Can Someone Hack Your Phone with Just Your Number?

Updated: October 23, 2024

Many people believe that a phone can be hacked just by knowing its number, meaning that hackers can access all of your private data without ever needing to touch your device.

It’s alarming to think that if someone wanted to hack your cell phone, all they would need was your number. You’d be forgiven for thinking this is a genuine threat to your mobile security.

But is this the case, or is it just a myth? In this blog, we examine the facts and discuss what is and isn’t possible when it comes to phone hacking.

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Is It True That Someone Could Hack Your Phone with Just Your Number?

In short — no, they can’t. But it’s understandable if you’ve been led to believe otherwise. If you’ve ever searched online to find out whether someone can hack your phone using just your phone number, you’ve probably come across articles claiming it’s possible.

However, most of these search results are misleading. They often serve as a way to promote and sell spy software (sometimes called “monitoring software”), which requires physical access to the victim’s device.

Let’s consider an example: if you search for “Is it possible to hack someone’s cell phone with just a phone number?” you might find articles like this one that initially claim it’s easy.

But as you read further, it becomes clear that the article aims to sell a spy tool. This tool doesn’t work just by knowing someone’s phone number; it requires additional access, such as physical contact with the device or the user’s iCloud login details.

If you closely examine any article suggesting cell phone hacking is possible with just your phone number, you’ll notice a common theme: they all promote spyware tools that need more than a phone number to be installed.

While these spyware tools can cause significant harm by stealing sensitive information from your mobile device, the idea that they can be installed using just a phone number is not true.

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What Can a Hacker Do with My Phone Number?

You might wonder what a hacker can actually do with just your cell phone number. While it’s not possible to directly hack into your phone with just the number, it can be used as part of a larger attack. Here are a few ways this could happen:

Social engineering attacks

Our smartphones hold a wealth of personal data — photos, emails, passwords, and more. Since we rarely change numbers, they become inextricably linked to our identities.

Once hackers have your number, they can potentially find out the following:

Email accounts and contacts
Financial information and bank accounts
Current and previous addresses
Social media and other online passwords
Date of birth and Social Security number
Information about your friends and family
IP addresses (phone and computer)
Sensitive photos and videos (potential for blackmail)
Documents like medical records, licenses, and IDs

How it happens:

Scammers get your number from social media or reverse lookup services.
They search online for other data associated with your number – accounts, addresses, birthdates, etc.
They use this information for identity theft or targeted social engineering attacks.

Phishing for personal data

Hackers employ deceptive tactics to trick you into revealing your most sensitive information. One common method is “phishing,” which involves sending fake text messages to your number that appear to be from trusted sources like banks, social media platforms, or online retailers.

These messages often contain urgent requests for you to update your account information or verify your identity. However, the included link leads to a cleverly disguised fake website designed to steal your login credentials.

Here’s how phishing scams work:

You receive a text message that appears to be from a legitimate company, urging you to take immediate action due to a security issue, suspicious activity, or a missed payment.
The message contains a link to a website that looks almost identical to the company’s official site, which it is impersonating.
When you enter your username and password on the fake website, the hackers capture the information, giving them access to your accounts and potentially your personal and financial data.

Fig 1. Example of a phishing text message and fake website.

Sending links to malicious apps

Hackers often pose as legitimate companies to trick you into compromising your security. They might send you seemingly harmless text messages containing a link to download “helpful” apps, such as photo editors, fitness trackers, or even an anti-virus app.

However, these apps are far from benign. They’re designed to infiltrate your device, granting hackers unauthorized access to your personal data without your knowledge.

Here’s how the scam works:

You receive a text message that appears to be from a reputable company offering a free app or a tempting upgrade.
The message includes a link to download the app. This link leads to a malicious website or directly installs malware onto your device.
Once installed, the app operates in the background, silently collecting your sensitive information, including login credentials, financial details, and personal contacts.

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Hijacking your phone number

A SIM swap scam is a type of fraud in which a scammer takes control of your phone number by tricking your mobile carrier into transferring it to a SIM card that they possess.

Once they have control of your number, they can intercept calls and text messages, including those containing one-time passwords (OTPs) or verification codes needed to access your online accounts.

This allows them to potentially gain access to your bank accounts, email, social media, and other sensitive information, leading to identity theft and financial losses.

Here’s how SIM swap scams typically work:

Scammers gather as much information about you as possible, often through phishing emails, social engineering, or data breaches.
The scammer impersonates you and contacts your mobile service provider, claiming to have lost or damaged their SIM card and requesting that your number be transferred to a new SIM card they control.
If the carrier is convinced, they will transfer your number to the scammer’s SIM card, giving them control over your calls and messages.
The scammer uses the intercepted OTPs or verification codes sent to your number to access your online accounts and potentially steal your money or personal information.

Pro Tip: Ask your carrier about the process they have to verify your identity to prevent SIM swapping. Also, keep a record of who you spoke to, the date and time of the conversation, and any actions taken.

Sending text messages from your number

Hackers don’t always target you directly. Sometimes, they manipulate your loved ones using your phone number. In these scams, your number becomes a tool to deceive family and friends into revealing sensitive information or sending money.

Here’s how the scam works:

The hacker signs up for an online service that allows them to send messages that appear to come from any number they want.
They then send messages to a family member from your number, perhaps a vulnerable grandparent, claiming to be in a dire situation and needing immediate financial help. They might pretend to be injured, in jail, or facing some other urgent crisis.
Driven by fear and a desire to help you, your loved one might wire money, unaware that it’s going straight to a scammer.

It’s important to reiterate that it’s not possible for someone to simply type your number into some form of malicious software and click “Hack.”

There is usually a process of convincing you to reveal personal information voluntarily or downloading a malicious app onto your phone.

The Real Ways Your Phone Can Be Hacked

Although it’s virtually impossible for someone to hack your phone with just your number, they might use some other methods to gain access to your device. Below, we’ve listed the common types of hacking, along with ways to easily protect yourself.

iPhone hacking

Apple devices are usually harder for hackers to infiltrate than Android devices. This is due to Apple’s tougher security measures. However, there are a few ways that hackers can steal data from your iPhone.

Firstly, they could compromise your iCloud account without needing physical access to your device. If a hacker can break into your account, they can access any data you have synced from your iPhone. This could include contacts, chat and messaging history, photos, and more.

Secondly, spyware could be installed onto an iPhone, but this requires the hacker to get hold of the device for a few minutes to get it setup..

If they succeed, they will have access to everything on your device, be able to track your location, and may even be able to monitor you via the microphone and cameras.

The best way to protect yourself from someone installing spyware onto your iPhone is to scan your device regularly.

Certo AntiSpy makes it extremely easy to check your device to see if spyware has been installed. This industry-leading software is the best defense against spyware for Apple mobile devices and, due to the unique way the scan is performed, can detect more threats than any other security app.

Here’s how to run a spyware scan with Certo:

Download Certo AntiSpy to your computer.
Plug in your iPhone via USB.
Click Scan.

Detecting spyware on iPhone

Fig 2. Finding spyware on an iPhone with Certo AntiSpy.

Android hacking

Android devices can offer more opportunities for hackers since their system is more open to user control. This means that it’s easier for a hacker to find ways to exploit this system.

By far, the most common way to hack an Android phone is to use spyware. This software can be purchased for as little as $30 and easily installed directly onto the device like any other app.

It’s also possible to hide this spyware from the victim, so you could be using your cell phone as normal, completely unaware that someone is remotely monitoring your actions, stealing your data, and potentially even watching you via the device cameras.

There are many great anti-spyware apps available for Android. We recommend Certo Mobile Security, which is available for free on Google’s Play Store.

The app will confirm whether your device has spyware installed using our deep scan technology. If spyware is detected, it can be easily removed with a single tap.

Fig 3. Finding spyware on an Android phone with Certo.

How to Protect Your Phone Number from Hackers

Your phone number is a gateway to your identity, finances, and personal life.

Hackers can wreak havoc with just this single piece of information. Taking proactive steps can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to their schemes.

Enable Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication (2FA/MFA): Add an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password. Use an authenticator app or choose to have your code sent to a separate device rather than via SMS to protect yourself from SIM swapping.
Secure your carrier account: Contact your mobile carrier to set up a secondary password for your account to prevent unauthorized changes over the telephone.
Lock your SIM: A SIM lock requires a PIN to make changes or use your number, thwarting SIM swap attempts. Contact your carrier or set it up directly on your device.
Avoid clicking links from unknown senders: Resist the urge to click on links in unsolicited text messages or emails. If you receive a notification about a missed delivery or an account update, log in directly through the official website or app.
Never call back numbers from unsolicited texts: Ignore text messages asking you to call a specific number. These are likely scams aimed at tricking you into revealing personal information.
Keep your phone safe in public: Never leave your phone unattended in public places. Set up biometric security measures, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to protect your data if your phone is lost or stolen.
Install antivirus software: Use reputable antivirus software on your mobile and computer devices to block malicious code and prevent unauthorized access to your data.
Double-check websites: Be cautious when visiting sites, especially those handling sensitive information. Ensure the URL is correct and look for signs of a secure connection such as a padlock in the address bar.
Be cautious on social media: Avoid sharing your phone number publicly on social media platforms. Limit the amount of personal information you share online, as hackers can use this to target you or impersonate you.

Summary

Hopefully, this has helped to reassure you that it is not possible for someone to hack your phone with just your number. However, phone hacking is a real threat, and hackers can gain access in many other ways.

Install Certo for Android or iPhone today and reduce the risk of phone hacking. Certo will scan your device for potential threats and help you quickly and easily remove them, securing your data and giving you peace of mind.