Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart cameras, routers, and home automation tools, are the most frequently hacked devices due to weak default security, outdated firmware, and constant, direct connection to the public internet. While smartphones (particularly Android) and laptops are also prime targets, IoT devices are often exploited more frequently because they lack robust, user-managed security measures.
Hackable Devices That Are in Everyday Use
K-iPhone – One Of The Most Secure Phones
This is in terms of the safety and security of your data. Also Read: How To Use A VPN On Android Smartphone – A Step-by-Step Guide!
If you're looking for well-known brands, the Apple iPhone and Google Pixel are two of the most secure smartphones available.
No, dialing *#21# does not tell you if your phone is genuinely "tapped" by surveillance software or the government, but it does check if unconditional call forwarding is enabled, which redirects calls and texts to another number, a common, but different, form of interception. While codes like *#21# (check forwarding) and ##002# (disable forwarding) can manage call routing, modern spyware is sophisticated and leaves no simple dial code to detect it, requiring checks for suspicious battery drain, overheating, or performance issues instead.
Penalties for Hacking
Hacking a computer for financial gain, committing another crime, or obtaining information valued over $5,000 can result in felony charges, which carry a potential sentence of up to ten years in federal prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
Kevin Mitnick. This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 16 December 2025. Kevin David Mitnick (August 6, 1963 – July 16, 2023) was an American computer security consultant, author, and convicted hacker.
The Dark Web is used by cybercriminals to buy and sell illegal goods and services, coordinate attacks, distribute malware and phishing kits, and share other prebuilt exploits. But, perhaps a big surprise to anyone thinking the Dark Web is just for criminal activity, it can also be leveraged for legitimate purposes.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro (with stock Android or GrapheneOS option) is Google's flagship device, leading the way in security with its Titan M2 chip, fastest monthly patches, and 7+ years of updates. Features like Private Space, Theft Protection, and on-device AI processing keep data safe.
Yes, you can remove a hacker from your phone, usually by disconnecting from the internet, removing suspicious apps, running a security scan with trusted antivirus software, changing all passwords (especially email/banking) from a different device, and as a last resort, performing a factory reset to wipe the device clean. Always back up essential data before a factory reset and monitor your accounts afterward for any lingering issues.
Financial Institutions: It may seem obvious, but hackers often target financial institutions in hopes of exposing personal information, such as Social Security numbers, or gaining fraudulent access to financial services, such as credit cards. Savvy hackers can find any number of ins to a customer's private profile.
A phone that is truly powered off cannot be hacked remotely. When the device is off, its wireless radios (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are inactive, and the operating system is not running, cutting off any connection for an attacker to exploit. In Airplane Mode, only the radios are disabled, but leaves the OS running.
Hackers fall into one of three general categories: white hat hackers, black hat hackers and gray hat hackers. But these aren't the only types of hackers that exist.
There's no single "top 5" list, as hackers are often anonymous, but Kevin Mitnick, the notorious phone phreaker turned security consultant, Kevin Poulsen, who cracked phone systems and later became a journalist, and figures like the collective Anonymous, Albert Gonzalez (credit card theft), and groups like Lapsus$ (extortion) are consistently cited as historically significant, notorious, or impactful for their skills and scale of breaches, spanning from early social engineering to modern cybercrime.
11 Biggest Cybersecurity Attacks in History
The FBI is the lead federal agency for investigating cyberattacks and intrusions. We collect and share intelligence and engage with victims while working to unmask those committing malicious cyber activities, wherever they are.
As of Jan 18, 2026, the average annual pay for an Ethical Hacker in the United States is $135,269 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $65.03 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,601/week or $11,272/month.
hacking is a slow, methodical process that can sometimes take hackers weeks or months to complete. The faster a hacker moves, the more noise they make and the higher the likelihood that they will be detected. Additionally, a full-blown breach of a company's network is rarely conducted by one person or even one group.