Mobile News

When it comes to the security of mobile phones by listening, much less of an interference with their software vendors and service providers unanimously declare: "Listening to it is technically impossible." Or: "The owner of the phone is sure to notice."

 

According to them, the police, in principle, be able to listen to conversations, read the SMS-messages and locate the owner, the date and duration of conversations. But only by court decision. At the technical capabilities and supposedly exhausted.

 

Such is the legend. However, in reality, now in Germany under investigation are a number of cases in which mobile phones were used as a mini-cell phone spy. Police programmed cell phones so that they can be activated by radio and listen to conversations you have in apartments and cars. "But we strictly comply with all laws", - says the Bavarian Criminal Police Commissioner Ludwig Valdinger. He lay on the fact that the phone off, this technique does not work.

 

Although there was a little disingenuous. Because many devices can be reconfigured: the owner will think that, disconnect your phone, but in reality he will remain engaged. Specialists from the departments of the criminal police in other lands, especially in Hamburg and Lower Saxony, is also aware of these technical tricks. Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), according to his representative, these opportunities are not using.

 

Interest is very ticklish. In Germany now operates 84 million mobile phones - more than the entire population. The market of cellular phones is thriving, manufacturers produce more and more and more complex models. They are not looking to scare their customers. But the police did not want to be on its methods become known to all. Therefore, the maximum that can be pulled from the police like Valdingera - is that the mobile phone can be used as bugging.

 

From a legal point of view of the obstacles to the use of modified phones no. In the section of the Criminal Procedure Code, which governs the audition, only refers to the use of technical means. A mobile phone, according to representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice, namely technical means.

 

Manufacturers and providers can deny how much you like that with a little trick the mobile phone into a mini-spy. But the American mafioso John Ardito of the famous clan Genovese is unmasked by cell phone that is configured to wiretap. This is evident from the case, which led Judge Lewis Kaplan of the New York federal district court. Ardito met with his lawyer only in places of pre-screened for the presence of listening devices. However, he did not know that "bug" was in his pocket. His mobile phone was configured so that investigators from the FBI could eavesdrop on his conversations.

 

"The whole thing in programming", - explains Sebastian Hajek of the Ruhr University in Bochum. The police may modify the program so that, although the display was extinguished and the calls are not received, but on a certain signal from outside the activated speakerphone - without ringing and without the inclusion of the display.

 

The owner thinks that his phone lying on the table, turned off, and actually included the line, which transmits all the sounds that are heard nearby. But the owner did not notice - it just surprised that the battery is discharged so quickly.

 

"We know that technically it is possible", - says Jochen Schiller, information technology mobile spy software specialist at the Free University in Berlin, is advising the GCA. Mobile phones - these are small computers, and can be programmed on the radio that many manufacturers and are doing quite unnoticed. The Lord of the intelligence enough to send "silent» SMS-messages to determine the coordinates of the cell phone.

 

According to Schiller, can be reprogrammed and the mobile phone spy and SIM-card: "It's not too difficult, especially if the police have good contact with the provider that is natural and probable. And the police have "two or three savvy kids."

 

This is especially easy if you can for a while to get the device cell phone spy in hand. But it is possible to reprogram the phone and through interfaces W-LAN, Bluetooth or Infrared.

 

"Mobile phones have never been reliably protected", - emphasizes Pyutts Wilhelm, head of safe mobile communication from the Federal Office for Security in Information Technology (BSI). You can, for example, send trojans. They can be hidden in video files, toys and ringtones.

 

The brochure BSI, on mobile communications, said: "You can be sure that the room is not bugged, but if you choose to decline smuggle mobile phones into the room, which must be protected from the plays." Just turn off the phone is not enough, because the reprogrammed cell phones can not completely exclude "insignificant shift in the mode of transmission."

 

Absolute protection against espionage using cell phone  spy offer only two options: remove the battery or use the device mobile phone listening device lock the cell phone. Generator noise Israeli production costs up to 4000 euros, and in Germany it is forbidden. It seems, for obvious reasons