| ABOUT US | LOTTERY RESULTS | 5 NEWS BIOS | FIND US ON CABLE | FIRST BIRTHDAYS | FCC FILE | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY STATEMENT | CLOSED CAPTIONING COMPLAINT |
TV Listings
National News
Entertainment
Advertise
WETT Radio
Elections
Money
Food
Crime Watch
Monday's Most Wanted
How To Protect Your Phone From A Cyber Criminal
Written by Andrew Forgotch
Last updated on February 15, 2013 @ 6:49PM
Created on February 14, 2013 @ 6:21PM
Last Thursday 5 News had reported that cyber security experts have pegged 2013 as the year that criminals will set the record for the number of cases involving hacking into your cell phone.
As that trend continues more police departments are setting up special divisions to investigate those types of crimes.
"As advances in technology are more widely used we're seeing more crimes developing from them," Officer Jessica Colebank, with the Star City Police Department said. "People are very very smart."
Colebank should know that best because she's starting the digital forensics unit for her department.
"There's different programs, apps, and everything else," Colebank said. "There's something new coming out everyday."
When Colebank gets the unit up and running she's sure to be busy. That's because some cyber security experts said the cases involving cell phone attacks could topple one million in 2013.
"We have our lives on these phones," Roy Nutter, a Computer Science professor at West Virginia University, said. "We used to have our life on the desktop computer, then we kind of moved it to our laptops. "Now, it's on our smartphones."
Nutter also specializes in cyber security.
"It's probably not as easy to hack it (a cell phone) remotely. Although, there's a number of things you can do," Nutter said.
Nutter told 5 News that besides for holding the phone in their hands, there are three ways criminals can take the information off of your phone.
The first involves the connection you have with your phone carrier. Second, the wireless internet you use. Finally, the bluetooth you may use to connect your phone to another device.
"Everyone probably has WiFi at home," Nutter said. "I'm sure you connect your cell phone to your WiFi. If I'm anywhere on that network I can see your cell phone."
Nutter said you can turn most of those off in your phones settings. However, he said another problem people run into is that they install applications and visit websites that put their phones at risk.
"It's just like surfing the internet," Nutter said. "When you surf the internet, if you go to a bad website, you're going to download a Trojan on your computer. The same thing (applies) with your phone."
Nutter advised the best thing you can do to protect your phone is to turn is off, but he said that comes at a price.
"What good is a phone then," Nutter questioned. "Everything is a trade off. How far are you willing to go to not get attacked or hacked?
Experts have said you can also protect your phone with anti-virus software.
Nutter also suggested folks use a password to protect their phones.
Previous Story:
Share
Add your Comment
You must have an active WDTV.COM user account to post comments. Please login to your account, or create your free account today!
Comments (0)
