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How To Protect Your Cell Phone from Hackers

Celebs like Scarlett Johansson and Mila Kunis aren’t the only ones whose phones are at risk of being hacked. Secure your phone with these simple tips and tricks (13 Photos)

Sadia Latifi on Oct 18, 2011 at 3:55PM

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How To Protect Your Cell Phone from Hackers

Michael Buckner/WireImage; Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Secure Your Phone, No Matter Who You Are

Scarlett Johansson’s nude photos aren’t the only private thing being exposed by hackers these days. As smartphones become more sophisticated, hackers are using new and old techniques to grab onto your private information.

Christopher Chaney, the Florida man who hacked mobile devices and email accounts belonging to Johansson, Christina Aguilera, Mila Kunis and other celebrities, was arrested last week on multiple charges of hacking. He faces up to 121 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.

But the risk of phone hacking isn’t isolated to high-profile celebrities, security experts say. Smartphones with data plans are just like computers -- and susceptible to the same kind of attacks. The problem is that most people don’t look at their phone that way.

“I actually believe they’re more vulnerable [than computers],” said Joseph Steinberg, a cybersecurity expert and CEO of Green Armor Solutions. “One of the things that needs to change is an attitude shift. We still call them cell phones, but today what you have in your pocket is a miniature computer. It’s constantly communicating with outside parties… It’s portable, and you can lose it.”

Read on for tips on how to protect your phone.