Experts have warned of a ‘flaw’ on iPhone and Android handsets that easily exposes your secret information to scammers – but there is a way to turn it off.
Mobile phone users are being alerted to a lesser-known setting on the majority of devices that can inadvertently divulge their confidential information to scammers, according to experts. It’s an alarming revelation at a time when fraud in the online gaming sector has skyrocketed by 64% year over year, jeopardising the personal data of millions of gamers.
However, this ‘vulnerability’ puts all mobile users at risk, not just avid gamers. Neal Taparia, Founder of Unwind Media, owners of 1000 Mines, has highlighted the issue.
He said: “Most players are completely unaware of how easily their personal information can be accessed.” He explains that while many anticipate scam attempts or bogus purchases within games, a much more insidious threat lies in the everyday use of smartphones.
“The clipboard on your phone is something you use dozens of times a day without thinking about it,” he pointed out. “When you copy a password, your address, or payment information, that data sits in your clipboard.
“Most people don’t realise that apps can access this information without any visible indication.” This flaw is especially alarming for gamers who may copy and paste login details, game codes, or cryptocurrency wallet addresses while toggling between applications.
According to Taparia, potentially harmful games could be programmed to stealthily scan the clipboard in the background. They could be siphoning off sensitive data even when the user is not actively engaged with the app, reports Bristol Live.
He said: “This setting exists on both iOS and Android devices, but it’s buried deep in the privacy settings where most users never look. It takes less than a minute to adjust, but it can save you from potentially devastating fraud.”
How to make the change
For iPhone users:
- Open your Settings app
- Scroll down and tap on “Privacy and Security”
- Select “Paste from Other Apps”
- For each gaming app (or all apps), select “Ask” or “Deny”
For Android users:
- Open Settings
- Go to “Privacy” or “Privacy and security”
- Select “Permission manager” or “App permissions”
- Find and tap on “Clipboard” (on some devices, you may need to look under “Additional permissions”)
- Review the list of apps and disable clipboard access for gaming apps
‘Gaming scams can be devastating’
This crucial clipboard privacy setting remains largely unknown to most phone users, according to Taparia. He said: “Developers want to make the onboarding process as frictionless as possible.
“They don’t highlight security features because they don’t want to raise concerns that might prevent installation. As a result, players rarely reconsider the permissions they’ve granted after the initial setup.”
The industry has been sluggish in addressing clipboard vulnerabilities, instead focusing on more prominent security concerns like account hijacking and fraudulent purchases, leaving clipboard protection largely up to the players themselves. Taparia stated: “This single setting adjustment acts as an invisible shield for gamers of all ages.
“The beauty of disabling clipboard access is that it addresses a vulnerability most security articles never mention. While antivirus software and two-factor authentication get all the attention, this simple toggle can prevent data theft before it even begins.
“I’ve seen how devastating gaming scams can be to players. From lost accounts to financial theft, the consequences extend far beyond the game itself. What’s most effective about the clipboard privacy setting is that it works proactively – you don’t have to recognise a scam to be protected from it. The setting simply blocks a major attack vector, regardless of how sophisticated the scam might be.”
Stressing on the balance between user ease and safety, he emphasised, “As mobile gaming continues to grow, we need to balance convenience with security. This setting strikes that perfect balance – it takes seconds to activate but provides constant protection.”