Podcast Summary
The Evolution of Phone Theft and Blacklisting: Phone theft remains a problem despite blacklisting infrastructure, so it's essential to take precautions to protect your device.
In today's world, where phones have become personal computers and are easily tracked, locked, and blacklisted when lost or stolen, one might wonder about the motivation behind stealing a phone. The speaker, John, who works at a technology company, was faced with this question when his wife's phone went missing at the mall. He delved into the phone theft world and discovered that until about a decade ago, there was no proper infrastructure for blacklisting stolen phones. The first step to combating this issue was creating a blacklist of stolen devices, which was established in Europe in 2004 and in Canada in 2013. These lists are shared among different networks, making it impossible for anyone but the owner to use the phone. Changing an IMEI number is difficult, especially on devices like iPhones, which can be remotely locked and encrypted through iCloud. Despite these measures, John's wife's new phone received a text message from a hacked site, indicating that stolen phones are sold on the black market. The speaker expressed his curiosity about this phenomenon, as he had always wondered what happens to these phones. The infrastructure for blacklisting stolen phones has come a long way, but it's essential to remember that phone theft still occurs, and it's crucial to take precautions to protect your device.
Reporting a lost phone to carrier and iCloud: Reporting a lost phone to your carrier and iCloud can render it useless, preventing data usage and unauthorized transactions.
When your phone is stolen, it's crucial to take immediate action to protect your data and prevent unauthorized usage. John, whose wife's phone was stolen at the mall, effectively turned his wife's phone into a paperweight by reporting it as lost through his carrier and Apple's iCloud. This rendered the phone useless, preventing any data usage or unauthorized transactions. The thief, who stole multiple phones that day, was unable to access the stolen phones due to these protective measures. If you lose your phone, follow John's example and report it stolen to your carrier and iCloud to secure your data and prevent unauthorized usage.
Understanding the persistence of cybercriminals: Be aware of phishing attempts and safeguard online accounts. Cybercriminals can come from anywhere and threats can be global, requiring a comprehensive cybersecurity approach.
Taking measures to protect your data goes beyond just securing your physical devices. In this story, a man named John took steps to wipe and lock his stolen iPhone, but the thieves were persistent and attempted to phish for his iCloud credentials. John, in turn, collected these attempts to understand the tactics used. This incident highlights the importance of being aware of potential phishing attempts and the need to safeguard online accounts as meticulously as one does their devices. Moreover, the incident also underscores the potential global reach of cybercriminals. The stolen phone was tracked down to Vietnam, and the phishing emails originated from there. This demonstrates the need for a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, as threats can come from anywhere in the world. Lastly, the incident serves as a reminder to never click on suspicious links or give out sensitive information, even if the request appears to be legitimate. By staying vigilant and informed, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to cybercrime.
Cybercriminals use homograph attacks and misspelled domain names to deceive users: Be aware of homograph attacks and misspelled domain names, double-check website and email authenticity, and use secure browsers and email providers to mitigate risk.
Cybercriminals use various techniques to trick users into visiting fraudulent websites, such as homograph attacks and misspelling domain names. In the case discussed, the attackers used a homograph attack with Cyrillic characters to create a domain that looked identical to a legitimate one. They also used misspelled domain names to deceive users. These techniques can bypass security measures if not properly addressed by browsers and email providers. The attackers also sent emails with malicious identifiers to steal specific information about the targeted devices. It's crucial for individuals and organizations to be aware of these tactics and to double-check the authenticity of websites and emails before interacting with them. Additionally, using secure browsers and email providers that offer protection against such attacks can help mitigate the risk.
Phishing scams target iCloud credentials to unlock stolen phones: Phishing attacks use automation and exploits like Find My iPhone to target iCloud credentials and unlock stolen phones, making it crucial to stay vigilant and cautious.
Phishing scams continue to evolve and pose a significant threat, particularly those targeting iCloud credentials to unlock stolen phones. The volume of phones targeted suggests a high-volume operation, making automation essential. John, a security enthusiast, discovered that these attacks utilized a PHP exploit called Find My iPhone. He found a proof-of-concept GitHub project that allowed users to validate iCloud credentials, potentially removing activation locks. These tools are part of malware or phishing toolkits, making it easier for attackers to deploy phishing texts at scale. By using a VPN, virtual machine, and compiling information about the domains involved, John was able to uncover this threat and understand the tactics used. Stay vigilant and be cautious when receiving unsolicited messages or requests for sensitive information.
Layers of cybersecurity defense: Effective cybersecurity requires multiple layers of defense, including strong credentials, and reporting abuse to registrars and hosting providers.
Effective cybersecurity relies on multiple layers of defense. While having strong credentials is crucial, it's not enough to protect against sophisticated cyber threats. In this case, a stolen phone was turned back into a functional device using Icloud credentials. However, reporting abuse to registrars and hosting providers can help mitigate the impact of such threats. The Center for Internet Security emphasizes the importance of collaboration and innovation in creating a safer digital world, especially as business technology evolves and cyber threats become more prevalent. By staying informed and taking action against abuse, individuals and organizations can help protect themselves and contribute to a more secure connected world.
Tracking down a phone hacking operation: Investigators can follow digital breadcrumbs to uncover phone hacking operations, but the physical connection between the perpetrators may remain unclear
John, an investigator, was able to track down and take down a phone hacking operation by following digital breadcrumbs. He discovered that the hackers had been using stolen phones to carry out their attacks. After identifying the last known location of one of the stolen phones in a Vietnamese restaurant in Toronto, John speculated that there might be a connection between the pickpockets in Eastern Canada and the hackers in Vietnam. However, the lack of a clear digital trail made it unclear how the phones were getting from the pickpockets to the hackers. The hacking operation was taken offline, but the physical connection between the two groups remains a mystery. This incident highlights the importance of following digital leads in cyber investigations and the potential complexities involved in tracking down international cybercriminal networks.
Profitable Business of Stolen and Bricked Phones: Criminals make money by stealing and selling functional phones from large batches of bricked or stolen ones. The process involves attempting to unbrick or unlock them, selling the functional ones, and discarding or selling for parts the rest.
The illegal market for stolen and bricked phones is a lucrative business, but its success depends on the effectiveness of phishing scams and pickpocketing. The economics of this criminal activity can be quite profitable, with each stolen phone potentially selling for hundreds of dollars, even if only a fraction of them are functional. The process involves buying large quantities of bricked phones, attempting to unbrick or unlock them, and then selling the functional ones for a significant profit. The rest can be sold for parts or discarded. The value of a stolen phone can range from a few hundred dollars for parts to over a thousand dollars if it can be fully unlocked and resold. The hours spent on this process, from stealing the phones to selling them, can yield an hourly wage, but it's important to note that there are more productive and legal ways to contribute to society and earn a similar income. Additionally, the percentage of functional phones in the batch is crucial to the profitability of this criminal enterprise. It's a risky business with a high potential reward, but it's also a reminder of the importance of securing personal devices with strong passwords and being vigilant against phishing scams.
IPhones remain valuable targets for digital criminals despite activation locks and two-factor authentication: Digital criminals can use phishing scams to bypass activation locks and sell stolen iPhones for resale value or dismantle them for parts, making their theft a lucrative business
While activation locks and two-factor authentication can make stolen iPhones seemingly useless, they are still valuable targets for digital criminals. These criminals can use phishing scams to bypass activation locks and sell the phones for resale value or dismantle them for parts. Even though the financial gain might not be as significant as hacking large systems, the theft of iPhones remains a lucrative business due to their market value. If you have an interesting cybercrime story to share, reach out to Hacked Podcast through their Patreon page. Thank you to John for sharing his experience and to our supporters, including Eric Bacon, Stewart Bowles, and Lisa Gonzalez Smith, for their continued support.
