Hacking involves finding vulnerabilities in software or networks with the intention of exploiting them or illegally accessing sensitive data. For example, hackers often use password-cracking algorithms to gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Computers are essential in our daily activities and are necessary for running a business. However, having isolated computer systems is not enough; a secure network connection is also required to exchange information with external sources.
This feature of the computer connects you to the world and makes things easy for you, but at the same time, they even expose the computers to the outer world, which can lead to situations like hacking. Hacking means accessing someone’s computer system to perform deceitful activities such as privacy invasion, fraud, stealing important personal and corporate data, etc. Web, cyber, or online crime can cost millions of dollars to many reputed organizations. Therefore, businesses need to avoid such attacks.
Who is a hacker?
A hacker is an individual or a group of individuals who look for and take advantage of the weaknesses of computer systems and networks to gain illegal access to them. Hackers are generally highly skilled in computer programming and have knowledge about the security systems of such devices.
Types of hackers
Generally, hackers are distinguished by their intentions. Here’s a list of different types of hackers –
- Ethical Hackers (White-Hat Hackers): He is a person who tries to gain access to your system with the intent of fixing its weaknesses. The hacking done by them is for testing and assessment. Usually, they are looking for Bug Bounty Programs.
- Crackers (Black-Hat Hackers): This is a person who gets illegal access to your system for his personal benefit. The intent is generally to violate your privacy rights, steal your data, transfer funds from your bank account, etc. Read more on how to prevent fraud while banking online.
- Grey-Hat Hackers: These types of hackers fall between white and black. They break into your systems without permission to look for their weaknesses and tell the system’s owner.
- Hacktivist: This type of person uses hacking skills to share political, religious, and social messages on social networking platforms. Anonymous is a well-known decentralized hacktivist group.
- Kid hackers: These are non-skilled or undeveloped hackers who try to learn to hack using hacking apps and tools.
- Phreakers: This is a person who identifies and takes advantage of the weaknesses of cellular or telephone devices instead of computer systems.
What is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime or web crime is using networks and software to do illegitimate acts such as online bullying, spreading viruses on different devices, performing the illegal transfer of funds from bank accounts or electronic wallets owned by a government or private organization, etc. Most such web crimes are committed with the internet’s help, while some cybercrimes can be performed through telephonic conversations, SMS, emails, and instant chat apps.
Types of Cyber Crimes
There is a vast variety of cybercrime or fraud in the world today. Some of the major ones are listed below –
- Computer Scam – Intentionally performed deception for individual benefit by using computers.
- Violation of privacy – Exposure of personal data such as contact numbers, account details, email IDs, etc., on social media platforms or other sites.
- Theft – It involves stealing a user’s private data and then impersonating them.
- Sharing of copyrighted data or file –This includes violating the copyrights of a file or some data.
- E-fund transfer – This is the illegal use of someone’s bank details to make unauthorized fund transactions.
- ATM scam – This involves stealing a user’s ATM details to withdraw and transfer funds from the account.
- Denial attacks – In this, the computers are used at multiple locations to attack different servers to shut them down. Commonly known as DoS and DDoS attacks.
- Spam – This involves forwarding unauthorized emails to different users. Such emails mainly consist of viruses and advertisements.
How to Prevent Your Phone from Being Hacked
In today’s times, when humans are highly dependent upon computers and mobile phones to do our daily tasks, it is almost impossible to stay without them. However, the growing hacking practices are also scaring ordinary people. With the recent reports on malware attacks and the breaching of important data, everyone wants to protect their phones from hackers. This is why, every year, studies and experiments are done to stop or protect users from getting attacked by hackers. There are a few ways to secure your data, like improving your passwords, but nothing is foolproof, as the chances of hacking cannot be avoided altogether.
But doing something is better than doing nothing to prevent hacking. Many big organizations have gotten into trouble because of hackers. These professional hackers are hard to trace as they do not leave a trail behind them. Therefore, it is better for us to prevent ourselves because most cybercrime cases are difficult to solve.
Since cybercrime cases are increasing, more and more people are looking for better solutions to stay out of it. However, if there are signs your phone is hacked, here are some ideas that you can opt for to protect your phones from hackers & android spy apps in future:
1. Update your Operating System
The first step is to update your phones regularly. As soon as an update is ready to be downloaded and installed, do it! Un-updated phones become vulnerable to hacking, so you can make the device more secure by regularly updating it. You can constantly check your phone settings for new updates. You must also update your apps whenever a notification is brought to your attention.
2. Install Trustworthy Protection Software
You should always download and install trustworthy, reliable phone protection apps that provide complete malware security. It is essential to have a software security app on your phone to protect it from hackers and viruses. Hackers generally send you websites and emails that contain viruses, so with the help of advanced security software, you can protect your phones from such attacks.
Also Read: The Best Paid Antivirus Solutions
3. Secure Password Protection
Yes, to improve your phone’s security, it is essential to password-lock your device carefully. Keep a password that provides good strength. You can choose a pattern lock, personalized PIN, or an alphabetical-numeric password for your phone. Choose a smart password that you can remember easily but is difficult for hackers to guess. You can also fix the time your phone will take to get locked automatically if it is not in use.
4. Trustworthy Apps
It is suggested that you only download and install apps from reputed sites such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. First, you must visit an alleged review website to get an authentic review of the app you plan to install. After that, you can download and install a new app.
5. Stay Disable
It would be best to disable Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi while you are not using it, as they allow hackers to find your device easily with a quick scan. Hackers can get into your phone through these features. This is why you can opt for settings to keep your connectivity features disabled until they are switched on manually.
6. Unsecured WiFi
Generally, the unsecured WiFi connections are open for public use. Therefore, always use a secure connection for your mobile phones. You can install a VPN or virtual private network to direct traffic through encrypted mobile connections. Do not access your online banking services on an unsecured network connection.
Also Read: How to Protect Yourself on Public WiFi Networks
7. Unlocking Methods
Do not get excited about fingerprint and face recognition features. Hackers can simply copy your fingerprints from something you have held or use your picture to unlock your phone. So, avoid using simple phone unlocking methods; go for complicated options to get better security. It is suggested that you use your alphanumeric password PIN to unlock your phone.
Your password should not be something personal like your pet’s name, boyfriend’s name, car, or phone number. It should be something hard to guess.
8. Data Backup
You can also regularly back up your mobile phone data on your hard disk, Google Drive, or Apple iCloud and then clean the phone’s data regularly. So, if a hacker hacks your mobile phone, it will be a blank file for him, and he cannot steal your important data from it.
9. Keep Deleting
You must clean up your memory regularly, every month. You are supposed to delete the unwanted data and apps from your phone. This makes your phone work faster and safer.
With the rising threat of hacking, here are some quick and easy ways to protect your mobile phones from hackers today. It is important to keep your phones safe and well-protected as they contain significant personal details. You just need some basic knowledge of your phones to make use of these options.
