“I gazed at my phone in utter disbelief. The screen mocked me with a disheartening message: “Incorrect PIN.” I was certain about my PIN, which I had committed to memory and never changed. In a desperate attempt, I even resorted to using the fingerprint sensor, but to no avail” says Ankita, a regular Samsung Galaxy phone user who was locked out of her phone today morning.
“The question stayed: How could someone alter my phone’s PIN without my knowledge? My phone housed lots of personal information, including messages and photos, making it important that unauthorized access be prevented. As a sense of urgency prevailed, I went online and checked the social media” said Ankita.
“As I scoured online forums for guidance, a shiver ran down my spine. Reports of similar incidents began surfacing, suggesting a burgeoning cyber threat. It appeared that a new breed of hackers was infiltrating phones, manipulating PINs, and depriving users of access to their own devices”.
Government issues warning
Meanwhile, India’s CERT-In department, responsible for addressing cybersecurity issues, issued a high-risk warning to notify Samsung Galaxy phone users about potential security threats to their data. The advisory emphasizes the urgency of updating the operating system (OS) and firmware to minimize these risks.
Several vulnerabilities have been identified in Samsung Mobile Android versions 11, 12, 13, and 14. One notable vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the system, potentially leading to information theft, code execution, and device compromise.
CERT-In explicitly mentioned that users who neglect to update their devices expose themselves to increased hacking threats. While Samsung has released patches to address these vulnerabilities, it is crucial for users, like Ankita and others who encountered issues, to prioritize updates to protect their devices from potential data breaches.
For the unversed, cyberattack refers to attempts to steal, expose, alter, disable or destroy information through unauthorized access to computer systems, cellphones, laptops, and tabs.
