How to stay protected from screen hacking

by James · January 20, 2023

Anyone who connects to the internet is at risk of cyber attacks, hacking and scams that will rip you off. Everyone knows that there is an inherent risk, but it is not always easy to detect a hacking attempt. Millions of routers are at risk of hacking thanks to this bug.

Most people are familiar with phishing scams, where criminals encourage you to click on a malicious link to steal your details. There are also government agency impersonators who make it their goal to steal your money.

But there is another form of hacking that few people know about. It’s called screen hacking. Read on to see how this hack works and what you can do with it.

Table of Contents

Here’s the back story

Hackers have found a new way to infiltrate your device. It’s called screen hacking and uses tech savvy to take advantage of touchscreen technology. The screen’s touch functions initiate everything you do on your device, from opening and navigating apps to writing text messages.

Screen hacking allows criminals to see everything you do on your device and sometimes initiate certain actions.

Through electromagnetic interference (EMI), hackers can manipulate the electrical signals on your device. It seems like something out of a sci-fi movie, but the screens on modern mobile phones use electrical signals to detect finger movements, making this a reality.

What you can do with it

It’s easy to think that you’ll never be the victim of a hacking attempt, but all it takes is an unsecured device and an internet connection. If a criminal steals your personal information, it’s easy for them to commit identity fraud and launch other attacks. All hackers need is to get close to your screen.

“People can place their smartphone face down on the table in places like a coffee shop, library, meeting room or conference lobbies. An attacker can insert attacking equipment under the table and launch attacks remotely, researchers from the Technical University of Darmstadt wrote in a study.

Is there anything you can do about it? Well, there are a few options.

Make sure you have a secure locking and unlocking method. Simply swiping up to unlock your phone is not a good idea. Instead, use a complex combination of numbers for your PIN, or use Face Recognition or Touch ID if supported by your device.
Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for all apps and online accounts that offer it. Press or click here for more information about 2FA.
Avoid leaving your phone on a table or unattended in public places. You never know who is around you, and hackers often look for devices alone.

Here’s another way to protect your devices and sensitive information. Use a virtual private network (VPN) if you must connect to public Wi-Fi.

With a VPN when banking online, hackers can’t step in and steal your account information and drain your money. Using a VPN also stops your ISP from tracking you and allows you to unblock websites and bypass filters.

But you need to use a VPN that you can trust. We recommend our sponsor, ExpressVPN. An ExpressVPN subscription comes with easy-to-install apps for all your devices. You can protect your PC, Mac, iPhone, Android and more.

Use this link to get an additional three months free when you sign up for a 12-month plan.