Can Someone Hack My Iphone by Calling It Can Someone Hack My Phone and Read My Texts

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Can Someone Hack My Iphone by Calling It Can Someone Hack My Phone and Read My Texts can someone hack my iphone by calling it Can Someone Hack My Phone and Read My Texts. As experts in digital cybersecurity, we have to field this question often. The answer is always the same. Yes, someone can hack your phone and read your texts. It’s happening to millions of people around the world at the moment. You’ve read about hackers, heard about them in the news, or seen it in a movie. You know they’re a major threat. It’s not hard for a determined hacker to get their hands on someone’s personal information, even the protected kind. It’s why information security is a big concern in the digital age. You need to be on guard against data theft. Taking precautions and being aware is the only way to keep yourself and your data safe. In this article, we answer some common questions about phone hacking. The answers should, hopefully, make it easier for you to protect your info. Table of Contents. Part 1: Can Someone Hack My Phone? Yes, someone can hack your phone. It could be happening right now, especially if you’re using a jailbroken iOS device or a rooted Android one. There are multiple methods for someone to hack your phone if they have the motive. What phone-hacking methods do we mean? The most common one is to trick you into installing an app on your phone that records your info and sends it to a remote server. This is more likely to happen if you have a jailbroken/rooted device. Other methods of hacking are text message phishing, phone network hacking, Wi-Fi network taps, iCloud/Google account hacking, charging portal hacking, and fake cell phone towers. Both hackers and law enforcement are constantly coming up with new ways to hack cell phones. Awareness is key here if you want to stay one step ahead and keep your data safe. Who could be hacking your phone? You’re just a regular person, you think. Who on earth would want to hack your phone? You may be surprised. Here’s a list of possible suspects. Parents: Parents often use parental control and monitoring solutions – like our very own Spyic app – to keep an eye on their children. This is legal to do. Friends: Not everyone has your best interest at heart. Someone you consider a friend could be spying on you. Bosses: Bosses often monitor their employees via their phones to ensure productivity and loyalty to the organization. In the US, this is legal. Colleagues: Your colleagues may be spying on you via your phone. Why? They may have their eye on a promotion and are looking to outdo you. Spouses: Jilted lovers and spouses often try to catch their cheating partner in the act. This is usually via phone hacking. Hackers: Finally, hackers could be spying on you. Usually, they’re after your personal identity and financial information. How do I know if my phone is being hacked? How do you know if your phone has been hacked? You can never tell for sure. But here are some indicators that tell you if your device has been compromised. Slowdowns: Is your phone slower than it used to be? If you can eliminate RAM and other hardware defects as being the root cause, chances are your phone has been infected with malware. They could be responsible for the slowdown. Spy apps and other malware require a ton of system resources to run. They record events happening on the phone and upload the info. Suspicious files: Does your phone have an app or two you don’t remember installing? It could be something innocuous looking like a game or an office utility. However, a spy app could be hiding underneath the harmless façade. Spy apps create files and folders, just like regular apps. If you find hidden files and folders, take a closer look. They could belong to a hidden spy utility. Battery drain: Finally, spy apps are huge power hogs. They can drain a phone’s battery dry very quickly. If your phone keeps dying during the day and it didn’t do so before, a spy app could be responsible for the drain. Note, though, that phone batteries naturally begin to fail after a couple of years. Make sure it’s not a dying battery causing your phone to run dry as opposed to a spyware app. Part 2: Can Someone Hack My Phone by Texting Me? Yes, someone can hack your phone simply by texting you. This is more likely to occur on Android phones that allow installation from untrusted sources. Jailbroken iOS devices and rooted Android devices are also susceptible to text-based hacking. How does text-based hacking work? You may get a text or email asking you to click on a link. After the link is clicked, a script is run on your phone to download and install an app. The app then steals your personal and financial information. Occasionally, you will be targeted by scammers telling you you’ve won a lottery or posing as your bank asking for your PIN information because there’s been a problem with your account. Likelihood of text-based hacks. The likelihood of someone hacking your phone simply by texting you is pretty high. This happens all the time all over the world. Part 3: Can Someone Hack My Phone by Calling Me? No, someone can’t hack your phone just by calling you. However, that doesn’t mean your phone can’t be hacked via its cellular connection. Vulnerabilities exist that let a hacker see your texts, tap your calls, and see your location. Why haven’t these vulnerabilities been patched? It’s because law enforcement uses the same vulnerabilities to monitor criminals, terrorists, and other threats. Unfortunately, it also makes you susceptible to hacking. Likelihood of call-based hacks. The likelihood of being hacked via a cellular network is low – unless you happen to be an important person like a politician or simply rich. Part 4: Can Someone Hack My Phone and Read My Texts? Yes, someone can hack your phone and read your texts. Here are the most common ways they may use to do so: Spy apps: Spy apps record everything that’s happening on your phone. They include a keylogger utility that keeps track of every keystroke input on the device. Everything you type, including messages, is recorded. Wi-Fi hacks: It’s possible for a hacker to intercept WiFi traffic. If you are messaging someone on social media, that information could potentially find its way to a hacker. iCloud/Google account hack: Some hackers target iCloud or Google accounts instead of your device itself. If you back up your information to iCloud or Google, it’s at risk. Charging station tap: Some charging stations at public locations like airports or malls contain malware. Part 5: Can Someone Read My Text Messages from Their Phone? Yes, someone can read your texts from their phone. How? They may have installed a spyware app on your device. This app records your personal information and then sends it out to the hacker’s phone. This includes your texts. The main question is this: How do you keep yourself safe? Don’t download apps you don’t trust or click on shady links. Use end-to-end encryption messaging apps. Also, switch to a private VPN connection for added privacy. Can my phone be hacked just by being called? I recently found a site, Cell-Spy-Stealth.com, that claims to sell spyware which can be targeted on a phone by simply making a call to it: "It will work even if you get the voice mail, or if the target phone is password protected." It claims that after this one-time call, your phone will have access to all live SMS, calls, photos, videos, data, GPS (if enabled) and even the microphone while unused. It further claims that it is 100% undetectable and untraceable. Is this really possible? If so, would there be any way to neutralize such a breach? 3 Answers 3. Any site that claims to be able to do that is a scam. Such technology would have to exploit some kind of backdoor, and if such a backdoor exists, it would only be known to law enforcement. If knowledge of such a backdoor leaks, you can be sure that there would be a media frenzy over it, and the vulnerability would quickly be fixed. Phone monitoring software exists, but all of the legitimate ones require either physical access to the phone to install, or finding a way to deceive the owner into installing it. There certainly are zero-day exploits out there for Android and iOS. So the technology exists for this to be real. In fact there is a thriving black market where discoverers of these exploits can sell them to the highest bidder -- here is an interesting article on that topic. That said, according to the above article, Android exploits sell for $30,000 - $60,000 and iOS exploits for $100,000 - $250,000. Nobody is going to spend that kind of money on the black market and then turn around and open a junk website where people can see if their "Daughter is still seeing that no good jerk" for $27. Also consider that once someone starts waving a vulnerability around the internet like that, it's usually a matter of days until Google or Apple figure out what's going on and patch it. Vulnerabilities only stay vulnerabilities if you keep them secret (unless people are using a version of Android so old that it's not getting updates anymore, in which case they're on their own).
Recommended publications
  • Unauthorised Tapping Into Or Hacking of Mobile Communications
    House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Unauthorised tapping into or hacking of mobile communications Thirteenth Report of Session 2010–12 1. This report is strictly embargoed and is not for broadcast or publication, in any form, before 05.00hrs, Wednesday 20 July 2011. 2. This report is issued under the condition that it should not be forwarded or copied to anyone else. 3. Under no circumstances should you distribute copies to anyone else or speak to the media before the publication time about the content of this report. 4. The report is subject to parliamentary copyright and you are not permitted to distribute, replicate, or publish further copies either in hard copy or on the internet either before or after publication. 5. If these instructions are unclear in any way please contact Alex Paterson on 020 7219 1589 or email [email protected] HC 907 Unauthorised tapping into or hacking of mobile communications 3 House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Unauthorised tapping into or hacking of mobile communications Thirteenth Report of Session 2010–12 Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 19 July 2011 HC 907 Published on 20 July 2011 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £0.00 The Home Affairs Committee The Home Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Home Office and its associated public bodies. Current membership Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP (Labour, Leicester East) (Chair) Nicola Blackwood MP (Conservative, Oxford West
    [Show full text]
  • To Download Full Chapter [Pdf]
    CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ON COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA RESEARCH Edited by: Laura Peja, Nico Carpentier, Fausto Colombo, Maria Francesca Murru, Simone Tosoni, Richard Kilborn, Leif Kramp, Risto Kunelius, Anthony McNicholas, Hannu Nieminen, Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt edition Lumière Bremen 2018 Bibliographische Information der Deutschen Bibliothek Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen National- bibliographie; detaillierte bibliographische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb. ddb.de abrufbar. © edition lumière Bremen ISBN: 978-3-943245-87-5 CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ON COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA RESEARCH Edited by: Laura Peja, Nico Carpentier, Fausto Colombo, Maria Francesca Murru, Simone Tosoni, Richard Kilborn, Leif Kramp, Risto Kunelius, Anthony McNicholas, Hannu Nieminen, Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt Series: The Researching and Teaching Communication Series Series editors: Nico Carpentier and Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt Photographs: François Heinderyckx Print run: 600 copies Electronic version accessible at: http://www.researchingcommunication.eu and http://www.comsummerschool.org The publishing of this book was supported by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy) and the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA). The 2017 European Media and Communication Doctoral Summer School was sponsored by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy) and supported by the Department of Communication and Performing Arts of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Almed - graduate School
    [Show full text]
  • Feral Beast": Cautionary Lessons from British Press Reform Lili Levi University of Miami School of Law, [email protected]
    University of Miami Law School University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository Articles Faculty and Deans 2015 Taming the "Feral Beast": Cautionary Lessons From British Press Reform Lili Levi University of Miami School of Law, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.miami.edu/fac_articles Part of the Communications Law Commons, and the Comparative and Foreign Law Commons Recommended Citation Lili Levi, Taming the "Feral Beast": Cautionary Lessons From British Press Reform, 55 Santa Clara L. Rev. 323 (2015). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty and Deans at University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Articles by an authorized administrator of University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TAMING THE "FERAL BEAST"1 : CAUTIONARY LESSONS FROM BRITISH PRESS REFORM Lili Levi* TABLE OF CONTENTS Introdu ction ............................................................................ 324 I. British Press Reform, in Context ....................................... 328 A. Overview of the British Press Sector .................... 328 B. The British Approach to Newspaper Regulation.. 330 C. Phone-Hacking and the Leveson Inquiry Into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press ..... 331 D. Where Things Stand Now ...................................... 337 1. The Royal Charter ............................................. 339 2. IPSO and IM
    [Show full text]
  • Media Plurality, the Fox-Sky Bid, and the Case for Referral to Ofcom
    MEDIA POLICY BRIEF 18 Media plurality, the Fox-Sky bid, and the case for referral to Ofcom Steven Barnett University of Westminster Martin Moore Kings College, University of London Damian Tambini London School of Economics and Political Science 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The LSE Media Policy Project is funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund 5, with additional support from the Open Society Foundation. LSE Media Policy Project Series Editor: Damian Tambini The authors would like to thank Nora Kroeger and all participants from the event “The 21st Century Fox Bid for Sky – How to respond to media monopolization in the UK” for their valuable input. Creative Commons Licence, Attribution – Non-Commercial. This licence lets others remix, tweak and build upon this work non-commercially. New works using this work must acknowledge the licensor and be non-commercial (you must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made). You don’t have to license your derivative works on the same terms. March 2017 LSE Media Policy Project blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/ Suggested citation: Barnett, S., Moore, M., & Tambini, D. (2017). Media plurality, the Fox-Sky bid, and the case for referral to Ofcom. Media Policy Brief 18. London: Media Policy Project, London School of Economics and Political Science. 2 Contents Key messages ................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Press Coverage of the Debate That Followed the News of the World Phone Hacking Scandal : the Use of Sources in Journalistic Metadiscourse
    This is a repository copy of Press coverage of the debate that followed the News of the World phone hacking scandal : the use of sources in journalistic metadiscourse. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/165722/ Version: Published Version Article: Ogbebor, B. orcid.org/0000-0001-5117-9547 (2018) Press coverage of the debate that followed the News of the World phone hacking scandal : the use of sources in journalistic metadiscourse. JOMEC Journal (12). pp. 145-165. ISSN 2049-2340 10.18573/jomec.173 Reuse This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND) licence. This licence only allows you to download this work and share it with others as long as you credit the authors, but you can’t change the article in any way or use it commercially. More information and the full terms of the licence here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. [email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ JOMEC Journal Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies Published by Cardiff University Press Binakuromo Ogbebor Cardiff University, School of Journalism, Media and Culture Email: [email protected] Keywords Journalistic metadiscourse Media and democracy Media representation News of the World Public sphere Abstract This article examines the distribution of sources in journalistic metadiscourse (news coverage of journalism) and the implication of the manner of distribution for democracy.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Managing Murdoch': How the Regulator That Became a Problem
    City Research Online City, University of London Institutional Repository Citation: Purvis, S. (2012). ‘Managing Murdoch’: How the regulator that became a problem then became a solution. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies, 1(2), pp. 143-155. doi: 10.1386/ajms.1.2.143_1 This is the accepted version of the paper. This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link: https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/4059/ Link to published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/ajms.1.2.143_1 Copyright: City Research Online aims to make research outputs of City, University of London available to a wider audience. Copyright and Moral Rights remain with the author(s) and/or copyright holders. URLs from City Research Online may be freely distributed and linked to. Reuse: Copies of full items can be used for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. Provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. City Research Online: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/ [email protected] ‘Managing Murdoch’: How the regulator that became a problem then became a solution Stewart Purvis City University London Abstract In 2009 David Cameron, the Leader of the British Conservative Party, then in opposition, announced that ‘with a Conservative Government, Ofcom1 as we know it will cease to exist’ (Tryhorn 2009; Holmwood 2009). He said the United Kingdom’s communications regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), would be cut back ‘by a huge amount’ and would ‘no longer play a role in making policy’.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Scandalous Power of the Press: Phone Hacking in the UK
    The Scandalous Power of the Press: Phone Hacking in the UK Natalie Fenton Much news media thrive on scandal. But what happens when the scandal is about the media itself? In 2011 News of the World journalists stood accused of illegally hacking the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. This proved to be the tip of a very large iceberg as the scandal uncovered industrial-scale phone hacking taking place across the tabloid press. Rather than open up their practices of news production to scrutiny and accept the recommendations of an independent inquiry, the news industry closed ranks and hid behind the banner of ‘press freedom’. This story reveals the enduring power of the press and it’s ability to control scandal, direct the national conversation and set the agenda. It also reveals the continuing entanglement between press and politicians who still seek favour with those they think have the potential to influence voting behaviour. This chapter reflects on the power of news corporations to defy the public interest whenever it suits them and the role of mainstream news journalists as part of an elite power complex. Ultimately the chapter argues that media scandal, wherever it is found, is all about power and commercial priorities. Introduction It is journalism’s job to expose wrong-doing, hold power to account, to flush out corruption, immorality or illegality where it exists. In doing so, it is argued that scandals help to set the parameters of ethical practice, moral conflict and consensus (Adut 2008). Who or what is declared as ‘scandalous’ is not a neutral endeavour.
    [Show full text]
  • Hacking Codes for Free Calls
    Hacking codes for free calls click here to download Want to control a friend's cell phone remotely and make "free" calls from it? In this hack how-to video, you'll learn how to hack. Want to control a friend's cell phone remotely and make "free" calls from it? In this hack how-to video, you'll learn how to hack Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. Hack code for mobiles like Motorola, Nokia, LG, Siemens and Erricson .. 54 = New Security Code 55 = Automatic Lock 63 = Battery Saving Mode Free call tip 1 . Remember that scene in War Games when the socially broken code monkeys were explaining to aspiring hacker Matthew Broderick all about. Ever wonder how to get into your phone? Do you want to know the secret codes your cell phone companies have and how to do it yourself? Well if so, then do. What kind of program is used to hack a SIM and get the Internet for free? which you can use even if you have zero balance or zero data on your phone. it is possible and even customer care executives are not given access to such codes. Ufone % Free Call Detail Apne Cell Pe Dial Karen *22*# Mobile Chori Honay Ki Soorat Main [email protected] Par IMEI Code Mail Karain 24 . Your mobile number is all a hacker needs to read your texts, listen to Never “ jail break” or root your phone to install free apps unless you are. You wish to recharge your phone for free, probably just for funs sake or just Free fake recharge/top up code calculator programs scattered all over the internet.
    [Show full text]
  • Read the Full Lateline Transcript
    UK announces inquiry into phone hacking Print Email Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 06/07/2011 Reporter: Philip Williams British newspaper News of the World is facing an independent inquiry and the loss of advertisers after a public backlash against phone hacking. Transcript TONY JONES, PRESENTER: The British prime minister, David Cameron, has promised an independent inquiry into allegations of phone hacking by the News of the World. In the latest revelations, police have warned families of those killed in the 2005 London bombings that their mobile phone messages may also have been hacked by the newspaper. The scandal has provoked a public backlash and a number of high-profile companies have withdrawn advertising from the newspaper. With the latest developments, Europe correspondent Philip Williams. PHILIP WILLIAMS, REPORTER: When it was just the rich and famous being hacked, there was interest but not anger. All that has changed with allegations the practice was widespread and included murder victims Milly Dowler and Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells, killed in the village of Soham in 2002. Their parents have been warned they were targeted. As were relatives of some of the victims of the 7/7 London bombings, that news coming just a day before the sixth anniversary of those attacks. GRAHAM FOULKES, FATHER OF LONDON BOMBING VICTIM: My mind went back to 2005 and the real emotional turmoil and state that we were in, and that somebody was listening to that. It's a violation, isn't it? HUGH GRANT, ACTOR: So many of the victims of phone hacking were rich or famous or whatever, ..
    [Show full text]
  • Mobile Phone Hacking Is Never Far from the News; One Report Hints That the Former Prime Minister Has Had His Mobile Phone 'Hacked'
    KJB Computer Forensics Consultancy Tel: 01368 860473 Mobile: 07748736481 Email: [email protected] Mobile Telephone hacking Introduction In today’s modern world we have seen a dramatic rise in popularity of mobile telephones, escalating at a phenomenal rate; more than anyone could ever imagine. You only have to take a walk along your local High Street to notice the increased marketing of mobile telephones and our constant use of SMS texting. I personally carry my phone everywhere and feel 'naked' without it. Whilst modern telephones are great they are still susceptible to any number of security flaws, one in particular being mobile telephone hacking. Mobile phone hacking is never far from the news; one report hints that the former prime minister has had his mobile phone 'hacked'. The aim of this paper is to give you an overview of Mobile Phone hacking and some basic tips to avoid becoming a victim of this crime. News just in... Royal phones hacked, the former British prime minister demands a police investigation of possible snooping on his mobile messages, the current prime minister's director of communications resigns, Rupert Murdoch flies in to London for a crisis meeting, and that is just the start…. Deep into the age of computer hacking, one or more journalists at Murdoch owned British newspaper, the News of the World, have been accused of carrying out a remarkably old- fashioned hack, that of accessing or 'phreaking' voicemail systems used by celebrities and politicians. Dozens or even hundreds of public figures could in theory be affected and it hasn't taken long for it to dawn on people that the practice is likely to be more widespread than a single newspaper in a single country, and could also affect a greater range of people.
    [Show full text]
  • Mobile Device Security: Has Your Client's Smartphone Been Hacked? by Clark Walton, JD, CCME Managing Director, Reliance Forensics, LLC
    Mobile Device Security: Has Your Client's Smartphone Been Hacked? by Clark Walton, JD, CCME Managing Director, Reliance Forensics, LLC If you're a litigator, cell phones can be a powerful tool in discovery. They may contain a client's (or opposing party's) text messages, e‐mails, GPS data, personal photographs, social media, data files and let’s not forget ‐ they also contain phone call records. Modern smartphones do so many things, it's easy to forget that these phones are actually, well, phones. As if we didn't feel the need for privacy in the phones we carry around already, the U.S. Supreme Court recently cemented the individual's privacy interest in their cell phone in Riley v. California, decided in June 2014. Riley generally stands for the principle that a warrant is needed when phones are searched by the government incident to an individual's arrest.1 The opinion in the 9‐0 decision written by Chief Justice Roberts in large part speaks to the richness of personal data accessible on these phones.2 So, it's natural that someone adverse to your client may have something to gain by accessing smartphone data. But is it even possible? Tell me if you've heard the following before: A client or potential client walks into your office and says "my [ex‐boyfriend/spouse/business partner] is monitoring my phone. They hacked it. I'm sure because... [Insert reason here]" If you practice family law, employment law or business litigation, you've quite possibly heard this more than others.
    [Show full text]
  • Jims Virtual World
    December 21, 2010, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 20 JIMS VIRTUAL WORLD A NEWSLETTER BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY VoIP: The Modern day Phone Phreaking Phone Phreaking was a rage during the 1950s - John Draper better known as Captain Crunch used to hack into tele- phone lines to make long distance calls. In today’s world, we use VoIP supported applications but during the early days of phone hacking, there was the Blue Box. The most famous ex phone phreaks were Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak during their college days. In an old interview, Steve Wozniak stated that once they both had nearly been arrested for using it but they got away when they explained to the police officer that, “It is a music calibration tool.” Phone Phreaking was the first form of hacking; automated machines replaced manual phone exchanges and these automated machines used certain pitches of sound to connect the calls. By the use of the Blue Box, these audio signals were bypassed just as VoIP today uses digital signals to bypass the audio signals. The Blue Box was a legal and monetary complication for the telecom industry with AT&T taking stern action against all the Phone Phreakers. Captain Crunch and many other pioneers and users of this technology were arrested and prosecuted for stealing from the telephone company. Not too different from today’s scenario, the Indian Government’s stand on VoIP is still being debated upon, the intelligence bureau thinks VoIP is too undisciplined for any regulation or surveillance, and hence a threat to national security.
    [Show full text]