There are a lot of recent trends that suggest the mobile phone may soon replace PCs. First off, mobile phones are much more convenient to use, because of their smaller size. Secondly, the phone can access the web from anywhere if it receives a data signal, while the computer can only access the Internet via WiFi. Smartphones are also substantially less expensive than laptops, so they’re far more likely to be given as gifts. Unfortunately, all the endorsements for smartphones also make them easier targets for criminals, because they’re so easy to conceal. However, smartphones can also leave the owner at risk without ever leaving their sides. Learn about the potential threats of mobile monitor apps.
Mobile Monitoring: Theft by Deception
People absolutely love public WiFi hotspots for several understandable reasons. Most cell phone plans have a limited amount of monthly data, and using the WiFi hotspot permits them to surf the web without relying upon their own signal. These hot spots are also faster than many data signals, so they’re better for streaming videos and downloading music. However, using a public WiFi hotspot puts the phone’s owner at risk for identity theft every time they log on. This is because there are thieves who only need to access the same network to see exactly what everyone else is doing.
Mobile Monitoring: Interceptor NG
Google actually permits this malicious app to exist in their Play Store, and anyone with a rooted device can also find it at a number of different sites. Interceptor is a black market app that is actually illegal to install in a number of different instances. However, that does not deter a determined cyber thief. Interceptor works by attaching any rooted Android device to the IP addresses of the other devices on the same network. This mobile monitoring software is extremely dangerous, and the only way to tell if someone is using it to spy on a device is by using it as well. This is is why it’s difficult to charge people with a crime for having the app because they can claim they need it for protection. Interceptor NG is as dangerous as a loaded gun, and it’s used to steal from unsuspecting people. However, it’s by no means the only way to spy on mobiles.
Another dangerous app is dSploit. This application is less useful at actually spying on people, but it can be used by thieves in a different way. This application has the ability to shut down a WiFi hotspot by blocking people from accessing the web. When people see the hotspot at their favourite coffee house isn’t permitting them to go online, they may begin to check the signal strength. A crafty thief can then target everyone at once by setting up a fake hotspot with the same name. This is known as wireless tethering, and thousands of people have their information stolen that way.
The Dangers of Tethering
Most newer cell phones have the ability to tether, which means they can create their own hotspots by broadcasting the data signal. The phone’s owner can even name the hotspot anything at all. So, for example, people who regularly visit Joe’s Coffee Shop may be disappointed when they see that the “Joe’s Coffee” hotspot isn’t working properly. However, a thief can also rename his or her hotspot “Joe’s Coffee” and both will show up when mobile device users check for available hotspots. People will naturally try the second hotspot when the dSploit keeps them from using the first one. Once they connect to the bogus hotspot, all of their information can be stolen at once. This makes it far more dangerous than Interceptor NG’s ability to seek out a single victim. Some more tech-savvy people will avoid public WiFi hotspots altogether, because of the potential risks. However, thieves are even able to target their victims within their homes.
The most sinister of all the mobile monitor technologies has to be the black market app Penetrate Pro. Most people who avoid using public WiFi feel comfortable using their own hotspots at home. This is because private WiFi hotspots are secured with passwords. These codes can be extremely difficult to guess, and they give people a false sense of security. Penetrate Pro is another rooted device app that permits a thief to hack into nearly anyone’s WiFi network, regardless of how strong their password is. Fortunately, there are steps that people can take to protect themselves from determined thieves.
Protection From a Mobile Spy
The first thing people should do is stop using their credit cards to shop online. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no way to safely do it — not even from home. Secondly, everyone should sign up for some type of eWallet that will protect them from online thieves. The most popular version of an eWallet is PayPal, the online service which already accounts for one in five eCommerce transactions.
PayPal makes online shoppers immune to cyber terrorists through an ingenious system. PayPal never uses the purchaser’s personal account to transfer funds. Instead, the service has a separate account from which it sends funds to online merchants. The service will check the purchaser’s account to verify they have sufficient funds. PayPal then transfers funds from a separate account to the online merchant. The funds are then transferred from the purchaser’s account to PayPal’s account. The online retailer is never given access to the purchaser’s account and neither are cyber thieves. Users can even link a credit card to their PayPal account and shop online without the risk of having their information stolen.
|Learn More: The Scary Reality of Online Privacy|