Your phones can be hacked. Here's How to Stop That.

 Think all the data on your phone is safe in your pocket? Think again. Here's how hackers can hack your phone or other device.

We use our smartphones for almost everything—from payments to sending emails. Therefore they contain important information about our lives. And if that data falls into the wrong hands, that could lead quite disastrous consequences.

How Can Someone access My Phone Remotely?

It's not a secret that hackers don't need to have your phone in their hands to steal your personal information. They can target any of the data stored there remotely. Passwords, SSNs, bank account details, text messages, photos—almost anything can get into the hands of the bad guys if you aren't careful enough and well-protected.

Cybercriminals come up with unique ways to access people's smartphones and monitor them. Usually, they look for some vulnerabilities in the phone's operating system to hack it or trick people into downloading malicious software onto their devices.

The scariest part in all this is that with technology constantly evolving, the process of hacking someone's phone remotely is turning into a child's play. There are various apps out there that can be used to get access to a smartphone with just a phone number. Unfortunately, it's even possible to hack a phone's camera.

Some other ways a hacker can get into your phone include:

• Through public Wi-Fi networks. Cybercriminals create fake Wi-Fi networks, and when you connect to it with your phone, they redirect you to malicious sites.
• SIM swaps. Hackers transfer your phone number to their device and gain access to your account.
• Phishing emails or texts. Hackers send you an email with a malicious link and try to trick you into clicking it. Such emails or texts may look very real, and sometimes it may be complicated to distinguish between a malicious site and a legitimate one.

How to Prevent Hackers From Getting Into Your Phone?

There are a few actions that you can take to protect your smartphone and any personal information stored there from hackers. Here's what you can do:

1. Lock your smartphone. Create a strong password for locking your device's screen. If your phone also has such features as Touch ID or Face ID, then set it up as well.
2. Don't turn on mobile data or Wi-Fi unless you need to use them. This can prevent malicious software from using your data.
3. Turn off your hotspot in crowded places. It makes it easier for the hacker to get access to your device when it is turned on. And if you're using this feature, then make sure you have a strong password set.
4. From time to time, check the list of apps installed on your smartphone. If you notice any suspicious apps, uninstall them immediately.
5. Never click on suspicious links. If you've received a strange text message from your friend telling you to click on a link to open some random site, think twice before you do it. There can be malware in disguise.
6. Make sure that your device and the apps installed on it are up-to-date.
7. Don't jailbreak your phone. This can increase the chances of your smartphone getting hacked later on.