Information is the most valuable asset in modern society. Some people make money by sharing the information they know, and companies often use it strategically. Depending on how information is managed and protected, a large economic gap can occur. Information is valuable not only to individuals and companies, but also to hackers, as hackers can collect various information from mobile devices and abuse or sell it. Mobile devices are particularly susceptible to attacks because they contain a lot of sensitive data, including financial data, personal information, and corporate information. There are many reasons why hackers steal information from mobile devices, but the main ones include financial reasons, requests from government agencies, cyber warfare, industrial espionage, and resource theft.
The Reasons Why Hackers Collect Information Through Mobile Devices
1. To Gain Financial Information : Hackers obtain direct financial gain by stealing bank and credit card information, or by making fraudulent payments using stolen online payment information.
2. To Collect Personal Information : Hackers steal login credentials to hack accounts and perform phishing attacks, or collect personally identifiable information for identity theft or to sell on black markets.
3. To Collection Corporate Information : Hackers collect sensitive information or customer data within companies to sell or abuse it for competitors, or they infiltrate corporate networks by stealing the login information of employees who have access to important systems.
4. For Political and Social Purposes : Hackers target specific individuals or groups to monitor and suppress their activities and information.
5. For Malicious Activity : Hackers install ransomware to encrypt important files and then demand money, or they lure victims to fraudulent websites.
6. To Sell Information : Hackers sell collected sensitive information on the dark web for financial gain.
Keylogging, the most effective method for hackers to gather information through mobile devices
To a hacker, every character typed on a mobile device can accumulate into a wealth of information about the user. Motivated by various reasons, hackers fundamentally infiltrate mobile systems to obtain valuable resources or information using any means necessary. Among various hacking methods, one highly effective technique for gathering information is keylogging attacks.
Through keylogging attacks, hackers can record every piece of information a user inputs via the keypad. This information can be exploited for various malicious purposes.
Keylogging, short for keystroke logging, refers to the malicious practice of intercepting all data entered by a user via the keypad. Programs designed for this purpose are called keyloggers, and the logs they generate are known as keystroke logs or keystrokes. Keylogging captures all content entered via the keypad without filtering, allowing hackers to access sensitive information such as personal and financial data, account credentials like usernames and passwords, private message conversations, company confidential emails, and more.
On mobile devices, keylogging attacks are broadly categorized into software-based or hardware-based methods.
1. Mobile Hardware Keylogger
Hardware-based keylogging attacks on mobile devices involve devices like chargers or USB cables that have keylogging functionality. They are typically infected through charging ports in public places. These devices extract and record physical signals, then transmit the logs to hackers. Despite being physical devices, they can be disguised or hidden easily due to similar appearances, making them difficult to detect. Moreover, their detection by antivirus programs is challenging, posing a significant threat.
2. Mobile Software Keylogger
There are methods where malicious apps secretly installed on users' devices record keypad inputs. They are typically distributed through suspicious links. Additionally, legitimate apps may request excessive permissions and could also record keystrokes.
Among these methods, most hackers distribute malware through mobile devices to infect users' phones. Such information-stealing malware continues to evolve in new forms. Attackers often develop them themselves or purchase the latest malware separately on the dark web, sometimes offering them as subscription services. Apart from keylogging, these malicious programs combine various functions such as remote control, webcam hijacking, account information collection, command execution, screenshot capture, and overlay attacks for sale.
Information-stealing malware poses a significant security threat that businesses must also beware of. Several security incidents have shown cases where keylogging malware was discovered on personal computers of company engineers, leading to ongoing theft of corporate information by hackers.
How to prevent Kelogging attacks
Now, you might be wondering, "How can I know if there is a keylogger?" Detecting keyloggers is challenging in itself. Even if unwanted keylogger software or hardware is being used on a mobile device, it is not easy to find. Moreover, detecting keyloggers is like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted, so it is important to take proactive measures to prevent keyloggers from the beginning.
When a mobile app is released, it immediately becomes deeply related to customers' sensitive information. For developers, it is no longer a matter of whether they can develop a mobile app but rather how much responsibility they can bear once the app is out in the world. In this context, the attitude of the app developer to take responsibility for future threats from hackers makes the app more robust.
To prevent mobile keylogging attacks, app developers are recommended to use secure keypads. This is particularly mandated by financial security authorities for fintech and financial apps. Mobile secure keypads are special input tools designed to protect user input from keylogging attacks by utilizing various technologies and methods.
Key Features of Mobile Secure Keypads
Random Key Layout
Mobile secure keypads randomly arrange the positions of each key. Since the key positions change every time the user inputs data, keyloggers cannot obtain meaningful information even if they record key inputs from specific positions.
Key Input Encryption
This feature encrypts key input data through encryption algorithms before transmission. In this process, even if a keylogger intercepts the data, it is difficult to determine the actual input values.
Compliance with the Electronic Financial Transactions Act and Electronic Financial Supervisory Regulations
To enhance security when using electronic financial services via mobile devices, related regulations such as user authentication and encryption are being strengthened. Therefore, mobile secure keypads must be used to comply with these regulations. In particular, the Financial Security Institute conducts ‘vulnerability checks for fintech services’ to support the safe operation and use of apps in the fintech industry.
To defend against mobile hacking, it is important to fill every possible gap that might allow hackers to achieve their goals, regardless of their motives. However, it is a grave mistake to think that using a secure keypad alone creates an impenetrable fortress against any threat. For thorough app security, the choice of which mobile secure keypad to use also becomes a crucial issue.
Advantages of the LIKEY
LIKEY is a new-concept mobile secure keypad designed to address the issues with existing secure keypads' encryption methods and the inconveniences experienced by app developers.
1.Strong Encryption of Input Values
Traditional mobile secure keypads have vulnerabilities because their encryption methods can be deciphered or decrypted based on repeating patterns. In contrast, when entering personal information through LIKEY, different one-time data is generated and transmitted to the server each time. This makes it impossible to decrypt the input information, ensuring personal information is securely protected.
2.Unique Security Systems for Each Company
LIKEY issues unique identification values for each company or project, enabling the creation of individual security systems. Traditional secure keypads use the same logic and encryption keys across multiple companies, meaning a breach in one company could expose the security of others. However, LIKEY employs individual encryption values for each company and project, allowing the establishment of unique security systems.
3. Diverse Customizable Designs
You might have seen clunky virtual keypads with uniform grey backgrounds when logging into banking apps. But LIKEY is different. LIKEY is a secure keypad that allows developers to set the desired design and functions. You can customize the color, theme, and button size of the keypad, providing a user-friendly layout. Additionally, you can apply brand colors and logos to the keypad, offering a consistent brand experience. LIKEY is a customizable mobile secure keypad that considers both security and user experience.
Keylogging hacks on mobile apps pose a serious threat to personal privacy and corporate security. Using a robust secure mobile keypad can help mitigate these risks, protecting all your personal and corporate data. As awareness of personal information security has significantly improved recently, more app developers are inquiring about adopting mobile secure keypads.
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