I'm a professional hacker - and these are the 5 things that would allow me to crack into your smartphone within SECONDS

Daily Mail ^ | 12/02/23 | Wiliam Hunter

[Libloather]

**SNIP**

1. Using out-of-date software

Keiran told MailOnline that one of the first things he and other hackers look for when preparing an attack is out-of-date software.

'Out-of-date software is a really big issue because, if the software has been updated, it's probably because there is a security issue', he explained.

Software, whether it is the operating system of your iPhone or the control system for a factory, often has some sort of vulnerability.

While these can quickly fixed by developers, they are also often shared online through forums and hacker communities.

If you haven't updated your software to include the fix, Keiran explains, 'people can get in and steal really sensitive information and even sometimes take control of the software.'

The vulnerabilities can take many different forms and allow criminals to cause serious disruption for companies and individuals.

These attacks are often opportunistic as criminal groups scan online archives for out-of-date versions of software.

Keiran says the recent crippling hack on the British Library was likely to have been an opportunistic attack of this kind

To keep safe online, Keiran says you should 'always ensure that your software is up to date.'

2. Reusing passwords

Another common way that hackers get hold of your personal data, according to Keiran, is by exploiting reused passwords.

Keiran told MailOnline: 'No matter what site you're giving information to you, you don't know what they're going to do with that information or how they're going to protect it.'

He says that the big risk of re-using passwords is that if even one site you use is compromised, it can give hackers access to all of your accounts.

'As soon as a company is breached there's usually a big database dump that gets put on the darkweb,' Keiran said.

[Vaduz]

I miss pay phones and pagers less problems.

[Man from Oz]

I have been using a similar program called Keeper.

[OldCountryBoy]

Thanks! Good info.

[daniel1212]

Not malevolent, but https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrosoftEdge/comments/oplptl/why_did_microsoft_power_automate_extension_just/

[daniel1212]

Which Password Managers Have Been Hacked? https://password-managers.bestreviews.net/faq/which-password-managers-have-been-hacked/

[daniel1212]

I have our Galaxy A53 set to only use home Xfinity wireless from a small modem, no Wifi, no hotspots, and yet I can stay connected for blocks in our city, even around a corner with a brick building in the way. Seems suspicious.

[apostoli]

ALL my pwds are on my computers/iPad/iPhones... put them in an Excel file password protected... it’s encrypted and unless your ‘dealing’ with a professional supercomputing agency trying to break your pwd, you are safe.

[RideForever]

He says that the big risk of re-using passwords is that if even one site you use is compromised, it can give hackers access to all of your accounts.

Wait 'til you're 70 and try to remember all your 'current' passwords.

[KevinB]

Which Password Managers Have Been Hacked?

Thanks for posting that. Glad to see that RoboForm has fared pretty well.

[Candor7]

Well, it would be nice , I have a little chore......

[sauropod]

.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Bfl

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

'Don't click on dodgy links'

I've always wondered...is copying the URL in a link then pasting it into the address bar of a browser the same thing as clicking on it?. Someone told me it is not and the clicking action is what the hackers need.