Cellular Phone Hacking

Simply put, cell phone hacking occurs when someone else gets into your phone. Depending on their motives, the hacker may simply view data stored on the phone, broadcast your location or send messages to your contacts under your name.

However, more serious instances of cell phone hacking involve hackers:

• Deleting data
• Adding malicious programs
• Gaining access to sensitive information like bank accounts
• Transcribing private conversations
• Storing copies of texts and emails

Common ways that a hacker gains access to your cellular phone include:

• Bluehacking - gaining access to your phone when it is a discoverable device on an unprotected Bluetooth network
• Unnoticed access to an unlocked phone left unattended in a public space
• Mimicry of a trusted network or cell phone tower
• Phone cloning by copying the SIM card of the target phone
• Malware apps that install malicious software or make changes to firmware
• Phishing via mobile optimized sites
• Fraudulent account resets using known information about the user (phone number, birth date, address and so on)

With so many methods available and more sensitive data being stored on smartphones and mobile devices, cellular phone security has become a major concern.