Beware of Smartphone hackers! According to a recent report by CBS News reporter Rebecca Jarvis, if you use your cell phone for online banking, buying tickets at places like Ticketmaster, or any other online purchasing, you are at risk to have your ID stolen.
Cell Phones – An Easy Target for ID Theft
A recent survey reported 85% of American adults own cell phones. Many cell phone users also use their phones to access the Web, email, instant message, make online payments, and do online shopping. The cost of using your Smartphone for all these apps may be the loss of your privacy and ID. Your voicemail may even be at risk. So how do you know if your information is secure?
White Hackers to the rescue! Michael Gregg is what’s known as a “white hat” hacker. He helps companies and consumers keep the valuable information safe. When interviewed by Jarvis, Gregg explained that every phone operating system has been hacked.
“The real concern,” said Gregg, “is you start to have banking information, personal information, other sorts of data on the cell phone. … The hackers are always really one step ahead of everyone else, because they’re going where the money is. … Whatever you’re saying or doing may not be as private as you think.”
How do you prevent your Smartphone from being hacked? First, if you don’t have your voicemail password protected, do so immediately. If you are going to shop online, don’t do it through a free WiFi access point. They are not secure. And finally, don’t download apps for your phone that are from unknown sources. Some apps gather information much like spyware on your PC.
What do you do if you think you have been hacked? Call or contact the wireless carrier, bank or credit card company and let them know your info may have been compromised. Don’t contact them by e-mail or use the hacked phone to do that; use a different phone or visit in person. Remember your cell phone was the culprit in the first place.
Will security software be the solution? My guess is that cell phone service providers will have to step up to the plate and provide some sort of security for their users. It may be in the form of anti-spyware software, much like what we have for our PCs. In the meantime, beware!
