Can you say with confidence that you are aware of everything going on on your mobile device? 

The majority of people will answer no – the truth is that without putting that extra layer of security onto your mobile device there are many ways hackers can find blind spots that you maybe wouldn’t even think about.

We do practically everything on our smartphones, including sending emails and documenting confidential business information. They hold a large amount of data that controls our everyday working lives. Furthermore, if that data ends up in the wrong hands, the results could be catastrophic. To avoid this you need to know how to be aware of your mobile’s blind spots and how to protect yourself, your organisation and your employees against it.  

What is a mobile blind spot?

Your phone does not need to be in the hands of hackers for them to steal your private data. So, how do hackers get access to your phone and carry out hacks? 

The truth is that they can easily remotely target your phone. 

Smartphones have centralised all of our private details and accounts in one easy-to-access spot, making them the ideal hacking target. Your phone is connected to everything, including social media, apps, email, and banking systems. Consequently, all of your apps merge into a blind spot making it accessible to cybertheft once a criminal has access to your phone. 

Organisations and their employees can lack the necessary visibility into their environment to spot malicious activity, they can struggle to identify risks in a timely and actionable manner. A recent study found that although 97% of firms collect logs, just 44% of these organisations frequently review their logs and only 14% are confident in their capacity to effectively analyse huge data sets for security trends.

How can you be hacked via a blind spot?

Cybercriminals make unique methods for getting into and monitoring people’s devices. In order to hack a phone or fool users into downloading harmful software, they typically hunt for vulnerabilities in the operating system.

Can hackers ultimately take control of your phone without having physical access to it? Sadly, yes. In addition to the standard techniques, hackers may also utilise the following techniques to remotely access those blind spots:

• Sim swaps: A hacker who possesses a SIM card can switch your phone number to it by persuading your mobile provider to do so.
• Public Wi-Fi: Using fake WiFi connections is another way that hackers might access your data. In essence, they make a false access point, and with that, they may gain access to every device that joins the WiFi network. Therefore, it’s crucial to make sure you are connected to the correct network before joining a public WiFi network.
• Phishing messages: Phishing operates by sending communications that appear to be from a reliable business or website. The link in phishing mails typically directs the visitor to a bogus website that mimics the real thing. After that, the customer is prompted to provide personal data like their credit card number.

How do I know if someone has made their way in via a blind spot?

Your smartphone can show up specific indicators, it may have been hacked. There is a possibility that you have been the target of a cybercriminal if you detect any of these elements on your smartphone:

• Unusual data spikes
• Excessive battery drainage
• Strange pop ups 
• Apps appearing you never installed
• Out of the blue phone calls 
• Outgoing calls or text messages you didn’t send
• Device overheating

You should now have a general understanding of how to check to see if someone is remotely accessing your phone. The phone’s defences will remain strong with frequent updates. Your security system should be as current as feasible. Even while it may seem inconvenient, delaying that upgrade on all devices throughout the business could end up costing your organisation money in the long run, and sometimes much more than just money. 

How to put a stop to hackers from ever accessing your blind spots

Having visibility into your network is essential for finding concealed dangers. Administrators should, at the very least, create a baseline of typical network activity and look into any significant departures from this baseline.

• Keep an eye on your installed apps for suspicious activity
• Never click on suspicious links 
• Ensure your hotspot is turned off when not using it especially in crowded areas
• Use two-factor authentication
• Use a secure communications solution for all communications

Everything you send and receive through this outdated protocol from the 1980s is unencrypted as it moves through the network, making it simple for someone else with the right tools to read it. Which is why it is so important to secure your communications via an encrypted communications app. 

These days, the chance of being hacked is continuing to rise. This is due to the fact that there isn’t a simple, one-word solution for how to hack someone’s phone. It’s best to be protected from such a risk because it is so simple to do. Therefore, you should always protect your privacy and data if you don’t want to become a target of hackers or cyber criminals. 

To sign up for a free trial or demo of Salt Communications contact us on info@saltcommunications.com or visit our website at https://saltcommunications.com/.

About Salt Communications 

Salt Communications is a multi-award winning cyber security company providing a fully enterprise-managed software solution giving absolute privacy in mobile communications. It is easy to deploy and uses multi-layered encryption techniques to meet the highest of security standards. Salt Communications offers ‘Peace of Mind’ for Organisations who value their privacy, by giving them complete control and secure communications, to protect their trusted relationships and stay safe. Salt Communications is headquartered in Belfast, N. Ireland, for more information https://salt communications.com/