Our smartphones are actually just small computers. And that means we need put the same effort into protecting our mobile phones as we do our PCs and our laptops. Hackers need only your cell number to eavesdrop on your phone. A security flaw in the cell exchange system can let hackers listen in on your phone calls. But while federal agencies have done little to fix the flaw, intelligence agencies are said to be still exploiting it.

In today’s mobile world, phone hacking is growing as a security issue. As people increasingly store sensitive data on their mobile devices, the opportunity to exploit privacy weaknesses becomes more tempting to unscrupulous frenemies, exes or the occasional stranger.

OTP hacking or OTP by-pass is the new trending topic for today generation. It basically executes with the help of trojan or malware which are install in android device. Android. Bankosy is a Trojan horse for Android devices that steals information from the compromised device. The disadvantage of this trojan is you have to install physically into victim mobile and this will work on android mobile only. This Trojan is able to crack them as the malware is able to intercept the codes, which forms a part of the two-factor authentication.

In a recent showcased bug bounty programme, it was really eye opening, like young boys have performed on how to hack the websites in just 1 minutes. You can buy various products from certain of the e-commerce sites, by just paying Rs.1. It is possible by just by-passing the OTP and payment gateway, where the vendor will understand that the payment has been made the customer. With this technique ethical hackers increases the sale of the security software products , solutions and their consultancy services. This market is very much promising. An independent survey also says, the number of hackers ( Ethical/non-ethical hackers) are increasing .

By exploiting the SS7 flaw, a hacker can hack someone’s Facebook account just by knowing the associated phone number. This flaw allows a hacker to divert the OTP code to his/her own phone and use it to access the victim’s Facebook account. Once they have access to the SS7 system, a hacker can essentially have access to the same amount of information and snooping capabilities as security services.

If you click the link in the message, the hacker can steal your information or install malware on the phone. Instant-messaging and other communications apps may contain security holes that allow hackers to snatch your personal data. If you have access to a cellular network, use it instead of public Wi-Fi.

Lastly, even if you keep your smartphone safe in your pocket or purse, it's still at risk for picking up a virus or leaking data to thieves. Hackers don't need physical access to your phone to steal your personal information or infect the device with malware. They infiltrate your phone with innocent-looking apps or link to it via unsecured Wi-Fi® networks. You can keep hackers from getting the upper hand by taking steps to secure your smartphone.