I work in tech support for a telecom company in Canada and often help people with their internet and cell phone issues. A lot of customers worry about their devices being hacked, attributing strange behaviors to some form of hacking rather than possible junk apps or poor WiFi. While I'm somewhat tech-savvy, I often reassure my clients that most hacking is more about social engineering rather than technical wizardry. They assume someone is trying to break into their WiFi or phone, but I usually explain that such attacks require physical access or extreme carelessness. My question is: just how hard is it actually to hack someone's phone or their internet modem, and how common are these incidents?
4 Answers
Honestly, a lot of what people think is hacking is just them not being careful online. They're often just paranoid about neighbors or weird device behavior. Most real attacks come from phishing rather than direct hacking. Following basic security tips like unique passwords and two-factor authentication can do wonders.
Pretty accurate assessment! Most remote hacking is either near impossible or not worth the effort for ordinary people. Using things like public WiFi without a VPN is risky, though. Emphasizing strong passwords and being aware of phishing scams can really help your clients feel secure.
Exactly! And let’s not forget to recommend regular security updates and unique passwords. You’re doing a great job by helping people understand these basics!
Hacking isn't impossible, but it's definitely harder than most people think unless you're a high-value target. Most hacking today is just folks trying random passwords to see what works. So, while a determined kid next door might crack your WiFi password, they probably aren't monitoring your texts or anything like that. Just use strong passwords, and you should be good!
Exactly! Most people use super weak passwords like '123456' or 'password', which just makes it easy for hackers. But if you're careful and avoid sharing sensitive information, you're usually safe.
You're spot on! The hacking you see in movies isn't how it usually works. Real hackers are more into social engineering tricks to get you to share your info, like phishing emails. Remote hacking of phones is pretty rare too, especially if they're updated. For home networks, a strong WPA2 or WPA3 password is a solid defense.
Absolutely! A lot of the fears stem from misunderstandings or normal tech problems. Most 'hacks' are actually just users falling for scams or using weak passwords. Keeping software updated is key!
Totally agree! It’s always the simple precautions that keep you safe. It’s good you're reassuring people, plus suggesting they stick to well-known networks. Weird issues usually have simple explanations.