Security News > 2021 > July > Turn Off, Turn On: Simple Step Can Thwart Top Phone Hackers
Regularly rebooting smartphones can make even the most sophisticated hackers work harder to maintain access and steal data from a phone.
At a time of widespread digital insecurity it turns out that the oldest and simplest computer fix there is - turning a device off then back on again - can thwart hackers from stealing information from smartphones.
Almost always in arm's reach, rarely turned off and holding huge stores of personal and sensitive data, cellphones have become top targets for hackers looking to steal text messages, contacts and photos, as well as track users' locations and even secretly turn on their video and microphones.
The advice to periodically reboot a phone reflects, in part, a change in how top hackers are gaining access to mobile devices and the rise of so-called "Zero-click" exploits that work without any user interaction instead of trying to get users to open something that's secretly infected.
Such hacks can't survive a reboot, but often don't need to since many people rarely turn their phones off.
With such a powerful tool at their disposal, Marczak said rebooting your phone won't do much to stop determined hackers.