Smartphones are the most used gadgets in this era. These devices are very tech-savvy. We use these regularly and can’t live without them. But unfortunately, most of these smartphones can be hacked into spying on their owners.
Here are a list of Android devices that can be hacked:
- Samsung Galaxy S8+
- Samsung Galaxy S3
- Samsung Note 2
- Huawei P8 Lite
- Huawei Nexus 6P
- Google Pixel 2
- LG G3
- LG Nexus 5
- Motorola Nexus 6
- HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle
In recent times researchers have found fault in these popular Android devices. These devices can be exploited by giving information about the device’s owners by using Bluetooth and USB accessories.
The frangibility is in [AT]ention commands that are used to communicate with the baseband software in Android smartphones. Hackers can easily hack these devices through some intelligent processes to gain,
- IMEI and IMSI numbers
- Intercept calls
- Forward calls in another number
- Block the calling feature
- Killing internet access
How Hackers Can Spy On Device Owners?
The baseband processor (cellular modem) and application processor (AP) both are a very common thing in all kinds of smartphones. AP is a general-purpose processor whereas the baseband processor contains the implementation of the radio-related functionality for cellular connectivity.
As people are using their smartphones more frequently, hackers are focussing their activities on infecting smartphones rather than computers. In particular, mobile users with an infected phone can be identified and all his/her movements can be tracked. In this way, one’s phone calls and data sessions cannot remain private.
Researchers have found that many Android smartphones allow USB and Bluetooth accessories accessed to the baseband.
Syed Rafiul Hussain and his colleagues Imtiaz Karim, Omar Chowdhury, the security researchers will disclose their findings next month at a security conference.
Samsung and other OEMs responded
When Tech Crunch asked for an explanation, Google said that the problems shouldn’t arise in the Pixel devices owing to the latest security patches.
Meanwhile, Samsung decided to roll out a security patch for the mentioned devices. Huawei did not comment on the vulnerabilities yet.
AT commands has become a hotspot for hacking Android smartphones. Back in August, the research disclosed that millions of Android devices are susceptible to hacks from simple AT commands.
This is an invasion of privacy in the lives of the common people. Common people should be aware and avoid using these smartphones in their daily lives. Hackers can use the private information gathered in any desirable way they want which seems to impose a threat on the lives of the smartphone users around the globe. This kind of activity falls under the category of unethical hacking and is prohibited in most of the countries around the world. This kind of activity itself leads to bank-related cybercrime and most of the netizens fall victim to these kinds of cyber-crime.
Thus, in a nutshell, we can state, though cybercrime is strictly supervised by polices of the various country yet still global citizens need to be concerned about their safety especially in the field of internet banking.
