Financial Advisors: Protect your phone from hackers
Mobile phones are an essential part of our modern lives. They store a wealth of personal and professional data, making them a prime target for hackers. Hackers can use a variety of methods to gain access to your phone, including malware, phishing attacks, and social engineering. Once they have access, they can steal your data, install malware, or even take control of your phone.
This scenario can arise due to various methods of gaining physical access to your phone, including malware-infected charging ports, unlocked devices, vulnerable WiFi connections, SIM card replacement, open Bluetooth connections, and exploits in the operating system that could be exploited by hackers. As financial advisors, we are seeing more of these scams.
Has your phone been hacked?
Some signs of your phone being hacked are obvious, like a sudden pop-up saying there's been a breach. But others might be harder to notice. Nevertheless, discovering that your phone's security has been compromised is always an unsettling experience.
Red flags your phone has been hacked.
However, it's advisable to be aware of signs that can help you detect potential compromises sooner rather than later. This proactive approach allows you to swiftly address the security breach and mitigate the potential consequences. Noteworthy signs to remain vigilant about include:
Unexpected or full-screen popup notifications: This stands out as one of the most blatant methods of realizing that your device's security has been breached. The hacker explicitly notifies you that your device's integrity has been compromised. These pop-ups can manifest on your device's main screen or while you're engaged with an app or browsing the internet.
Installation or usage of unfamiliar applications: The appearance of applications or files that you never downloaded, either on your home screen or within subfolders, could indicate a potential hack.
Unsolicited calls, texts, or emails originating from your phone: When you notice outgoing calls or text messages you didn't initiate, it's possible that your device has been compromised. If you receive calls pretending to be from your number, it could be robocalls. However, if you're getting texts and emails sent from your phone, it's probably because a hacker has taken control of it.
Elevated background data consumption: If you haven't altered your phone usage habits recently but observe a notable surge in data consumption, it's probable that your phone's security has been breached. Malware, spyware, or viruses are possibly utilizing data to transmit information to the hacker.
Rapid battery depletion: If your phone's battery is depleting faster than usual despite maintaining your standard usage patterns and without recent operating system software updates, there's a likelihood that your phone has been hacked. Malware, spyware, and viruses operating in the background can place an additional strain on the device's power.
Apps launching and shutting down unexpectedly: Unless you have deliberately avoided necessary operating system or app updates, your applications should not be opening, closing, or malfunctioning on their own. Instances of malware, viruses, and spyware can disrupt the proper functioning of the operating system and other legitimate apps.
Numerous online accounts compromised due to shared passwords: If multiple online accounts, which share the same password and were either stored or last accessed on your phone, have been breached, it's plausible that your mobile device has fallen victim to hacking.
What to do if your phone has been hacked.
Change Password: For enhanced security, it's advisable to update your passwords, preferably from an alternate device. Take the time to manually modify your passwords. This creates very secure passwords that are hard to crack and allows you to make different passwords for each account. This practice ensures that if one account becomes compromised, the rest of your accounts utilizing the same password remain unaffected.
Using a password manager can also simplify this process. Password managers store and fill in your passwords, so you don't have to remember them all. Most password managers incorporate two-way encryption, which maintains the security of your passwords both during their creation and usage.
Comprehensive Antivirus Safeguard across all Devices: In addition to the aforementioned indicators, malicious software, spyware, and viruses can clandestinely operate in the background or compromise significant data before being detected. It is better to prevent a hack from happening in the first place. However, it is even worse to unknowingly allow a hacker to have long-term access to your phone's data. This is where the continuous operation of antivirus software on your device proves invaluable in thwarting potential compromises before they occur.
An exemplary choice among antivirus applications, applicable for both Android and iPhone users, is TotalAV. Their software is replete with an array of features designed to ensure your protection against malware and enhance your online security. This includes protection against ransomware.
It includes live antivirus monitoring and includes removal of viruses and malware. It includes a tool to free up storage space. And there is more.
Remove Unfamiliar Applications: In the event that you encounter apps exhibiting malfunctioning behavior, discover apps you never intentionally installed, or identify apps acquired from unofficial or third-party sources, it is recommended to promptly uninstall them. It's crucial to exclusively procure apps from legitimate sources such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Moreover, exercise caution by solely opting for apps developed by well-reviewed creators with substantial positive feedback.
Restore Phone to Factory Defaults: If the issue extends beyond the straightforward deletion of apps or files, or if concerns about the security breach persist, the most prudent course of action is to restore the phone to its original factory settings. Instructions on how to perform this reset can be found in our prior article, available here.
Bottom Line
In an increasingly interconnected world, maintaining robust phone security is of paramount importance. The potential risks, ranging from unauthorized access to personal data breaches, underline the need for proactive measures. To keep your devices and personal information safe from phone security threats, be aware and follow these best practices.
Sources:
https://cyberguy.com/security/how-to-stop-someone-from-tracking-you-on-your-phone/
Disclosures:
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This material is provided as a courtesy and for educational purposes only. Please consult your investment professional, legal or tax advisor for specific information pertaining to your situation.
These are the views of the author, not the named Representative or Advisory Services Network, LLC, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named Representative nor Advisory Services Network, LLC gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further information.