ALL ABOUT HACKERS.......Hackers need only phone numbers to track you

hehehe.....Hackers have again demonstrated that no matter how many security precautions someone takes, all a hacker needs to track their location and snoop on their phone calls and texts is their phone number.

The hack, first demonstrated by German security researcher, Karsten Nohl, in 2014 at a hacker convention in Hamburg, has been shown to still be active by Nohl over a year later for CBS’s 60 Minutes.

The hack uses the network interchange service called Signalling System No. 7 (SS7), also known as C7 in the United Kingdom or CCSS7 in the United States, which acts as a broker between mobile phone networks. When calls or text messages are made across networks, SS7 handles details such as number translation, SMS transfer, billing and other back-end duties that connect one network or caller to another.

By hacking into or otherwise gaining access to the SS7 system, an attacker can track a person’s location based on mobile phone mast triangulation, read their sent and received text messages, and log, record and listen into their phone calls, simply by using their phone number as an identifier.

Nohl, who is currently conducting vulnerability analysis of SS7 for several international mobile phone networks, demonstrated the hack for the CBS show. He tracked a brand new phone given to US congressional representative, Ted Lieu, in California from his base in Berlin using only its phone number. Nohl pinpointed Lieu’s movements down to districts within Los Angeles, read his messages and recorded phone calls between Lieu and his staff.

The biggest issue for consumers is that there is little they can do to safeguard against this kind of snooping, short of turning off their mobile phone, as the attack happens on the network side, regardless of the phone used.

Nohl said, “The mobile network is independent from the little GPS chip in your phone, it knows where you are. So, any choices that a congressman could have made, choosing a phone, choosing a pin number, installing or not installing certain apps, have no influence over what we are showing because this is targeting the mobile network. That, of course, is not controlled by any one customer.”

Hackers have proven that they can break into SS7, but security services, including the US National Security Agency, are also thought to use the system to track and snoop on target users.

• Source: Samuel Gibbs

Even if you keep your smartphone safe in your pocket or purse, it is still at risk for picking up a virus or leaking data to thieves. Hackers don’t need physical access to your phone to steal your personal information or infect the device with malware. They infiltrate your phone with innocent-looking apps or link it via unsecured Wi-Fi networks. However, you can keep hackers from getting the upper hand by taking the following steps to secure your smartphone:

Step 1

Lock your phone when you are not using it. Set a password and change it regularly to prevent others from guessing it. Lock patterns are an alternative if you have trouble remembering your password. Your phone may also have a facial-recognition lock feature. If this is on, the device unlocks only when the camera detects your face. Voice recognition is another option; with this turned on, your phone needs to hear your voice say a specific word or phrase to unlock.

 Step 2

Activate your phone’s tracker capability, if it has one. If your phone supports this feature, you can see its location on a map and track the device when it moves. If your phone is stolen or lost, use the tracker app to lock it remotely. This makes it harder for hackers to access your data.

 Step 3

Update your phone’s firmware to the most current version. Many phones do this for you automatically, but if you have turned this option off, you will need to download the update manually. You can download the latest update directly from your phone. Alternatively, connect your phone to the computer and launch the software that came with the device. The application will connect to the download Web page and install the firmware on your phone.

Step 4

Install apps on your phone only if they come from a trusted source, such as the manufacturer’s app store. Most official app stores verify the authenticity of their products, so they are much safer. Before downloading any app, read the description and reviews so you understand what you are getting.

 Step 5

Check an app’s permissions before installing it. If an app requests access to your personal information, do not install it, simply deny the request.

 Step 6

Avoid leaving your phone alone in a public place, such as on a restaurant table or on your office desk. If you must leave the phone, keep it locked and hide it somewhere, such as in a drawer, to prevent theft.

 Step 7

Delete text messages from unknown senders that ask for your information, and avoid clicking links in messages. Some hackers send messages that appear to be from your bank or another trusted source. If you click the link in the message, the hacker can steal your information or install malware on the phone. Do not download apps via text message; this is a common way for hackers to infect your device.

 Step 8

Access the Internet on your phone only from a secure Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi networks that aren’t secure allow nearby hackers to intercept your data when you get online. Don’t do any shopping or banking on a public Wi-Fi network; hackers can swipe your bank account number or other financial information. Instant-messaging and other communications apps may contain security holes that allow hackers to snatch your personal data. If you have access to a cellular network, use it instead of public Wi-Fi.

 Step 9

Protect your phone with an antivirus app. Check your phone’s app store to see what’s available for your device.