics these cyber criminals use and stay prepared against potential threats.
In this article, we delve deeper into one such tactic that remains a favorite among cybercriminals – ‘phishing‘ via emails. We focus on the trickiest and most dangerous email subject lines that have been commonly used in worldwide phishing emails. Recognizing these ‘ baits’ can be your first step towards safeguarding your identity and valuables against cybercriminals. Beware, there are plenty of these ‘phishes’ in the sea, and it helps to be on your guard at all times.
Sending email messages filled with malicious links or infectious attachments remains a dominant strategy among cybercriminals. This strategy, commonly known as ‘phishing,’ is often disguised in a variety of forms. The term ‘Phishing’ is derived from the word ‘Fishing,’ and just like fishing, where bait is thrown in the hope that a fish will bite, phishing is a cyber trick where an email is the bait, and the unsuspecting user is the fish.
Today’s most common phishing scams found by McAfeerevealed that cybercriminals tend to use certain email subject lines more often. Although this does not mean that emails with other subject lines are not harmful, being aware of the most commonly used ones can give you an edge. The key takeaway here is to be vigilant and alert when it comes to all kinds of suspicious emails, not just those with specific subject lines.
Let’s take a look at the top five most commonly used subject lines in worldwide phishing emails. The list will give you an understanding of the varied strategies employed by cybercriminals. The strategies range from social networking invitations to ‘returned mail’ error messages and phony bank notifications. Be aware that these are just the tip of the iceberg and cyber criminals are continuously coming up with new and improved tactics to gain access to your sensitive data.
In the past, cybercriminals used to cast big, untargeted nets in the hopes of trapping as many victims as possible. However, recent trends indicate a shift towards more targeted and custom messages designed to ensnare more victims. A classic example of such a targeted phishing attack is the JP Morgan Chase phishing scam that took place earlier this year.
→ Dig Deeper: Mobile Bankers Beware: A New Phishing Scam Wants Your Money
The fact that phishing scams are still on the rise amplifies the importance of proactive measures to protect our digital assets. As technology advances, these threats continue to evolve, making ongoing vigilance, education, and caution in our online engagements critical in combating the increasing prevalence of such scams.
Phishing emails, often with a guise of urgency or familiarity, cunningly aim to deceive recipients into revealing sensitive information, most commonly, personal identities and financial credentials. These malicious messages are designed to prey on our trust and curiosity, making it crucial to scrutinize each email carefully. Cybercriminals behind phishing schemes are after the keys to both your digital identity and your wallet. They may seek login credentials, credit card details, social security numbers, and other sensitive data, which can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and even broader security breaches. It is essential to exercise caution and rely on best practices for email and internet security to thwart their efforts and safeguard your online presence.
While phishing emails come in a variety of forms, their ultimate goal remains the same: to steal your identity and money. As we move into the New Year, it’s prudent to add a few safety measures to your resolutions list. Protecting yourself from the increasingly sophisticated and customized phishing attacks requires more than awareness.
With an understanding of phishing techniques, the next step is learning how to protect yourself from falling prey to them. Ultimately, you are the first line of defense. If you’re vigilant, you can prevent cyber criminals from stealing your sensitive information. The following are some tips that can help you safeguard your digital life and assets:
First, avoid opening attachments or clicking on links from unknown senders. This is the primary method that cybercriminals use to install malware on your device. If you don’t recognize the sender of an email, or if something seems suspicious, don’t download the attachment or click on the link. Even if you do know the sender, be cautious if the email message seems odd or unexpected. Cybercriminals often hack into email accounts to send malicious links to the victim’s contacts.
Another important practice is to think twice before sharing personal information. If you’re asked for your name, address, banking information, password, or any other sensitive data on a website you accessed from an email, don’t supply this information, as it is likely a phishing attempt. In case of any doubts regarding the authenticity of a request for your information, contact the company directly using a phone number or web address you know to be correct.
Even with the most diligent practices, it’s still possible to fall victim to phishing attacks. Hence, having security nets in place is crucial. Start by being careful on social networks. Cybercriminals often hack into social media accounts and send out phishing links as the account owner. Even if a message appears to come from a friend, be cautious if it looks suspicious, especially if it contains only a link and no text.
Installing comprehensive security software is another essential step. McAfee LiveSafe service, for instance, offers full protection against malware and viruses on multiple devices. This software can be a lifeline if you happen to click a malicious link or download a hazardous attachment from an email.
It’s also a smart idea to regularly update your devices. Updates often contain patches for security vulnerabilities that have been discovered since the last iteration of the software. Cybercriminals are always looking for vulnerabilities to exploit, so keeping your software up-to-date is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself.
McAfee Pro Tip: Always update both your software and devices. First and foremost, software updates often include patches and fixes for vulnerabilities and weaknesses that cybercriminals can exploit. By staying up-to-date, you ensure that you have the latest defenses against evolving threats. Learn more about the importance of software updates.
Phishing attempts are a constant threat in the digital world, and their sophistication continues to evolve. Cybercriminals are relying more on tailored and targeted attacks to deceive their victims. The top five most dangerous email subject lines mentioned above are a clear indicator that criminals are becoming more nuanced in their attempts to trick victims. However, with awareness and vigilance, you can effectively avoid their traps.
Remember, your personal and financial information is valuable. Make sure to protect yourself from phishing attempts by avoiding suspicious links and attachments, thinking twice before sharing your personal information, being cautious on social media, installing comprehensive security software like McAfee+, and keeping all software up-to-date. Being prepared can make all the difference in keeping your digital life secure.
The post Top 5 Most Dangerous Email Subject Lines appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Human beings are remarkable in their resilience. Beyond our ability to build and grow civilizations, we possess a somewhat less understood but equally important characteristic – the ability to deceive ourselves. The implications of this trait are vast and diverse, sometimes manifesting in seemingly irrational behavior, such as underestimating risks in the realm of cybersecurity.
Psychology explores the distinguishing factor of mankind from the rest of the species on our planet – reason. How we perceive the world around us and how we act, whether consciously or subconsciously, is governed by our minds. However, when it comes to risk assessment, our brain often falls prey to its limitations. It’s our innate tendencies to underestimate slowly rising threats, substitute one risk for another, or fall under the illusion of control that reveal our resilience in ignoring the hard truths. This applies to today’s digital environment and our approach to cybersecurity.
These psychological tendencies significantly impact the world of cybersecurity. Employees often justify risky behaviors like clicking on unknown links or emails or dismiss their gut feeling when something feels suspicious. Cybersecurity professionals might put an overinflated trust in their own abilities to handle the next threat, rather than seeking help from a third party with potentially more experience. The slow trickle of breaches that make the headlines create an illusion that we are somehow immune to the next one, and while we stay in denial, the risk continues to mount unnoticed.
Survey data provides some alarming insights. According to McAfee’s research among American consumers, 71% of those aged 18-34 believe their data is more secure today than it was a year ago. Similarly, 65% of those aged 35-54 agree. This is in stark contrast to the rapidly growing threats in our virtual world, exemplified by the fact that ten years ago, McAfee Labs observed 25 new threats per day, whereas today we face more than 400,000 new threats per day!
→ Dig Deeper: McAfee Labs Report Reveals Latest COVID-19 Threats and Malware Surges
Despite recognising the growing dangers of the cyberspace, consumers often overestimate their own capabilities to defend against such threats. This overconfidence coupled with self-deception presents an ideal opportunity for threat actors to exploit their vulnerabilities. The victims, both consumers and cybersecurity professionals alike, unknowingly advertise themselves as easy targets for the next cyber attack.
Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem. While it might be unrealistic to completely eliminate our inborn tendencies towards self-deceit, we can certainly address them through open dialogue and constructive discussions about our propensity to miscalculate risks. By doing so, we can disarm the enemies, significantly reducing their arsenal and mitigating the threats.
McAfee Pro Tip: Everything starts with self-awareness. We can only disarm these enemies–hackers, in this context–if we inform ourselves of the latest cybersecurity threats that might come our way. Find out more about the latest cybersecurity news on McAfee.
If you would like to learn more about the perceptions of cybersecurity risks, consider reading the book titled, “The Second Economy: The Race for Trust, Treasure and Time in the Cybersecurity War.” This book delves deeper into the complexities of cybersecurity, explaining in detail the intricacies of navigating the cyber threat environment and how to protect yourself effectively.
In addition, McAfee has developed a holistic strategy to transform the learning experience of cybersecurity into an informative journey. Our resources encompass a diverse collection of blogs, enlightening reports, and instructive guides. These materials have been carefully crafted to offer users a wealth of information on safeguarding your online life.
The human brain has been wired over thousands of years of evolution to protect us from threats and ensure our survival. Unfortunately, due to this “protection” mechanism, it often deceives us about the realities of risk. This deception is not intentional but a result of cognitive biases, which are ingrained predispositions that influence our judgement and decision-making.
Various cognitive biases come into play while evaluating risk. For instance, the ‘optimism bias’ leads us to believe that we are less prone to negative outcomes than others. The ‘confirmation bias’ induces us to interpret information in a way that validates our preexisting beliefs. In the cybersecurity landscape, these biases can push us towards underestimating the threats and overestimating our abilities to tackle them.
The optimism bias, for one, can make individuals and organizations overly optimistic about their cybersecurity posture. This bias may lead them to believe that they are less likely to experience a security breach than others, even when they have the same or similar vulnerabilities. This can result in underinvestment in security measures and a lack of preparedness for potential threats.
Confirmation bias, meanwhile, can lead cybersecurity professionals to selectively seek and interpret information that aligns with their preexisting beliefs about security. For example, if an organization believes that a specific security technology is the best solution, they may unconsciously filter out data that contradicts this view. This can result in the implementation of ineffective security measures and a false sense of security.
Recognizing and addressing these biases is crucial in the field of cybersecurity to ensure that risks are accurately assessed, and appropriate measures are taken to protect sensitive data and systems. Cybersecurity professionals should strive to maintain objectivity, seek diverse perspectives, and engage in ongoing risk assessment and mitigation efforts to counteract these biases.
Given how our inbuilt cognitive biases can negatively impact our risk judgments, it is critical to take efforts towards mitigating the resultant miscalculations. Firstly, we need to acknowledge that our minds are prone to deception and can mislead us in evaluating cyber threats. This involves being open to critique and willing to question our assumptions regarding cybersecurity.
Secondly, we need to foster a culture of learning and awareness around cybersecurity. Regular training programs and workshops can help individuals understand the potential threats and learn how to counteract them effectively. Cybersecurity awareness needn’t be a one-time event; it should be an ongoing process. Finally, embracing a proactive approach to cybersecurity that focuses on preventing threats rather than merely responding to them can further help in reducing the risk. This approach not only fortifies our defenses but also empowers us to adapt and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world, where the security of our information is of paramount importance.
→ Dig Deeper: See Yourself in Cyber – Five Quick Ways You Can Quickly Get Safer Online
The deception and resilience of the human mind are two sides of the same coin. While they contribute to our survival and success as a species, they can sometimes lead us astray in intricate domains like cybersecurity. Recognizing our cognitive biases and striving to overcome them can help us better assess and respond to cyber threats. With a proactive approach to cybersecurity and ongoing efforts towards raising awareness, we can make strides towards a safer virtual world.
We invite you to explore the subject further with the book, “The Second Economy: The Race for Trust, Treasure and Time in the Cybersecurity War”. It provides a comprehensive look at the complex world of cybersecurity and offers valuable insights into navigating the cyber threat environment effectively. Alternatively, you can also browse our cybersecurity resources at McAfee.
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