M’sian Advises Public Not to Bring Mobile Phones to Polling Stations Due to Threat of Hacking

For first time voters, it might be tempting to bring your phone along with you to document and record your experience voting for the first time.

However, the Election Commission (EC) has announced that the use of mobile phones inside polling stations will not be allowed.

As such, you may use your phone to kill time while standing in line, but you’d have to surrender your phone once you collect your ballot paper.

But, according to a Malaysian self-taught ethical hacker, this might not be the wisest move.

In a Twitter post that has gone viral, Twitter user @BeardtimusPrime shared that leaving your phone unattended and in the hands of volunteers at polling stations raises many security bells.

This raises SOOO many security bells.

PSA: NEVER LEAVE YOUR SMARTPHONE UNATTENDED. Put security tape over the USB/Lightning port/s before handing it over, if you absolutely must bring your phone along. https://t.co/0kRaIwXbkF

— Sam Fisher (@BeardtimusPrime) November 10, 2022

In a response to an infographic about the on-the-day process, he said that you should never leave your smartphone unattended and if you had to, you should at least put security tape over the USB/Lightning port before handing it over.

How could that be possible?

In an interview with WORLD OF BUZZ, the Twitter user explained that the issue lies in the fact that you’d be handing over your phone to volunteers, with close to zero vetting and background checks.

“Physically handing over your device is the worst thing to do when it comes to security. It’s similar to sharing passwords.”

He then explained that there are various ways hackers could access your data with your device in their hands and that simply turning off a smartphone doesn’t truly turn it off unless you were to take the battery out which requires special tools.

“Malware injection is still possible as the device will be in a ‘soft-off’ state,” he explained.

He then shared an explainer video on how hackers could easily access your data simply by plugging in what appears to be a standard cable which would allow them to remotely control and access your phone.

The video showed how people who have managed to access your phone would be able to read your messages, send messages from your phone and other worrisome things.

If you’d like to find out more on how exactly this can happen, checkout the video below:

We hope that this will serve as a reminder to never leave your phone unattended. Are you still planning to bring your phone to the voting stations?

Also read: Voting For The First Time? Here Are 6 Things You Should Take Note of During GE15!