Spying via cell phones

[craigwatanabe]

Interesting article (http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=3497)from Kim Kommando on how hackers are taking over cell phones by remotely turning on the phone's microphones and even cameras while they sit on the kitchen table. All a hacker needs is the cell phone's IP address.

I take it that only Internet-capable phones are affected but this is amazing. I remember when web cams could be used that way but with cell phones, this opens up even more as anything stored on a cell phones such as text messages, addresses, phone numbers and even photo's could be hacked into and thrown anywhere on the internet.

[GeckoGeek]

Actually, it sounds to me what they have to do first is infect the phone. Usually done by having physical access to it. But I can see how it can be done by using some security issues.

[craigwatanabe]

The article did indicate that the infection can be done via a downloaded photo.

[GeckoGeek]

The article did indicate that the infection can be done via a downloaded photo.

Assuming that the phone has an unpatched vulnerability where decompressing a maliciously constructed photo could infect it, yes. Both IE and FireFox had that problem some time back. I covered it with a broader "using some security issues".

[TATTRAT]

Well, this is something that has been around about or a while. The whole "Boost mobile" thing features a service to know where your friends are. This could be seen as spying but the other party has to agree to someone knowing his/her where abouts.

IT COULD BE WORSE (http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/06/08/google-research-prototypes-ambient-audio-contextual-content/)

Seems like someone wants an eye on another one. Imagine being pron and someone/thing listening on you idle conversation for "key" words.

I am NOT a conspiracy theorist, but sounds like the media(Government) wants to keep track of what people are really interested it...