Hackers don't physically come to your house, but they can remotely break into your home network and devices (smart TVs, security cameras, phones, fridges, routers) to spy, steal data, or use them in botnets, often by exploiting weak default passwords or unpatched software, making your home vulnerable through the internet. While physical break-ins are rare and usually involve scams, digital invasion of your home is a real and increasing threat.
Tell-tale signs your camera has been hacked
They can show up at your adress (maybe armed). They can break into your property. They can send or deliver things to your address. They can stalk you and your family. They can try to impersonate you. They can doxx you. I'm sure there's plenty more but my creativity level is low right now.
What kind of websites do hackers look to target?
Check if you've been hacked
Unplugging it from the network can stop the hacker from accessing other devices. Physically disconnect the device by unplugging the Ethernet cable or turning off the Wi-Fi. This step is crucial because it blocks the attacker's access. Without a connection, they can't spread malware or steal data from your network.
Scouting for Targets: How Victims Are Chosen
Cybercriminals carefully select their victims by analyzing public data, identifying weak security signals, and assessing potential value. Whether it's easy targets or high-stakes organizations, no one is off their radar.
China, Russia, the United States, India, North Korea, and Iran are among the countries with the most hackers in the world.
The information security world has three well-known types of hackers: black hats, white hats and gray hats. These colored-hat descriptions were born as hackers tried to differentiate themselves and separate the good hackers from the bad.
Common scammer phrases create urgency, fear, or excitement, using words like "Act Now!," "Your account will be suspended," or "You've won!" to rush decisions, while romance scammers use "Soulmate," "Trust me," and "In trouble" to build quick intimacy. Other red flags include overly formal or broken English like "Would you kindly," grammatical errors, requests for secrecy ("Don't tell anyone"), or threats of arrest/deportation.
Yes, a scammer can potentially access your bank account with just your phone number, primarily through a SIM swap scam, where they trick your mobile provider into transferring your number to their SIM, letting them intercept 2FA codes, or by using your number for phishing/social engineering to get more info and bypass bank security. While having only the number isn't usually enough for direct access due to bank security, it's a powerful tool for identity theft and account takeover, especially when combined with other stolen info.
Why It's Called “Brushing” The term comes from e-commerce, where sellers would “brush up” their sales by generating fake orders and reviews. Today, brushing scams are a global issue affecting major online marketplaces.
To check if your phone is hacked, look for signs like rapid battery drain, unexpected data spikes, new apps you didn't install, strange pop-ups, slow performance, or weird noises on calls, then use reputable antivirus software, check your account activity, and dial codes like *#21# to see if calls are being forwarded, taking steps like changing passwords and resetting to factory settings if needed.
Does Turning Your Phone Off Stop Hackers? For most people, yes. Everyday malware and common scams can't touch a device once the operating system shuts down. That's why rebooting often clears suspicious behavior; it kills anything living in memory.
Why do Android phones turn up in breach headlines so often? Android powers most of the world's phones and many run outdated software, so attackers get more mileage for their effort. iPhones see fewer hits overall but attract highly skilled spyware crews.
The most common countries where hacking and cyber warfare attacks come from are:
Why Is It So Difficult to Catch a Hacker? Hackers employ sophisticated tactics to cover their tracks. Only about 5% of cybercriminals are apprehended, highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces.
More than 90% of successful cyber-attacks start with a phishing email.
Some hackers target private-sector companies that are typically more cash-rich than public-sector organizations. Hackers launch spear-phishing or direct network intrusion to carry out a multitude of cyberattacks such as fraud or blackmail operations.
Even when you delete an account, companies rarely erase your data completely. Instead, it lingers on their servers—accessible to advertisers, data brokers, and even hackers. This means your personal information can still be exploited long after you think you've erased it.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max: Most Secure Apple Phone
The newest addition to the list of most secure phone in the world is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.
What to do to minimize your attack surface from easiest to hardest. The thing you should get in a habit of doing is to simply turn off your WiFi when you are leaving your home. Not only will it save battery by not constantly sending out probes for networks, but it will reduce your attack surface quite a bit.
Secure Your Accounts: Upon learning you've been hacked, immediately change passwords for all your online accounts. Start with those associated with sensitive information such as banking, email, and investments. From there, move on to accounts that contain less sensitive information such as social media and e-commerce.
A factory reset will remove any malware and system changes that a hacker made on your device, essentially reversing their damage. However, the method they used to gain access to your device may remain a threat.