UAE Telecom Authority denies latest rumour of phone hacking

Dubai: The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) on Sunday denied they are responsible for sending out inaccurate messages to the public, and warned residents to beware of unverified information circulated on social media and through SMS.

In a statement on its official social media accounts, the UAE telecom authority, announced: “The news was not released by TDRA and is incorrect. TDRA confirms that it is not possible to hack the phone or steal data by making or receiving phone calls.”

The fake message, allegedly sent by TDRA, claimed that phone hackers could steal residents’ data and information from their mobiles through a simple phone call. The message also alleged that hackers could steal the mobile phone’s stored information within three seconds.

How to prevent phone hackers

According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, there are 11 ways to stop hackers from breaking into your mobile phone:

1. Don’t download sketchy or unreputable apps.

2. Don’t jailbreak your phone.

3. Keep your phone with you at all times. 

4. Always use a passcode lock and use complex passwords. 

5. Don’t store passwords on your device.

6. Frequently clear your internet history. 

7. Enable a lost device tracking service. 

8. Keep all apps up to date. 

9. Always enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

10. Be cautious about using text or email for your 2FA. 

11. Don’t use public Wi-Fi without a virtual private network (VPN).