In the current digital age, the mobile phone has become an extension of the human body. This device, which accompanies us since we wake up until we fall asleep, is presented as a reliable ally that stores from intimate conversations to bank information. However, this trust relationship is precisely the weak point that cybercriminals take advantage of. Through increasingly sophisticated tactics they achieve Create apparently harmless digital environments in which the user feels safe and confident. It is there where the theft of data occurs, with the inadvertent consent of the victim that rarely suspects that his own phone can become his main threat.
Once located in this context, Many mobiles come with predetermined activated functions that facilitate the work of the attackers. Some such as the geolocation activated in the background offers information on user movements, which can be used for personalized attacks, with the user’s live location and the movements that are made. These adjustments, which are rarely reviewed by users, make the phone an easy and attractive target. In an environment where digital trust replaces conscious surveillance, the risk of being a victim of cyber attack becomes an increasingly close possibility.
In this sense, there is a generalized thought that is based on the generalized mantra of “are monitoring us”, and indeed, sometimes this feeling of persecution could find its origin in the functionalities that we have activated on the mobile. And these do not refer to hidden elements within the internal configuration of the phone, but precisely to the most frequent aspects such as Internet connection, or contact with wireless networks. Therefore, given the possibility of contracting viruses in the device or the entry of possible cybercriminals, it is pertinent to know this information.
Bluesnarfing: Be careful to have bluetooth activated
On the one hand, keeping the bluetooth permanently activated may seem a comfort for those who use wireless hearing aids or share files between devices, but represents an open door to cybercriminals. Through a technique known as Bluesnarfingattackers can access mobile confidential information without touching it. According to the National Cybersecurity Institute of Spain, it is enough that the device is visible and that the attacker is less than fifteen meters so that you can steal from photographs to access credentials. In places like coffee shops, airports or train stations, where the mobile concentration is high, the risk is triggered without the user noticed.
The symptoms of a possible attack include abnormal battery consumption, sudden blockages or unknown connections in Bluetooth’s history. Although many current devices have more robust defense systems, the outdated versions of the software or bad configuration can be left to the phone exposed. Experts recommend deactivating this function when not being used, especially away from home, to prevent the mobile from emitting signals that make it visible and vulnerable. Security, they say, does not depend only on the operating system, but also on the user’s habit.
The Wi-Fi connection: innocent digital danger
Another common but often ignored risk is to have the Wi-Fi activated when leaving home, an action that in many cases is carried out without being aware. But in this aspect, many devices have the functionality of automatically connecting to open public networks that the user has previously used, which facilitates access to the data transmitted. He modus operandi of cybercriminals They usually create false networks with names similar to those of legitimate premises for the phone to connect without the person warning it. Once inside, any data that passes through that connection, such as passwords, emails or bank information, can be intercepted.
The danger not only lies in the theft of information but also in the possibility that the device is infected with software spy. This type of malware It allows to follow the user movements, control their applications or even activate the microphone and camera. Cybersecurity specialists recommend Disable the Wi-Fi when leaving home, avoiding open-protected passwords And, if necessary, use a virtual private network (VPN) that encrypts communications. In an increasingly connected environment, digital caution becomes a fundamental barrier against unwanted surveillance.