In today’s hyper-connected era, our mobile phones are an ingrained part of our lives, and whether we are socializing on social media or at work, we are most often glued to our phones 24/7, including in the washroom. But what may, at first glance, seem harmless, is carrying severe risks, including hygiene and cybersecurity implications. In fact, over 2.5 million users worldwide have had their innocent photos private or otherwise invasion of privacy, leaked, and they went viral because their phones entered the washroom with them.
The Concealed Cybercrime Hazard
You may ask, how can one engage in cybercrime with a phone in the restroom? The fact of the matter is, many public and unencrypted Wi-Fi networks have already been compromised in various places such as shopping centers, restaurants, and, in fact, restrooms. Once hackers have access to these networks, they can now obtain unauthorized access to your phone, browse its files, and search for your most sensitive data, which can include critical personal images, passwords, and banking information.
Cybercriminals use malware and other forms of malicious software, often without your knowledge, to tap into your device. The malware can allow them access to your phone's camera, microphone, or file storage, permitting the new-found control of your device to exploit the private photographs or videos. In fact, many individuals only discover that they have become victims once the personal material has been distributed online, and the violation has already occurred—it's typically at this point the extent of the damage can be experienced.
Real Examples of Pictures Being Leaked
It appears that the number of incidents in which cybercriminals steal pictures from people's phones has increased markedly in recent years. People in the spotlight as well as ordinary people have become targets of being hacked in this manner. Once your private property is made public on the internet, it's almost impossible to take it back. Pictures of a former partner may be used against you for emotional manipulation or to damage reputations. In some cases, the person who hacked the phone may engage in blackmail.
I have also dealt with a few cases involving people who lost control of their private pictures due to the lack of phone hygiene. In these engagement circumstances, individuals make phones available during their most vulnerable times, like leaving the phone out while using the bathroom or accessing a sketchy wifi network.
How to Stay Safe
Avoid Public Wi-Fi: This is one of the easiest ways to protect your phone. If you must use public Wi-Fi networks, always use a VPN program to automatically encrypt the data that transfers to/from public Wi-Fi.
Lock Your Apps: App lock features prohibit bypass access to photo galleries and even sensitive applications. You should prevent access to your content on your device, even if somebody picks up and physically has access to your phone.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings: You should avoid leaving your phone sitting anywhere. Leaving your phone unattended produces its own set of issues whether it be the restroom, public bench, or any place when simply it is abandoned, anywhere.
Update Your Software Regularly: Many online crimes occur based on old software. Get into the habit of working to minimize security vulnerabilities by updating your phone's operating system and apps.
Turn off Camera/Microphone: Pay attention to the camera and microphone requests apps ask. Many times, apps do not need access to your camera and microphone capabilities. You may want to only allow trusted applications of data when requesting access to your device's camera and microphone.
Conclusion
The benefits of using your phone inside a washroom do not outweigh the drawbacks. In this rapidly changing cyber world, with hackers becoming savvier and savvier, digitally protecting your privacy is crucial. A few easy precautions may protect your data and photos from being compromised. Once you publish your private information or pictures online, there is never a way to undo the damage.
Be safe and always ask yourself where and how you are using your phone.
#CyberSecurity #PrivacyProtection #DataSafety #PhoneHygiene #CyberCrime #OnlineSafety #DigitalPrivacy #StaySafeOnline #SecureYourPhone
Written by Er. Anveeksh Mahesh Rao
Cyber Security Specialist and Educator
Comments