

The crime of blackmail isn't new, but threat actors recognize that the small computer in people's pockets and purses likely has more personal information stored in it than a desktop or laptop. However, once people logged in, a Trojan automated the PayPal transfer. The login process was legitimate, so it wasn't a phishing attempt. In one example, a third-party app promised to optimize the Android system but actually tricked people into transferring $1,000 from their PayPal accounts.

There's a recent trend of mobile ransomware, which often originates from malicious, third-party apps. Ransomware doesn't only affect computers, though. Even then, paying doesn't guarantee a return to proper functionality. To steal money Ransomware attacks cause headaches for computer users by making the affected machines lock up or holding files hostage until people pay the ransom to restore access. Even though US agencies know about the issue, they haven't taken decisive action to fix it, leaving Americans' phone privacy at risk.ģ. There's a flaw in US cellular exchange, the vulnerability known as SS7, which allows hackers to listen to calls, read texts, and see users' locations after learning their phone numbers. So, it's not surprising that criminals would want to break in and listen, whether to case a target or simply for voyeuristic pleasure. People use their phones to speak to loved ones, discuss business plans, talk about their travels-all manner of personal, intimate content. Often, it involved fully reinstalling the operating system. Although it's not clear what the hackers wanted to do after infecting the phones, the malware was particularly hard to remove. The phones had Trojan malware installed on them before they reached users, and the culprit appeared to be a software vendor in Shanghai that was a shared reseller for a brand of antivirus software. However, researchers showed that's what happened with more than three dozen Android models, typically from lesser-known brands.


They typically don't expect their phones to have malware out of the box. Many smartphone users assume they can stay safe from malware and other threats by installing antivirus apps on their phones and being extra careful about the websites they visit. Here are 10 reasons why they may be looking to hack your phone. However, in recent years, cybercriminals have expanded their repertoire to include smartphones, too. When people think of hacking, most imagine desktop computers, laptops, or perhaps even security cameras.
