Phone hacking and leaking of personal data are commonplace in today’s connected world. The problem is that if you want to do anything online, you have to give out personal information like your email address and phone number. This makes internet users vulnerable to identity theft and can allow hackers access to sensitive data such as banking details and passwords. It also makes it easier for scammers and dubious companies to send unauthorized robocalls your way.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about how to stop intrusive robocalls. We’ll also talk about the best ways to stop phone hacking. 

What is a robocall?

A robocall is a phone call that’s generated by a computer rather than an actual person. If you answer the phone and get a recorded message, that is a robocall. Robocalls from companies trying to sell you something are illegal in the U.S. unless you’ve opted in.

Some unauthorized robocalls are allowed. These include calls by non-profit organizations soliciting donations, calls about candidates running for office, or public service announcements about school closures or dangerous weather conditions.

Of course, many robocalls are scams, such as those claiming to be from government agencies like the IRS.

How can you avoid spam or scam robocalls?

If your phone number has been leaked in a data breach, you’re likely to experience more suspicious activity than usual. One option is to change your phone number. However, that can be a hassle because you’ll need to notify contacts and update your accounts.

Instead of changing your number, consider installing a spam blocking app. Many spam blocking products provide services for both texts and calls.

Here are two products that we generally consider as the best spam call blockers on the market:

Robokiller

Robokiller estimates they can reduce spam calls by 90% within 30 days. Their Answer Bots even respond to spam calls on your behalf.

What is Robocaller?

Robokiller is a subscription-based spam call and text blocking app that uses spam detection algorithms to identify and block unwanted calls and texts.

The app allows users to customize their call-blocking settings, offers features such as “answer bots” to waste a scammer’s time, and provides a visual voicemail feature so you can review intercepted calls. 

Monthly subscription fee: Robokiller has a free seven-day trial. After that, it costs about $4.99/month or $39.99/year (as of June 2025). 

Pros of Robokiller

  • Effective spam blocking: Robokiller uses predictive analysis and audio fingerprinting to identify and block spam calls and texts, potentially saving users from annoying and potentially fraudulent calls.
  • Answer bot: Users can choose to have answer bots hassle any robo callers that attempt to contact you.

Cons of Robokiller

  • False positives: Some users have reported that Robokiller can incorrectly identify legitimate calls as spam, leading to missed calls.
  • Not available for landlines: As an app-based service, Robokiller is only able to protect mobile devices.
  • Higher cost: Some users feel Robokiller’s monthly subscription fee is too much for a call blocker.

Nomorobo

Nomorobo identifies robocalls and answers them so they don’t get through to you. They let legitimate automated calls get through, like school closings and doctors’ office reminders. Nomorobo is a Winner of the FTC Robocall Challenge.

Monthly subscription fee: Nomorobo’s basic plan costs $1.99 a month (as of June 2025), which makes it a cheaper option than Robokiller.

Pros of Nomorobo

  • Effective robocall blocking: Nomorobo is able to effectively block robocalls and telemarketing calls by leveraging a large database of known spam numbers and call screening capabilities.
  • Voicemail analysis: Nomorobo’s voicemail analysis service adds an extra layer of protection by screening recorded messages.
  • Adaptable to new spam numbers: While it may not catch brand new spam numbers immediately, the system adapts quickly as its database expands.
  • Whitelisting options: Users can whitelist important numbers to prevent accidental locking.

Cons of Nomorobo

  • Legitimate calls may be blocked: While Nomorobo aims to block robocalls , there is a risk of it incorrectly identifying and blocking legitimate calls, especially if the caller’s number is spoofed
  • Lacks interactive features: Unlike Robokiller, which has answer bots that waste scammers’ time, Nomorobo just blocks the calls that come in
  • Has limited compatibility: Nomorobo primarily works with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) landlines, which means it is not suitable for traditional landlines or cell phones that are not smart phones. 

Both options are good choices for increased security. Robokiller provides more services, but has disclosed that they collect incoming call information. Nomorobo provides less functionality but has better privacy controls.

Situations when Nomorobo is the better option

Nomorobo will be more beneficial in situations where the user is using VoIP landline, as it is one of the few services that supports landlines. Additionally, Nomorobo provides a simpler and less invasive call-blocking experience by screening calls with a single ring before blocking them, a simpler process than Robokiller’s answer bots.

Situations when Robokiller is the better option

Robokiller is ideal for your personal devices, as it offers spam-blocking to iPhones and Androids on all carriers throughout the United States and Canada. Robokiller is also ideal for users who want spammers to get a taste of their own medicine, as their answer bots can frustrate and help slow phishing scam attacks against both you and other targets.

How can you stop a hack on your phone number?

It’s incredibly important to protect your phone number and limit the number of places you share it. This is because identity thieves can take over your phone number and use it on their own mobile device. Not only will they gain access to your texts and calls, but they will also receive personal information, like details for your family members and other contacts.

However, what the bad guys are really after is credit card data and access to your online accounts. They can get around account passwords by resetting them with codes sent to your number. This allows the hackers to access your bank account. From there, they have easy access to your personal information, passwords, and linked accounts.

To prevent your phone number from being hacked, you can set security options on your phone and also on your phone account. Different carriers have different security options including two-factor authentication, number locking to prevent SIM swaps, and biometric verification. 

For more detailed information about protecting your phone number, check out this blog post: How to Protect Your Phone Number from Being Stolen.

For award-winning personal, concierge cybersecurity services, contact the experts at BlackCloak.