Phone Hacking – Do I need a VPN on my phone?
We live in a modern world where everything is connected via the internet. It’s surely very convenient, but it also exposes your devices to a lot of risks, such as phone hacking which is very common these days. Hackers prefer hacking smartphones because it gives them access to tons of personal data, which they can use to blackmail victims and get money. So, if you don’t want hackers to hack your smartphone, there are ways that you can use to protect your smartphone and stop hackers. In this comprehensive guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about Phone Hacking. We will also answer some important questions, such as: Do I need a VPN on my phone? How do Hackers hack smartphones? And many more. Let’s get started.
What is Phone Hacking?
Phone Hacking is a type of hacking attack where hackers try to take control of your smartphone and use your personal data to blackmail you. In some instances, hackers and government agencies also hack smartphones to track the activities of their targets.
How do Hackers hack Smartphones?
Smartphones these days are way more secure than old smartphones, and there are various checks and balances in place to protect them. However, there are some ways that are not very secure, and hackers use these weak areas to hack modern smartphones. So, if you don’t want your smartphone to get hacked, it’s important that you know how hackers hack modern smartphones.
In 2023, hackers have the following 3 ways which they use to track users.
- Using your Smartphone – If hackers have physical access to your smartphone, they can use modern tools to hack your device. Many smartphones these days come with facial recognition, but it’s not very secure, and hackers can easily bypass it. So, if they have your fingerprint, they can also break the security of your smartphone and access your data.
- Using Public WiFi – Public WiFi is the home of hackers because these networks are accessible to everyone and hackers use these platforms to get information of the network users. For example, if you are not using a secure tool like a VPN, your data won’t be encrypted, which would allow hackers to track your activities. In this way, whatever you search online and access any platform, hackers will be able to track you. Similarly, they can also use phishing techniques to get your important data, such as login credentials and banking details.
- Compromised Apps – Compromised Apps are arguably one of the biggest sources of phone hacking these days. These are the cracked versions of premium apps that are available on online websites for free, and these websites are mainly operated by hackers. Hackers incorporate malicious code into these apps, which allow them to get access to the data of victims’ phones, and they then use the data to blackmail victims.
How to Stop Someone from Hacking your Phone?
Hackers employ many ways to hack smartphones, but there are also ways that you can use to stop them from hacking your smartphone, and in this section, we will tell you about them.
Use a strong password
Your Password is the last line of defense against hackers, and it’s important that your Password is strong and complex. Now, which Password is a strong password? Any password which is long and complex is considered a strong password.
We will strongly suggest that you don’t use a password that is easily guessable. For example, Passwords such as “MyNameIsJohnDoe” or “MyCityIsNewYork” won’t work because they are easily guessable. However, if you use a password with a lot of numbers, a random alphabet, and special characters, it will be difficult for a hacker to guess it, and your device will be safe. Here’s an example of a strong password “$G%^ifn#909#@!h@Jki$”.
Always install Apps from Legit sources
Compromised apps are a major source of phone hacking, and you can stop hackers from hacking your phone if you only install secured apps. So, make sure that you always install apps from legit sources such as Google Play Store and App Store. If someone asks you to install apps from other sources, always take extra caution because apps from unknown sources can come with malware.
Install Anti-Malware App
Having a strong password is a great defense, but you can also step up the security of your smartphone by installing a good Anti-Malware or Antivirus App. These security apps will allow you to scan and find malicious software on your device, and then you can easily delete them.
Use a Good VPN
Last but not least, using a good VPN will allow you to encrypt the traffic from your smartphone, and your smartphone will be protected from phone hacking to a great extent. VPN is a privacy tool that not only encrypts your traffic but also protects you online by allowing you to browse anonymously.
Now when it comes to VPNs, we will strongly recommend that you get a premium VPN because free VPNs are not effective, and they track your activities. If you are interested in getting a VPN, we will recommend that you check our VPN Section, where we have listed and reviewed the major VPN Services such as NordVPN, VPN Pure, ExpressVPN, and others.
How can I know if my phone is hacked?
Phone Hacking is a sophisticated process, and if hackers want to track your activities, you won’t be able to notice. However, there are subtle signs which tell you if your phone is compromised and your activities are being tracked.
- Weird Activities – One of the major signs of phone hacking is the unusual and weird activities on your smartphone. For example, if you close all apps, but when you open your phone after a few minutes, all apps are running, it’s a sign that there’s something wrong with your device.
- Battery Drainage – If your device is hacked, the hacker will be using a lot of your apps to track your data, and it will result in battery drainage. So, if you were getting a full day of battery life and now it’s suddenly reduced to half, it’s a sign that your phone is compromised.
- New Unknown Apps – If you have noticed some new and unknown apps on your smartphone, it’s a clear sign that your phone is compromised.
- Increased Data Usage – If you use mobile data and its consumption has suddenly increased, it’s a sign of unusual activity and phone hacking.
My Phone is Hacked – What to do?
If your phone is hacked, the first thing you do is to disconnect it from the internet and remove the SIMs. Once your device is disconnected, run Antivirus app on your smartphone to find malicious apps and remove them. We will also recommend that you factory reset your device and only install secured apps on your smartphone. Also, make sure that you change the passwords of all of your platforms from a secured device to stop hackers from misusing your data.
If hackers have been able to get your data and they are blackmailing you, you can’t do much here. So, we will recommend that you contact your local law enforcer and launch a complaint so that the police can act against the culprits. In the meantime, contact your bank and cancel your debit card if this information was included in stolen information.
Conclusion
Phone Hacking is very common these days, but if you follow the tips and use security tools like VPNs and Antivirus, hackers won’t be able to hack your smartphone. You can check the reviews of major VPNs on our website. Stay Safe!