Norton Hacked
Florence Rocle
If you suddenly see a surge of pop-up ads, unfamiliar apps on your phone, or a rapidly draining battery, you might be justified in thinking that your phone has been hacked. Learn to recognize the warning signs of phone hacking, and get rock-solid protection with Norton 360 Deluxe.
Phone hacking is any form of unauthorized access to a phone. Hackers may monitor calls, messages, and data usage, or install malicious software to steal personal information like passwords and credit card details.
If you experience an abundance of inappropriate or annoying pop-ups, you might unknowingly have become the victim of phone hacking. Flashy ads or inappropriate content popping up on your phone is a potential indication of a compromised device.
While some phones come pre-installed with apps you may not recognize (often called bloatware), these are usually from the manufacturer or carrier and are generally harmless. However, if you discover unfamiliar apps on your phone that you didn't download, it could be a red flag for several reasons:
Imagine you typically get a full day's use out of your phone on a single charge. Then suddenly, your phone starts dying within a few hours with minimal usage. That could be a sign that hidden malware is running in the background, trying to transmit stolen data or perform other malicious tasks.
You should always be careful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, and investigate any apps you download on your phone. But what other potential attack surfaces can hackers exploit? Here are some other ways to help you keep your phone safe:
For added protection, get Norton 360 Deluxe. Built around an industry-leading antivirus engine, Norton 360 Deluxe will help block hackers and keep malware off your device. Plus, it features a built-in VPN to encrypt your internet connection and help you stay safer on public Wi-Fi.
Hackers compromise smartphones to access personal information or communications, often exploiting or selling what they find. Some might aim to steal your identity and use your information for financial gain or fraud. Others might target sensitive messages or images to use for blackmail.
Putting your phone in safe mode helps block hackers from accessing your phone, because it isolates the core system apps and disables recently installed apps. Make sure to review your downloads and uninstall anything suspicious.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. Our offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about Cyber Safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses. The Norton and LifeLock brands are part of Gen Digital Inc.
You should habitually review your Wi-Fi activity logs to check for unfamiliar IP addresses that are using your internet. This could be an indication someone has unauthorized access to your network and could be silently siphoning any information they can find without triggering any alerts.
Fake antivirus notifications, also known as scareware, alert you of a virus installed onto your device and pressure you to download an antivirus solution to destroy it. Though sometimes convincing, these are false advertisements. Hackers lace these downloads with malicious software capable of compromising your router and internet connection.
Remote management allows people to connect to their router from remote locations. Though convenient for people traveling or working remotely, having this level of open access could potentially put your network at risk for session hijacking or browser hijacking.
If you experience a hacked router paired with other crimes, such as identity theft and banking fraud, you should contact the authorities immediately. There is a high chance a cybercriminal used the information stolen from breaking into your router to carry out these crimes.
Many routers come with the ability to automatically install firmware updates when they become available. This can help ease the fear of having your internet and router hacked by a cybercriminal with too much time on their hands.
As mentioned, remote management allows you to access your router from anywhere with a working computer. Though convenient for you, hackers can easily misuse this feature to break into your private network and information. This is why we suggest disabling remote access altogether.
An SSID is what you see when you connect a new device to your internet. These come as default for most routers, but you should change them once you set them up in your home. Hackers can use a default SSID to identify service providers. They then look on the dark web for stolen credentials and use credential stuffing and password spraying attacks to compromise your router and network.
This leads to our last router hacking protection tip, which is to download trusted antivirus software like Norton 360 Deluxe. Instead of analyzing every email for potentially harmful links or files, your antivirus software can help take care of it for you. Along with sending you alerts when threats arise, it also works to clean your system of the intruder.
Since the news about NortonLifeLock being hacked by the ransomware gang was shared online, threat analyst Brett Callow shared another Tweet stating that Cl0p listed NortonLifeLock, along with over 80 other companies, on their Darknet leak page.
While it is not entirely clear which specific MOVEit vulnerability was exploited in this Norton LifeLock breach, The Cyber Express reported three main vulnerabilities exploited in the MOVEit incident.
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a $10 million reward for anyone providing actionable intelligence on the Cl0p ransomware group.
The $10 million reward incentivizes individuals with information that could link the Cl0p ransomware group or any other malicious cyber actors targeting US critical infrastructure to a foreign government.
While the exact extent of the damage caused by the cyberattack is still being assessed, the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies and the significant reward offered provide hope in the ongoing battle against cybercrime and ransomware attacks.
Media Disclaimer: This report is based on internal and external research obtained through various means. The information provided is for reference purposes only, and users bear full responsibility for their reliance on it. The Cyber Express assumes no liability for the accuracy or consequences of using this information.
Suhail Khalid is a cybersecurity professional with a Master of Science in Information Technology (Cyber Security). With a passion for ensuring robust information security practices, Suhail brings extensive expertise to his role at the Dubai Electronic Security Center.
As a Lead Auditor ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security certified professional, Suhail has demonstrated proficiency in implementing and managing information security management systems (ISMS). His meticulous approach to auditing ensures compliance with the ISR controls and related information security best practices , providing organizations with the assurance needed to safeguard their sensitive data.
With over 8 years of experience as an ISR (Information Security Regulation) auditor, Suhail has played a pivotal role in assessing and enhancing the security posture of various government entities. His in-depth understanding of regulatory requirements enables him to effectively evaluate and mitigate cybersecurity and information security risks, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and standards.
Eng. Dina Al.Salamen is the Vice President and Head of Cyber and Information Security. She has worked for international organizations including Arab Bank and Bank ABC for more than 17 years. Recently, she has been selected to be part of EC-Council International Advisory Board (CISO Program).
She also gives keynote speeches on cybersecurity and has a genuine love for innovative technologies such as blockchain, big data, and artificial intelligence. She took part in a number of international conferences, including LEAP 2024 in Riyadh, Blackhat MEA 2023 in Riyadh, MENA Cyber Security Summit in Riyadh, and GISEC 2023 in Dubai.
She has been specializing in information security for more than 20 years now and her experience is augmented by several leadership roles in both public and private sectors, including Financial, Telecom, Public Sector, Consulting firm, Energy sector and other State-owned entities. She
Sithembile is also a mentor, international speaker and serving as an advisory board member. She is passionate about cybersecurity and enabling organisations to achieve their business objectives in a secure manner to fulfil their mandates. Besides her extensive experience in other information/cyber security domains, she has also played a pivotal role in defining and implementing robust information security strategies to protect organisations against the increased attack surface, in support of the swift digital migration initiatives and hybrid mode of working, including artificial intelligence and machine learning.
In her current capacity, she is responsible for developing Standards and Policies related to Cyber Security in alignment with the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy. Having worked in various government and federal entities in the UAE, Irene has contributed to Cybersecurity strategic planning and mapping of local standards against international standards.