Voicemail Hack: What is it and What Can You Do?

What Is a Voicemail Hack?

A voicemail hack occurs when a person gets illegal access to your voicemail service. The intruder checks the system for weaknesses and gains access using specific tools or technical knowledge. Although a voicemail hack may seem like a high-tech scam, it is easy to perpetuate. While most voicemail hackers target businesses, residential voicemail accounts also fall victim to these hackers. Unfortunately, everyone is susceptible to a voicemail account hack, whether or not you have an active account.

How Can a Hacker Get Into Your Voicemail?

The following are a few reasons why hackers may easily access your voicemail:

• Firstly, the default pin is usually a four-digit numeric passcode. Most people use their year of birth, a repetitive number, or a consecutive number in ascending or descending order as their password.
• Secondly, most service providers issue a default pin, which is common to all customers. Many people do not change their passcode from the default, making it easy for hackers to access numerous accounts.
• Thirdly, it is sometimes easy for the hacker to determine the network for your number. Unfortunately, hackers can quickly obtain this information via a free online phone number lookup tool or by calling the phone when switched off. Operators usually announce the service provider’s name when informing a caller that the recipient’s phone is switched off.

Voicemail hackers exploit these weaknesses by placing calls and trying to reach your voicemail box. They then guess the password or attack your activated voicemail using brute-forcing software. Accounts not yet activated may be easier breached since the hackers can use a default passcode to gain access. After successfully accessing your account, the hacker then uses a script to activate call flooding to guarantee that all your calls go straight to voicemail. The hacker now has access to your voicemail account and all voicemail messages.

The hacker may also modify your outgoing message to trick automated collect calling services, and change the outgoing message to a phrase such as “yes, yes operator, I accept the charges.” Unfortunately, automated call collection systems are programmed to catch such phrases. When the hacker places a collect call, the operator detects the phrase and connects the call, giving the perpetrator unauthorized access.

The Key Takeaways About Voicemail Hacks

It is essential to note the following about voicemail hacks:

• Voicemail hackers break into an organization’s voicemail account on weekends or holidays when they are sure to reach voicemail. Also, weekends and holidays allow them to operate for much longer and be done long before the organization notices any change to the outgoing message.
• Most organizations only find out when they receive reports on high traffic usage from their service providers. Individuals mostly find out when they get an unusually high phone bill.
• Most hackers live abroad. They route their calls through many countries around the world.

So what can a hacker do after taking over your voicemail?

• Cut off your access to your voicemail box for as long as possible.
• Infect your phone with malware.
• Use a simple script to reset the passwords to all your online accounts, including Whatsapp, Netflix, and PayPal.
• Initiate long-distance calls that leave you with massive telephone bills running into thousands of dollars.
• Identity theft. If you have your bank account email or sensitive information stored on your phone. Once the hacker has access to your voicemail, they may be able to obtain information stored on your phone.

How to Prevent a Voicemail Hack

Voicemails can be easily compromised and remain vulnerable to hacking. Therefore, to reduce the likelihood of a voicemail attack, phone users should adhere to the following:

• Never use consecutive numbers, repeated numbers, an address, your year of birth, or a default passcode as your PIN. Change the PIN on your voicemail to something complex.
• Where possible, program your voicemail account to require at least six to eight characters for your password.
• Protect your PIN.
• Change your password frequently. You can program your voicemail to require a password change or set up reminders to change it after a predetermined period.
• Make it a daily habit to check the greeting message on your voicemail to ensure the greeting is yours. Organizations should always check their greeting messages after a weekend or holiday.
• Check your voicemail settings. Ensure you disable any options asking to bypass authentication when calling from the number. Also, disable features such as out-paging, auto-attendant, remote notification, and call-forwarding if you do not use them.
• Delete your voicemail regularly.
• Call your service provider to disable the voicemail service if you do not use your voicemail account. Businesses should also remove all unassigned voicemail boxes from their accounts.
• Contact your service provider to disable your SIM card if you lose your mobile phone.
• Consider blocking international calls if you or your business does not receive calls from outside the country. Organizations that call internationally can use authorization codes as a protective measure. Authorization codes require six extra digits dialed when placing a call.
• Activate two-factor authentication. This authentication requires physical access to your phone, making it difficult for hackers to remotely breach your account.
• Protect your phone number. Unless your phone number is required for two-factor authentication, do not provide your number to online services. Use app-based authentication rather than SMS-based codes.

What to Do if Your Voicemail Is Hacked

If you suspect you are a victim of a voicemail hack, take the following steps:

• Inform your service provider immediately.
• Report the voicemail hack to law enforcement.
• Ask your service provider to disable your voicemail account if not in use.

What It Takes to Prevent Voicemail Hacks

Voicemail hack is a popular scam easy for hackers to execute. However, whether you are an individual or a business, it is a straightforward process to protect yourself from voicemail hacking. Using a secure password, protecting your PIN, safeguarding your phone number, and disabling unwanted features greatly reduce your vulnerability to a voicemail hack.