Be careful when using chargers and public WiFi outside!

Outdoor chargers and public WiFi networks can pose major security risks to mobile devices. Spyware can be installed on phones and mobile devices without realizing it, and personal information can be compromised.

Drawing attention to what needs to be done to protect mobile devices from spyware, Cyber Security Specialist Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that "We should use our own charger or powerbank. As much as possible, we should take care to use our own mobile data or our home's Internet service without connecting to the WiFi network of places such as cafes."

Üsküdar University Cyber Security Master's Program Head Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol evaluated the security risk posed by outdoor chargers and public WiFi networks to mobile devices.

Malware can be installed on your devices

Stating that chargers used outdoors can install malware on mobile devices, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol expressed that "These devices continue to charge your device in order not to attract suspicion; however, they perform other operations in the background. This malware can send documents on your device to an address, allow someone remotely to control your device, listen to your communications, and save the passwords you enter and send them to the hacker."

How to install spyware on phones via chargers or WiFi networks?

Noting that the most effective of the known methods is that the charger introduces itself as a USB keyboard, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that "When the keyboard is plugged in, the devices usually do not ask for confirmation from the user, they recognize the keyboard immediately. The keyboard, as it is known, is one of the most important input devices used to enter commands on the device. After the device introduces itself as a keyboard, it starts to run commands that will install malicious software as if the keys were pressed from the keyboard. It installs the malware needed on your mobile device using the person's own mobile data. While doing this, it uses command-line options to suppress user interaction, that is, it does it in the background so that it does not ask for approval from the mobile phone user. Of course, so that the user is not aware of what is going on."

What can happen when connecting to WiFi services in public areas?

Drawing attention to the use of WiFi in common areas, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that "When connecting to WiFi services in common areas such as cafes, the hacker's network adapter can pretend to be a WiFi access point and listen to all the traffic of your device with a man-in-the-middle attack and capture your critical information such as passwords."

The bank account can be emptied!

Drawing attention to the security risks that may be encountered when using mobile banking applications on a device loaded with spyware, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol stated that "There is a risk that the money in the bank account of the victim person will be sent to other accounts by capturing the password to log in to the Internet banking and sending it to a pirate, and sending the SMS, which is a second security mechanism, to a pirate by the malware installed on the victim's smartphone. In other words, your account can be emptied.”

Use your own Powerbank!

Explaining the best methods of safely charging your phone and connecting to the Internet outside, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said that "It is recommended that you use your own charger, carry your own powerbank, or borrow it from someone you know. Of course, it is not that all chargers in common access places contain malicious hardware/software in this way, maybe more than 90 percent of them do not, but it is important to be aware of the risk taken."

How can we tell if we have spyware on our phone?

Pointing out the symptoms that indicate that there is spyware on the phone, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol said that "The performance of the smartphone/device suddenly decreases and starts to react later than normal. Your battery drains noticeably sooner than usual. Increased data usage in a way that is contrary to your use of the Internet (as a result of malware sending information to the outside or downloading additional malware from outside). Seeing apps and interfaces you have not installed. Overheating of your device even though you are not actively using your device and you are not charging it at that time. Random switching off and on of the device. The device starts to take longer to turn off than usual. During phone calls, some strange beeping-like sounds can be heard in the background.”

What precautions should we take to protect phones from spyware?

Drawing attention to what needs to be done to protect against spyware, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Şenol concluded his remarks as follows: "We should pay attention to the e-mails that were send, focus on the e-mail address next to the sender's name, and not run the attachments unless we are very sure. Some specially made videos, PDF files shared on social media programs, when you open them, can install malware on your device by taking advantage of the vulnerability of the software on your smart device. Attention must be paid as selective as possible in this regard. We must use our own charger or powerbank. As much as possible, we should take care to use our own mobile data, or our home's Internet service without connecting to the WiFi network of places such as cafes. We must download the applications that we are going to install on our device (such as the banking application) from the official application center of our device (Play Store for Android, App Store for IOS). We should not enter pirated web sites from our mobile device. We should not jailbreak our mobile. We have to be careful about the app permissions we give to the apps we install."

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)