With so many users moving to internet banking, it's no wonder that cybercriminals seek to hack bank accounts. What may be surprising, however, are the lengths these individuals will go to in order to access your finances. Did you know hackers can even hack bank accounts with mobile numbers?
Here's a look at how can someone hack your bank account and how you can stay safe.
1. Mobile Banking Trojans
These days, you can manage all of your finances from your smartphone. Usually, a bank will supply an official app from which you can log in and check your account. While convenient, this has become a key attack vector for malware.
Can someone hack your bank account? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Tricking Users With Fake Banking Apps
Fake banking apps have become a simple route for facilitating a bank account hack. The simpler means of attack is by spoofing an existing banking app. A malware author creates a perfect replica of a bank's app and uploads it to third-party websites.
Once you've downloaded the app, you enter your username and password, which is sent to the hacker.
Replacing a Real Banking App With a Fake One
The sneakier version is the mobile banking Trojan. There are plenty of other types, but the banking version is one of the most common Trojan types you should know about.
Bank account hacking Trojans aren't disguised as a bank's official app; instead, they're usually completely unrelated app with a Trojan installed within. When you install this app, the Trojan scans your phone for banking apps.
This malware variety plays an integral role in the entire process of bank account hacking. When it detects the user launching a banking app, the malware quickly creates a window that looks identical to the app you just booted up.
If this is done smoothly enough, the user won't notice the swap and will enter their details into the fake login page. These details are then uploaded to the malware author.
Banking Trojans typically need an SMS verification code to access your account. To do this, they'll often ask for SMS reading privileges during the installation to steal the codes as they come in.
How to Defend Yourself From Mobile Banking Trojans
When downloading apps from the app store, keep an eye on the app's total downloads. If it has a very low amount of downloads and little to no reviews, it's too early to call if it has malware or not.
This goes double if you see an "official app" for a very popular bank with a small download count—it's likely an imposter! Official apps should have a lot of downloads, given how popular the bank is.
Likewise, be careful with what permissions you give your apps. If a mobile game asks you for permissions without explaining why it wants them, stay safe and don't allow the app to install. Even "innocent" services like Android Accessibility Services can be used to hack you.
Finally, never install banking apps from third-party sites, as they're more likely to contain malware. While official app stores are by no means perfect, they're a lot safer than a random website on the internet.
2. Phishing
Hackers have escalated their efforts to trick people into clicking their links as the public becomes savvy toward phishing tactics. One of their nastiest tricks is hacking the email accounts of solicitors and sending phishing emails from a previously trusted address.
What makes this hack so devastating is how hard it would be to spot the scam. The email address would be legitimate, and the hacker could even talk to you on a first-name basis. This is exactly how an unfortunate home buyer lost £67,000, as reported by The Guardian, despite replying to an email address that was previously legitimate.
How to Defend Yourself From Phishing
Obviously, if an email address looks suspicious, treat its contents with a healthy dose of skepticism. If the address looks legitimate, but something seems strange, see if you can validate the email with the person sending it. Preferably not over email, though, in case the hackers have compromised the account!
Hackers can also use phishing, among other methods, to steal your identity on social media. You should stay abreast of how to protect yourself from phishing scams.
3. Keyloggers
This method of attack is one of the quieter ways a hacker can perform a bank account hack. Hackers learn how to hack bank accounts and even the most inexperienced hacker knows how to get their way around your personal details. To avoid such a situation, you should keep a look-out for the different hacking methods being used. Another prominent way is via keyloggers, which is a type of malware that records what you're typing and sends the information back to the hacker.
That might sound inconspicuous at first. But imagine what would happen if you typed in your bank's web address, followed by your username and password. The hacker would have all the information they need to break into your account!
How to Defend Yourself From Keyloggers
Install a stellar antivirus and make sure it checks your system every so often. A good antivirus will sniff out a keylogger and erase it before it can do damage.
If your bank supports two-factor authentication, be sure you enable this. This makes a keylogger far less effective, as the hacker won't be able to replicate the authentication code even if they get your login details.
4. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Sometimes, a hacker will target the communications between you and your bank's website in order to get your details. These are called Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks, and the name says it all: it's when a hacker intercepts communications between you and a legitimate service.
Usually, an MitM attack involves monitoring an insecure server and analyzing the data that passes through. When you send your login details over this network, the hackers "sniff out" your details and steal them.
Sometimes, however, a hacker will use DNS cache poisoning to change what site you visit when you enter a URL. A poisoned DNS cache means that www.yourbankswebsite[dot]com will instead go to a clone site owned by the hacker. This cloned site will look identical to the real thing; if you're not careful, you'll end up giving the fake site your login details.
How to Defend Yourself From MitM Attacks
Never perform any sensitive activities on a public or unsecured network. Err on the side of caution and use something more secure, such as your home Wi-Fi. Also, when you log into a sensitive site, always check for HTTPS in the address bar. If it's not there, there's a good chance you're looking at a fake site...
If you want to perform sensitive activities over a public Wi-Fi network, take control of your own privacy. A VPN service encrypts your data before your computer sends it over the network. If anyone is monitoring your connection, they'll only see unreadable encrypted packets.
Picking a VPN can be difficult, so make sure you find out about free VPNs that protect your privacy.
5. SIM Swapping
SMS authentication codes are a huge problem for hackers. Unfortunately, they have a way to dodge these checks, and they don't even need your phone to do it!
To perform a SIM swap, a hacker contacts your network provider, claiming to be you. They state that they lost their phone and that they'd like a transfer of their old number (which is your current number) to their SIM card. This is one of the most widely used methods a bank account's hacked through a phone number.
If they're successful, the network provider strips your phone number from your SIM and installs it on the hacker's SIM instead. This is achievable with a social security number.
Once they have your number on their SIM card, they can circumvent SMS codes easily. When they log into your bank account, the bank sends an SMS verification code to their phone rather than yours. They can then log in to your account unimpeded and take the money.
How to Defend Yourself From SIM Swapping
Of course, mobile networks typically ask questions to check if the person requesting the transfer is who they say they are. As such, to perform a SIM swap, scammers typically harvest your personal information in order to pass the checks.
Even then, some network providers have lax checks for SIM transfers, which has allowed hackers to easily perform this trick.
Always keep your personal details private to avoid someone stealing your identity. Also, it's worth checking if your mobile provider is doing their part to protect you from SIM swapping.
If you keep your details safe and your network provider is diligent, a hacker will fail the identification check when they try to SIM swap.
Keeping Your Finances Safe Online
Internet banking is convenient for both customers and hackers alike. Thankfully, you can do your part to ensure you're not a victim of these attacks. By keeping your details safe, you'll give hackers very little to work with when they take aim at your savings.
Now you know the tricky tactics hackers use to crack open your bank account, take your banking security to the next level. From changing your password frequently to just checking your statement every month, there are plenty of ways you can keep your finances secure from hackers.
