Hacking is the use of vulnerabilities and weaknesses in phone or computer systems. Hackers then can steal data, spy you/your contacts, set up backdoors and engage in illegal activities. Often, hackers are only interested in making money and will even publish embarrassing/sensitive information about you online to do so.
They may also cause a computer or phone to be infected with virus, causing it to be slow and susceptible for error messages. They can also record your conversations! Trojans, which are viruses are often hidden in images, music files and games for free. They are also found in toolbars, apps and even toolbars. People can also be affected by trojans when they open an infected email attachment or click on malicious links. Hackers can upload trojans to vulnerable websites to affect as many people as they can. Remote administration tools (RATs) are a new method of hacking. These programs give the attacker full control over the victim's computer.
In the films, hackers are the masters of figuring out passwords to accounts - however, in reality, they overcome this problem by using malware instead. This can be malware that records passwords you type, or trojans that allow hackers to listen to your conversations using the microphone on your phone.
The majority of successful hacking attempts start by sending phishing text messages, which trick you into clicking on calls or links. This could result in an intruder having all access to your phone or computer or private information, and this can be avoided by ensuring you know who is sending you a message before you choose to download, call or click anything. It is also vital to keep your operating system up-to-date and scan/delete all attachments prior to you download them.