The latest tabloid headlines suggest that there are Russian hackers listening into every western leaders' meetings and calls. Some recent stories revolve around Apple watches and similar smart wearables being banned from British Cabinet and other government meetings (http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/10/13224968/apple-watch-banned-uk-australia-hacking), as they could us used to record and transmit what is being said. Smartphones are already banned, but this takes things up another level and highlights the risks to anyone. 

Another story is the Russians having hacked both political candidates in the run up to the US presidential election (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/russia-hack-u-s-politics-bigger-disclosed-includes-gop-n661866). If the likely leaders of the free world can't stay safe, then what hope do the rest of us have? 

Spying on the little people

While most spyware and malware is aimed at PCs, to steal your business data, banking details or credit card information, hackers are now taking aim at our mobile devices. They can use a fake app to turn the microphone and camera on to record what you say and do. They can use automated monitoring to scan whatever is said by the thousands of people who download the app, steal useful bits of information, all without lifting a finger. With millions of pieces of dubious Android apps out there, and a growing number of corrupt Apple iOS apps, the risk is growing that anyone could download and use one of these pieces of software. Then, you only have to say or do the wrong thing at the wrong time, and you will be in their clutches. 

All it takes is to be in front of the phone's camera at the wrong moment; say something inappropriate about a friend, family or your workplace or be geo-located by phone or smartwatch to somewhere you really shouldn't be. 

Hackers could then try to blackmail you with an inappropriate picture, or try to get you to work for them using what you said as leverage, claiming to go public with what you said. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you do, the criminals are after just another victim to hold hostage, or to do their work for them. Unsurprisingly this is a booming trade. Consider the number of businesses around the world that are having their data held for ransom, then consider the number of smartphone users there are in the world. 

Young people are especially vulnerable, as they are less likely to know about internet security, VPNs, secure communications and so on. They are also more likely to be worried about being exposed over something relatively trivial, and while they might only have £100 in their back account, it would soon add up to criminals using apps to spy on potentially millions of people. Worse, criminals could blackmail them into sending explicit pictures of themselves to the hackers, they could easily be spread far and wide, creating far greater problems with depression and suicide likely to affect some.

Staying safe online

However small and invisible you feel among the billions of internet users and devices out there, it is dead wrong to think hackers have no interest in you. Hackers count the numbers of systems, websites, services and devices they have cracked in the billions. While they can't physically monitor all those devices, they have programs that scan for passwords, pictures, and trigger words used in conversations. 

To avoid being hit, you should:

• Ensure your device, network and PC security is up to date. Always have the latest operating system version and ensure daily automatic updates are on for your firewall and antivirus software. 

• Only download apps from an official store, and never download an app that is unknown, poorly rated, seems to come from an unofficial source or has poor English in the description or features. 

• Use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt and protect your data, and anonymise your details when you are working out and about, using public Wi-Fi hotspots or other connections. 

• When connecting to banking, shopping or other websites where you need to provide information, ensure they use the HTTPS: header in the web link to ensure a secure connection between you and the site (our own site is configured that way to protect your information).

Once you are suitably protected, never think you are safe. Keep checking new apps and ensure sites remain secure over time. Learn all you can about hackers and online threats to understand the risks, and the methods they use to trick people into giving up information. 

Beyond all that, we should start treating our devices not just as our personal assistants, but as potential risks to our safety. Start turning devices off when they are not needed. Cover the camera lens on a phone or notebook PC when it is not required, and start limiting the many permissions we give apps and websites in the Settings or Options menus on phones or browsers. By stopping these apps doing things they shouldn't be able to do, we can all be a little bit safer.