Ethical guide to hacking mobile phones from Fadia

Hackers today have a new technological device to target. With m-commerce (business transactions conducted with online mobile devices) becoming increasingly popular, the vulnerability of mobile devices has also become an area of concern.

The awareness, however, with regard to the various methods by which mobile devices can be hacked and how this can be avoided is minuscule, according to Ankit Fadia, an independent computer security and digital intelligence consultant.

Addressing a press conference organised to launch his fourth book, 'An Ethical Guide to Hacking Mobile Phones', Fadia says, "We have always assumed that data stored on mobile phones is safe. Today we use our mobile phones to send sensitive data, store important information and even digitally sign on major documents. There is, therefore, greater threat to data security on mobile phones today."

The 20-year-old computer security expert, who is now close to becoming a billionaire, says, "It is possible for hackers to clone your SIM card and shift the charges of his calls and messages on you. Copying the address book, intercepting data, virus infections, password attacks and automatic locking are the other threats to mobile phones today."

He adds that there have been instances of corporate espionage as well, where businessmen have complained that their mobile phones were hacked by their competitors for gaining access to sensitive data.

"The new book that is being launched today not only details the ways in which mobile phones can be hacked but also explains how this can be avoided. So far, there has not been any book, globally, on mobile hacking," Fadia says.

Published by Macmillan India Ltd, the book is priced at Rs 220 and will be released abroad in a month's time.

Fadia, who was consulted for various inter-country cyber crimes also has corporate clients ranging from Google and Citibank to Wipro and Satyam. Next year, he plans to come out with a book on 'People Hacking'. "I also plan to set up restaurants in cities like Pune and Ahmedabad within the next six months," he adds.

Fadia has also become the brand ambassador for Kuoni Academy of Travel. The firm plans to start a course on travel BPO and Fadia will be helping them develop the modules for the course with regard to security issues.

"For instance, identity theft, can be an issue with regard to this industry," Fadia adds. Kuoni plans to start these courses in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore.