Cybercriminals Target Smartphones To Hack And Hold Access: 10 Reasons Why

Read Time:8 Minute, 14 Second

With time and practice, people strive to be perfect. Humans endeavor to be highly productive since to excel at something is mortal ambition. And this is evident in the recent technology which has matured up and transformed up into something so advanced.

The age of Artificial Intelligence has taken over even the most basic responsibilities. All this is due to the constant development and incorporation of new changes into modern equipment.

And the security of any new development is, not to mention, always updated regularly. But, this does not guarantee protection from a breach.

Yes, with time, even the cybercriminals are developing their skills and are striving to perfect their stealth skills as well. Thus, the more the security, the sharper the craft of hacking.

Furthermore, they have extended their range to smartphones as well. So, the traditional definition which defines hacking as an unauthorized or unlawful intrusion into a network or a computer system is incomplete without the mention of mobile phones.

In this way, just as the loopholes are covered, the birth of potent techniques to breach them arises yet again.

However, something may bug you terribly regarding their motive behind it. You may be inquisitive about the delight they receive on intruding someone’s personal device.

Well, this article is all about that! With careful research and study, we now have the knowledge as to why cybercriminals target smartphones and want to hack it.

This absolute discussion holds the answers to all your questions. Therefore, stick through the entire piece in order to know what drives them.

10 Reasons Why Cybercriminals Target Smartphones

Obviously, the prime objective would never be something noble behind such a heinous act of holding access to someone else’s personal data.

The reason why cybercriminals hack smartphones is because it is an easy target. Also, the fact that there are plenty of people who use them is a factor which plays on their favor.

Furthermore, they have intentions to taint the device with malware and disrupt it internally. Doing this can leave the internal operations dysfunctional. At times, they take this measure in order to delete whatsoever is the content.

Moreover, they aim to track your communication as well. They intend to track your calls and the messages that you send and receive. Also, with the knowledge of the content within the device, they tend to resort to blackmailing which further leads to a complex racket.

However, without the vague transaction of words, let us delve directly into specific reasons. Each point holds detailed information for the users to be aware of.

Therefore, read the underlying reasons pregnant with information and know what drives them to do it. Also, be aware and keep the internal data safe.

To Defile it with Malware

Most of the smartphone users tend to assume naturally that the anti-virus programs are potent enough to keep malware away.

So, most install an application which claims to have the device secured. But, at times, this does not serve the purpose for which they are downloaded.

Now, this does not indicate the incompetence of the applications. In fact, it points to the fact that the cybercriminal’s art of deceiving technical security is far superior.

Also, people tend to be far careful with visiting certain websites as well. But, all these measures are actually futile if the hands of an expert hacker become involved.

However, at times, the lesser-known applications which claim to protect the system usually have the potential to defile your device entirely.

To Have Access to your Calls

The hackers have the power to eavesdrop on the phone calls you make. They record or know about the conversation that you have as well as the messages that you send and receive.

Now, be it an important business call or a simple and mundane discussion with your loved ones, they know the time and duration of all your calls.

One of the main reasons they hack into smartphones is because they would have easy access to the plans and intentions that you have in mind. Thus, they receive intimate information regarding any confidential report in your business or your intentions of traveling.

The users tend to be extremely vulnerable when hackers can read texts and listen to your personal conversation.

This is one of the reasons as to why cybercriminals target smartphones and want to hack it.

To Rob You!

Having access to all the smartphones says it all. A smartphone is something which holds personal data and information. And if the information is laid bare in front of a second person with immoral intentions, the person is in trouble financially.

The bank details and the e-wallets are in danger since they have an expert hand, not to mention, in manipulating the credentials as well.

And now, with such power over your money applications and the card details, your security is at stake.

The cybercriminals exploit every loophole, regardless of its degree, to suit their requirements. Such cases of cyber scamming and theft are frequently taking place.

Bribe and Blackmail

At times, all the cybercriminal desires to do is to trouble the users for his or her contents. Once they have access to their documents and media, they collect or delete it.

But, collecting them and then blackmailing for the money is what they find effective as well as profitable. In return for the personal information which the users want to be destroyed or simply want to possess, the cybercriminals resort to blackmailing the users.

Firstly, they make it inaccessible to the users to use their phones and reach their confidential information. The hackers possess it and then initiate their blackmail process in return for some money.

Cybercriminals target smartphones and want to hack it for such reasons as well.

So, the users are left with no choice but to bribe the hackers to hush up.

To Ruin the Phone both Internally and Externally

At times, hackers aim to access smartphones simply for the kicks of disrupting the device internally. And the users lay victim and object to their malicious operations.

They have the power to breach security and enter the processor of the phone and then employ it for the purpose of mining cryptocurrency.

Additionally, they do it in order to slow down the device and heat it up extremely so that it blows up!

Now, the life of the victim, too, is at stake. Also, there are some applications which function to maintain the temperature at a proper level making sure that the device remains cool.

But, if the hackers desire, they can easily manipulate those applications as well and make those programs ineffective.

To Endanger National Security

There are ample references to such cases when one made attempts to breach national security.

Analysts have pointed out that US President Donald Trump’s use of mobile devices which are insecure can assist foreign adversaries to accumulate information about the nation which could potentially threaten the entire country.

Another instance is when the personal phone of a Republican Congressman, Billy Long, was hacked. The cybercriminals had access to his Twitter account which they can compromise.

And it is one of the means through which the politicians share their ideas and interact with the masses and gain knowledge about their grievances.

So, apart from threatening the National interests, the hackers can taint the identity of the politicians with ease. They tend to post fake information or defile some other politician before the sight of millions.

One can tarnish anything without any problem but it takes time to establish a popular noble identity.

And the audience receives fake information and hollow promises with the involvement of the hacker’s hands.

For Basic Pleasures and to Maintain Notoriety

While there are complex reasons for which hackers and cybercriminals strive to perfect their craft of hacking, there exist some mundane reasons as well.

Some receive the delight of joy simply by annoying and perplexing the masses. And without portraying their identity, they take the guise of someone else and conduct malpractices.

This lot, basically, does such acts just for the kicks. And one can guess that the cybercriminal most probably belongs to a certain age group below 20.

For them, they draw joy since they perceive it as a source of entertainment.

To Receive Payment Information

Like one of the earlier points, the hackers tend to receive information about transactions and the payments made.

They become aware of the amount that has been transferred along with the place they were spent. So, basically, the whereabouts of the person is known to the hackers now.

And in this way, they can also track down his dwelling with complete ease. Therefore, cybercriminals target smartphones and want to hack it for receiving vital payment information.

Therefore, personal information no longer remains close to the individual. It spreads to a second person who can use it to suit his purposes.

Plenty of Users

The fact that plenty of people possess smartphones acts as a positive point for hackers.

They can now have a major impact provided the number of smartphones to target. A total of 95% of people are the owners of smartphones. Now, that is a piece of good news for some smartphone-targeting hacker.

And with this aspect, there have been many cyber crimes which so many people have encountered.

In this way, they victimize people and blackmail them as well.

A Super Easy Target

Smartphones are an extremely easy target for the cybercriminals to execute their attack.

Research has shown that mobile applications have major security issues. And the cybercriminals use this fact to serve their purposes.

Wrapping Up

You have just read the reasons as to why cybercriminals target smartphones and want to hack it. This article aims to deliver information reading which you must be aware and therefore, make sure to take measures for protection.