Common tools hackers use to hack a phone

So here are some ways how you can hack into someone’s cell phone:

1. Midnight Raid:
Midnight raid is a popular and easy method to hack a phone. You can do it without any spyware installation. A regular hacker tool kit to use this method includes a laptop with Wi-Fi connectivity and two phones. One phone serves the purpose of a GSM modem for the laptop and the other to receive information.

The reason it is called Midnight Raid is this attack is usually pulled off during the night when the user is asleep, and the cell phone is left unattended on the side table or is plugged in for charging. It all begins with a text message which clearly demonstrates how easy it is to get access to somebody. You have to send a text message stating “You are being hacked” on the target phone at midnight. This simple message invokes the Internet Explorer on the target device when it receives the text message.

Then an application is run on the phone to retrieve data. This SMS returns back to the phone you sent the text from and brings along with it the phone’s unique ID, its IMSI number. The app can easily steal any information from the device. One can even push viruses to the device they are hacking, or initiate a denial of service (DDOS) attack.

2. Control Message Attacks
Control Message Attacks involve sending a control message on the device you want to hack. When you send the control message to the phone, you get access to the settings menu of the target cell phone. In this kind of hack, you can control the settings of the device and the user would have no knowledge of this. You can easily uncheck SSL and leave the device vulnerable. It won’t have any encryption. After that, you can push a wipe command that deletes all the information stored on the device. As PCs don’t have SMS capabilities, these hacks are limited to smartphones. Attacking via text messages is the easiest way to hack a cell phone.

While attempting to hack a cell phone, it is important to consider the kind of smartphones susceptible to these attacks. It greatly depends on the security settings of the device. According to a report from Gartner analyst John Girard, security issues arise as wireless devices become more prevalent.

3. Hacking through IMSI Catcher or Stingray
Most of the protocols which mobile phones use are not completely secure—not to mention old! A device always identifies a cell tower using its IMSI number, but the cell tower does not have to. As the cell phones connect to the nearest cell tower that emits the strongest signal on themselves, it is rather easy to lure a device into connecting to a fake cell tower. This is what an IMSI catcher/stingray is.

This method is known by several names. IMSI catchers (International Mobile Subscriber Identifier) are also called Stingray (a brand name that manufactures hacking equipment), Cell Site Simulator, and False Towers.

Stingray happens to be a mobile surveillance device that presents itself as a cell tower and shows itself as a reliable infrastructure. This way, the smartphones you wish to hack into easily connect to these cell towers. One can place these stingrays in fixed locations or in a drone or a vehicle. Apart from detecting the location of the users of the targeted device, these devices also help in intercepting text messages and calls from the targeted devices as well as the devices within the targeted vicinity.

They basically work by spoofing as a genuine cell tower and then intercept the signals in the surrounding area. Stingrays can identify individual phones and then, hack their data. Sometimes, they can even listen to calls, record them and track movements of the monitored phone user.

Once you trick your device into connecting to the false towers, you can easily read the unencrypted content and other communications the tower transmits to you. IMSI catchers are quite common in law enforcement, but over the period of recent years, they have become widespread amongst hackers and private investigators.

4. Wiretapping and tracking through SS7
Although an approximately 50-year-old protocol, signaling system 7 (SS7) connects the majority of the mobile networks worldwide. It allows you to benefit from services like roaming and call forwarding. Therefore, this protocol has become a bit rusty just like its security. Hacking into this protocol lets you track the location of your target cell phone around the globe and even monitor their incoming and outgoing text messages and calls. You would only need the associated number.

5. Installing a keylogger app
The apps on our smartphones have access to all the information on our phones. They can easily access our contacts, images, browsing history, login credentials and even our account details and locations. Even though some of the information is present in the encrypted form, all you need is a keylogger spyware app to record all the activity going on the phone. A keylogger app records the keystrokes before they get encrypted. You will need physical access to the phone to install the keylogger app.

6. Using phishing to get your credentials
No one installs a malicious app on their phones knowingly. If you wish to hack someone’s cell phone, another way to do so is through phishing. With the help of phishing schemes, you can lure your target with fake versions of legitimate sites to extract credentials. These websites are becoming more sophisticated and seem just like the original sites.

If you somehow fool your target in accessing and giving their information to these sites, you can easily hack into their phones. If the target phone has no anti-virus or other virus-detecting software on their phone, they won’t even know that they fell to a scam and given out information to a fake website.

7. Hack a Phone by Sending Spam Messages
Opting for this method lets you fool the phone user whose phone you want to hack. Hacking through spam messages is one of the black-hat techniques, and you can get access to the victim’s Google account. Usually, people use their Google account for everything that they do online. Their Google account is connected to their social media accounts, online shopping accounts, schools, colleges, as well as their bank accounts.

Google account is actually the key to track anybody’s activities. If you get access to someone’s Google account, you can easily hack into everything. You would need a security code if you don’t have the password to the Google account. Google sends that code to the target phone and that is why you send a spam message to get access to that code.

Here is what you have to do:

The first thing you will have to do is to go to the Google login page. Type in the phone number of the phone you want to hack and then, click on Forgot Password.
Google would then send the verification code to the phone.
Now comes the tricky part. How to get your hands on that verification code? If you are unable to get physical access to the target’s phone, then you will have to fool him into doing it. For that, you will have to send a spam message to their number.
Here is what your spam message would look like: “This is Google. There has been unauthorized activity on your Google account. Please reply with the Verification code that we have sent to your number.”
After you have sent the spam message to the target phone, wait and see if you have been successful in fooling them. If you have, then they would reply to your spam message.
After you receive the code, you will have to create a new password for the account. Just set a new password.
Now, you can log in to the Google account and see all that is happening and track every bit of information.
With just their number, you can fool someone to get access to their Google account. You can access all emails, social media accounts, map locations and even where they have shopped.

8. Using Free Wi-Fi to intercept communications
Anyone can set up a Wi-Fi Hotspot. And whoever operates the network can easily see the unencrypted traffic that goes through it. This applies to both mobile and Wi-Fi operators. Although a carrier happens to be a legit company that operates networks while sticking to a number of regulations, a common man can set a Wi-Fi hotspot easily.

There is another way to hack into someone’s cell phone. If there is a certain person whose phone you want to hack but have no way of accessing it, here is what you can do:

Set up a free Wi-Fi network near a hotel or café they like to visit often. It is also a way to lure in unsuspecting customers. After they connect, you can easily access all of their unencrypted messages and emails.

9. Data extraction through a USB charger
USB chargers are not only used for charging the battery of phones. They can also help in transmitting data when connected to a computer. It comes in handy but, at the same time, USB chargers also happen to be an attack vector.

In most of the Android versions, the cell phone mounts the hard drive the moment the cable gets connected to the computer. The rest you can do easily and upload spyware or malware to the so that you can access the data stored on the device.

Spy apps are the most commonly used tools for hacking phones today. They are straightforward, easy to use and do not require much technical knowledge, which makes them highly attractive to ordinary people.

Anyone can learn to hack into someone else’s phone by using a spy app if they follow a few easy instructions. The choice is vast when it comes to which app to use, the following is an app that we recommend for successful and effective monitoring.

If you want the best app to hack a phone, then it is recommended that you use Mobile Stealth Spy. This spy app has proved to be very effective, yet simple and easy to use for ordinary users without extensive knowledge of hacking.

​Hightlight features

Monitor call logs
Mobile Stealth Spy allows you to monitor the call logs not only from the mobile phone but from popular VoIP apps as well. It gives you detailed information on the outgoing and the incoming calls to the device it is installed on.

Read text messages
The app does not only allow you to monitor calls but also allows you to read text messages that are sent or received. With this feature, parents can keep a close watch on their child’s activities. All kinds of messages like SMS, MMS, iMessage, and even emails can be read in detail.

Monitor social media apps (WhatsApp, Viber, etc.)
Everything from WhatsApp to Instagram, Skype to Facebook gets covered under the application. Get fast updates for everything they do on social media in real-time and check the logs when you can’t.

Track GPS location
Mobile Stealth Spy provides GPS tracking and geo-fencing, which means that it is possible to track the exact location at all times. It also records location history, apart from monitoring the position.

Monitor internet activity
Mobile Stealth Spy allows you to track all kinds of internet activity like monitoring bookmarks and browser history. It also allows you to view all the Wi-Fi networks that the device had connected along with the location and timestamps.

View media files and applications
Mobile Stealth Spy also allows you to see any media files included photos, videos and audio records that are stored in the phone along with all the applications that are installed too.

​Compatible devices

Android
The Mobile Stealth Spy app is compatible with all device running Android versions 4.0.3 up to the latest Android 9. To install the app on a particular Android device, you must have access to the device, and the device must have an internet connection.

iPhone
Mobile Stealth Spy is compatible with all iPhone and iPad running up tp iOS 12.4. To install the app, you must also have access to the target device and must jailbreak it first.

Is it legal to hack someone’s phone?

You should know that most hacking methods are generally considered illegal, they are mentioned for informative purposes only, and you risk legal repercussions if you try to use them on anyone’s phone.

However, the first method, which is using an authentic spy app – notably Mobile Stealth Spy, is completely legal in circumstances for protective and tracking purposes only. The spy app can help you in monitoring your minor children’s cell phones, which is useful for protecting them from online dangers.

The second situation in which using a spy app is legal is for monitoring the employees in your company. However, to do so, you first must let them know and get their consent about it and supply them with phones for that purpose.

As we can conclude, there are both illegal and legal ways of tracking and monitoring someone’s phone. It is important to learn all the details about it to avoid legal problems. Consider the valuable information provided here and enjoy safe and legal monitoring.