IPHONE and Android owners are being warned of three locations where they could be vulnerable to a cyber attack.
According to experts at cybersecurity firm NordVPN, fraudsters have had to get more creative with their attacks in recent years – which means taking advantage of people when they least expect it.
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Cyber criminals can use electromagnetic signals to simulate movements like tapping to unlock smartphones, TechRadar first reported.
This method, called GhostTouch, allows hackers to unlock a phone without snatching it from your bag or pocket.
They can use it to access sensitive data such as passwords and even banking apps.
All an attacker needs is to be nearby, which is inevitable in this trio of unexpected places where cyber attacks are becoming more likely.
“Unfortunately, the most common places for touchscreen hacking are public places like libraries, cafes, or conference lobbies, where people place their smartphones face-down on the table,” said Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN.
“The attackers prepare the equipment under the table in advance and launch the attack remotely.
“The user may not even notice that their gadget has been hacked.”
Anywhere you connect to a public Wi-Fi network can put you and your iPhone or Android at risk, the FBI has previously warned.
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You don’t know how secure public Wi-Fi networks are, or who may be watching.
So it’s best to limit what you’re doing on a public Wi-Fi, or use a VPN app so that your web traffic is encrypted.
Places that host free charging ports can also become hotbeds for malware and make unsuspecting tech users a victim of “juice-jacking”.
“Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels, or shopping centres,” the FBI has advised.
“Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices that access these ports.
“Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead.”
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