'Zero-click Attacks:' What They Are and How to Protect Yourself

Zero-click Attacks are the latest method hackers use that require literally 'zero' interaction from the user to infect devices, with the potential to one day reach any application and platform. Zero-click attacks completely change the cybersecurity playing field. Up until recently, users have had to interact with something to compromise their data. To safeguard against security breaches, most people have avoided clicking suspicious emails, messages and risky downloads. However, to stay in front of sneaky hackers and their evolving tactics, technology users will have to adopt a whole new way of monitoring their devices for cyberattacks.

The most well-known zero attack spyware named Pegasus exploited a vulnerability in iMessage on iOS devices which Apple quickly patched with a spyware flaw fix. ScreenRant wrote an article for iOS users that details how to determine if an Apple device has been compromised if any readers need to check. Pegasus was created by the NSO Group, an Israeli hacker group that includes former members of the Israeli military intelligence. Both Apple and Facebook have filed lawsuits against NSO and its parent company to try and stop the proliferation of its zero-click attacks, but it seems it will do little to prevent hackers from using the same hacking technology.

Hackers operate outside of the rule of law and therefore aren't going to be the least bit dissuaded by any court action. More than likely, they'll shrug such lawsuits off as a frivolous waste of time. Right now, zero attacks are mainly confined to Apple iOS devices, but hackers have a considerable amount of resources to hunt for vulnerabilities on all platforms and devices. Their biggest goal is to find weak points and sell them to the highest bidder on the black market. For example, there was just a $3 million reward posted for anyone who could locate a zero-click attack weakness in Windows 10 or Android 12. It's only a matter of time until zero-click attacks become commonplace on all devices.

There are two reasons why Zero-click attacks are now so easy to carry out on smartphones. Firstly, the protective mechanisms for these devices are not as effective as those on computers. Secondly, more complex processes are required in order to present videos and images, meaning that the codes enabling such content to be displayed are often more complex than those on computers. This makes it easier for attackers to hack in and exploit security breaches in order to spread malware.

How Zero-Click Attacks Work

Zero-click attacks are regularly carried out for theft or espionage purposes. For theft, the aim may be to validate a payment made by the victim in order to divert their money. For espionage, the goal might be to recover sensitive data about a specific individual.

To pull off a zero-click attack, hackers send carefully coded data to a targeted device that's passed over any wireless signal. The data is designed to exploit a weakness in the hardware or software in the device, which will then run command executables once it has penetrated the vulnerability to extract or monitor data. The data packets commonly arrive as a communication message, like an MMS, voicemail, video conferencing call, WhatsApp, etc. While being interpreted by a specified target application, zero-click attacks hide in the data by appearing to be human-created.

While a user doesn't have to click on anything for the spyware to infect their device, more often than not, they will still be able to see the malicious data that is sent to their device. Therefore, it's a great idea to continuously monitor communication applications for strange or unknown calls, voicemails, or messages. If a person sees something suspicious, they should update the application and device's OS and immediately run a malware scan by an advanced Mobile Security app. Zero-click attacks may be a new, devious way that hackers infiltrate devices, but they're still preventable.