We live in an age where technology affords us expediency. Technology gives us the privilege of doing almost any personal or business activity ' quickly and with ease ' at home, at work or on the go. As much as we appreciate the many ways that technology works in our favor, hackers are just as busy trying to figure out the weakest link in electronic devices and systems behind the scenes. Their aim is to steal your identity, your money, your business and your life. Any information that they can glean from your devices opens up access to even more of your assets for them to take or hold for ransom. The latest target is something that many people use every day ' their cellular mobile telephones.
The numbers of phone hijackings are rising as hackers are figuring out who their prime targets are. About 1,038 consumers reported that someone stole their phone number in 2013, as compared with an increase to 2,658 incidents in 2016.
Phone hijackers are most interested in people who regularly use virtual currency like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash, Peercoin, Dogecoin and Primecoin.
Once hackers transfer your number to their phone, they look for accounts that use your cell phone number as part of a two-factor identification process, such as your Google and social media accounts. From there, all they have to do is click on the link that they forgot their password and change it to a new password of their own choosing.
If all of your electronic devices shut down and restart automatically, it could be a red flag that a hacker stole your phone number.
Once a hacker takes possession of your phone number, they can hold it for ransom. Victims have come forth with reports of hackers holding their emails for ransom, threatening them with the release of embarrassing photos or explicit details of a sexual nature.
Virtual currency is a hot commodity for hackers for two reasons ' the transactions can't be reversed and the transactions take place anonymously. When banks and brokerage firms transfer funds, they can easily reverse fraudulent transactions if they catch them in short order. With virtual currency, banks and governments have no way of interfering in a transaction gone wrong, so there is no way to reclaim the funds after they've been stolen. Anonymity and irreversibility make the hacker's job easy.
Cellular service providers need to put stronger security measures in place. Complex PINs, and perhaps new technologies, will lead to reducing the incidences of cell phone hijacking.
Another idea that came forth from customer victims was for companies to delay transferring money on accounts where the password was recently changed.
Remote wiping is a security feature that allows a network administrator to delete data on an electronic device remotely. When the cell phone hijacker tries to connect to the Internet, the device erases everything on the board portal.
A security feature like remote wiping safeguards your investment reports, earnings statements, emails and other data regarding governance and compliance.
Today, they are after people who regularly use virtual currency, but tomorrow they may have found a different, viable target. They've already tapped into the accounts of some famous and notable people, which means that other high-profile people like politicians, journalists and celebrities could be next on their hit list.
Cellular phone providers and virtual currency companies should be forewarned that their customers are vulnerable. They could and should be doing more to protect them. As they seek to find ways to make their systems secure from criminal activity, hackers will be working to stay a step ahead of them to bypass or overcome newer and more advanced cybersecurity measures.
Remote wiping works to protect data before it has been stolen. Board directors can't be too cautious with their board's sensitive information. Board portal services that offer remote wiping services give board directors peace of mind in knowing that their board business remains secure.
Cell Phone Hijackings Are on the Rise
Cell phones were quite large and heavy when they were first introduced, and the race was on for competitors to make them smaller. As electronics manufacturers developed smaller phones, theft risk increased. Today, not only do consumers have to worry about their electronic devices being stolen, hackers have now figured out how to transfer your phone number to one of their own devices, which is known as phone number hijacking.The numbers of phone hijackings are rising as hackers are figuring out who their prime targets are. About 1,038 consumers reported that someone stole their phone number in 2013, as compared with an increase to 2,658 incidents in 2016.
Phone hijackers are most interested in people who regularly use virtual currency like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dash, Peercoin, Dogecoin and Primecoin.
Hackers Find Weak Links with Phone Companies
Hackers have found that mobile numbers are quite easy to steal. Once they know your cell phone number, they contact your phone service provider and ask them to transfer your number to their own cellular phone. If the agent won't comply, the hacker gives them a pitiful tale or tells them it's an emergency. If the agent still won't complete the request, the hacker calls the phone company continually until they get a gullible agent.Once hackers transfer your number to their phone, they look for accounts that use your cell phone number as part of a two-factor identification process, such as your Google and social media accounts. From there, all they have to do is click on the link that they forgot their password and change it to a new password of their own choosing.
If all of your electronic devices shut down and restart automatically, it could be a red flag that a hacker stole your phone number.
Who and What Are the Prime Targets for Cell Phone Hackers?
Cell phone hackers are generally looking on social media for people who brag about using virtual currency, especially people who are venture capitalists. Many prominent people have been victimized, including Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson and the chief technologist of the Federal Trade Commission.Once a hacker takes possession of your phone number, they can hold it for ransom. Victims have come forth with reports of hackers holding their emails for ransom, threatening them with the release of embarrassing photos or explicit details of a sexual nature.
Virtual currency is a hot commodity for hackers for two reasons ' the transactions can't be reversed and the transactions take place anonymously. When banks and brokerage firms transfer funds, they can easily reverse fraudulent transactions if they catch them in short order. With virtual currency, banks and governments have no way of interfering in a transaction gone wrong, so there is no way to reclaim the funds after they've been stolen. Anonymity and irreversibility make the hacker's job easy.
Cellular Service Providers Have Weak Security
Another issue that makes things easier for cell phone number hackers is the weakness of cellular phone service providers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Automation and human error create security gaps that lead to unauthorized cell phone number transfers. Customers can request cell phone agents to add extra security measures to their cell phone accounts; however, cell phone provider agents must make judgment decisions on every customer service call.Cellular service providers need to put stronger security measures in place. Complex PINs, and perhaps new technologies, will lead to reducing the incidences of cell phone hijacking.
Role of Virtual Currency Companies
Customers and victims want virtual currency companies to take action to help protect their accounts. Many feel that virtual currency companies should be issuing alerts to their customers about incidents of customer phone number hijacking and stolen accounts. Some companies are advising that their customers should disconnect their phone numbers from their virtual currency accounts as a safety measure.Another idea that came forth from customer victims was for companies to delay transferring money on accounts where the password was recently changed.
Benefit of Remote Wiping as a Solution for Board Members
More and more boards are using board portals so that they can conduct board business on the go from their mobile devices. A mobile number hijacker who gains control of a board director's number might gain access to the board's portal, where the hacker can access documents, sensitive information and funds.Remote wiping is a security feature that allows a network administrator to delete data on an electronic device remotely. When the cell phone hijacker tries to connect to the Internet, the device erases everything on the board portal.
A security feature like remote wiping safeguards your investment reports, earnings statements, emails and other data regarding governance and compliance.
Remote Wiping Keeps Board Information Safe and Secure
The rise of cell phone number hijacking may indicate that we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. Where hackers have found profit, they are inclined to continue fine-tuning their criminal behavior to affect even more people.Today, they are after people who regularly use virtual currency, but tomorrow they may have found a different, viable target. They've already tapped into the accounts of some famous and notable people, which means that other high-profile people like politicians, journalists and celebrities could be next on their hit list.
Cellular phone providers and virtual currency companies should be forewarned that their customers are vulnerable. They could and should be doing more to protect them. As they seek to find ways to make their systems secure from criminal activity, hackers will be working to stay a step ahead of them to bypass or overcome newer and more advanced cybersecurity measures.
Remote wiping works to protect data before it has been stolen. Board directors can't be too cautious with their board's sensitive information. Board portal services that offer remote wiping services give board directors peace of mind in knowing that their board business remains secure.
