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When my friend told me that her ex had hacked into her phone and read all of her texts, I assumed it was the most common urban myth out there.
But then my boyfriend told me the same thing happened to him after his girlfriend had left him, except he wasn’t sure if she did it herself or if someone else did it.
How Hackers Get Access To Your Phone
Hackers typically use one of two different types of attacks. The first is called a man in the middle attack.
This type of hack is when a hacker will sneak onto your network (Wi-Fi), and then pretend to be your device by displaying the same IP address.
When you try to connect, you are actually connecting with the hacker's computer which has been set up with some sort of software that can then monitor what you are doing on your device.
How to Safeguard your Data
It is not as easy as you might think for a hacker to get into your phone, but there are many ways they can do so.
It is important to be aware of what data you have on your device and how to protect it.
This post will give you the information you need to know in order use your devices safely and securely. The first step is recognizing what you have stored on your device.
If your device is an iPhone or iPad with iOS 8 or higher, then this information can easily be found by going to Settings -> General -> About.
Scroll down until you see Storage & iCloud Usage.
There should also be a link called Manage Storage where you will find all the apps installed on the device which occupy space and their corresponding sizes of storage space taken up.
Password Protection
Passwords are a weak point in many people's security. It may be hard to remember all of your passwords, but there are ways you can strengthen your password.
For one, make sure your password is at least ten characters long and includes numbers, letters and special characters.
You should also change your password every few months and never use the same password twice.
Lock your screen when you are done using your phone
The biggest and most important thing you can do is use your screen locks.
This will prevent anyone with physical access to your device from accessing the information on the device or getting into any applications.
To activate this, go to Settings > General > Lock Screen. You have a few options here: Face ID, Touch ID, or Passcode.
The best option is Require Attention for Face ID and Touch ID which requires you look at your device before unlocking it.
Where Are You Storing Your Personal Information?
What are you storing on your phone? If the answer is nothing, then you're safe.
However, if you have credit card information, passwords, or other personal information stored on your device, then it's possible that a hacker could get a hold of it.
This can be done through phishing (getting people to enter their personal information into fake websites), installing malware onto your device (a type of software), or using an app with a vulnerability.
Blocking Unnecessary Apps
There are a few steps you can take to help protect your privacy while browsing the internet on your mobile device.
While some of these steps may not be available on all devices, you should still know about them.
-Set up a passcode lock on your device and make sure the code is difficult enough so others cannot guess it.
Stop Sharing Too Much Information Online
It’s a scary reality, but in this day and age, there are many ways for people to get access to private information about you.
It is important not to overshare on social media, as the more information you share with strangers, the easier it will be for them to find out your personal details.
Furthermore, avoid making any purchases or logging into accounts from unfamiliar devices- even if they look legitimate.
Don’t Visit Strange Websites
When we use our phones, we often get a sense of safety. We might not realize that certain apps can allow others to see what we’re doing on our phones or even monitor us through the microphone.
To avoid this, make sure you stay away from strange websites and don’t download apps without reading reviews first.
Conclusion
If you want to keep your information safe, don't download shady apps and make sure the apps on your phone are up-to-date.
Keep in mind that not all hackers are out to get you—sometimes they're just curious.
Somewhere, there's a teenager hacking into his neighbor's Wi-Fi because he wanted to see what was going on inside their house.