How Safe Are Smart Phones?By Sean Breslin

Can We Trust Our Phones?

Our cell phone, for most of us, is always by our side

If it is always with us, does that mean it deserves our trust?

We shouldn’t trust such a device no matter how often we may need it. We now need to take preemptive strikes in order to defend ourselves from our phones.

Smart Phone (Mobile) Operating Systems

Apple iOS 6 and 7

Android Jellybean

Microsoft Windows MOS

Process To Publish an App

Itunes VS Google Play

24 hours to get proper Certifications

1 hour to complete certifications

Numerous checks for security and compatibility

Checked during hour long process

Hard to make, Extremely hard to publish

Hard to make,VERY EASY TO PUBLISH

Apple

Apple only lets you download applications and content that has been preapproved

Content from online can’t be downloaded

Apps found online can’t be downloaded

Android

Android allows any video, link, app, or program to be downloaded

Unidentified developers applications will download without a hassle

This allows for anyone to make a potentially harmful application

Mobile App Hacking

This is a fairly uncommon style of hacking but it is highly effective and when done right can access an unbelievable amount of information

This process is done by a developer making a bogus app that the user thinks is a game or utility, when really it is a gateway for a hacker

App Hacking continued

Once a user has downloaded an app, the developer now has full access to you phone

This doesn’t just mean they have access to your phone, this means they can also remotely control it

This is easy to do on android because you can download almost anything to an android device, where an apple has to many checks for faulty applications to be downloadable

Most Common Style Of Cell Hacking

The most common form of cellular phone hacking is data transfer interception

This is where a hacker intercepts all outgoing and incoming calls, texts, and even data from browsing

This Process is most commonly completed with a femtocell

Femtocell

A femtocell is a wireless network extender

Can be bought at best buy or online for $100-$300

The wireless network extender is compromised and turned into a controllable cell phone tower

Once compromised, it allows the hacker to view any information going in and out of the tower

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-l51HFaUm4

How to fight back

To best fight off an attack, a user should download mobile security software

The mobile software can be incorporated into your settings but more often is an application on your phone

Most Common Security Applications

1. McAfee Mobile Security 2.0

2. Bitdefender

3. F-Secure Mobile Security 7.6

These apps will scan pages and browsers to detect any potentially harmful links or pages

Conclusion

Be careful of what you put in your phone

Almost always assume that you aren't the only one viewing these messages or calls

If it seems shady, It probably is for a good reason

What did we learn?

It is better to spend a small amount on mobile security software now, than to spend thousands trying to get vital information back