Cell Phone Bugging - Easy

[CCT]

Sad to say, but everything is full of holes these days;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCyKcoDaofg

[Guts3d]

Yikes! Scary stuff...

[Draggar]

The girl in the video can easily come down with a small list of suspects -

To install the SW etc.. someone would physically need the phone in their hand for several minutes.

Prime suspect: bratty little brother (if she has one).
Suspect #2: Ex-boyfriend
Suspect #3: Jealous "nice guy" friend she always blows off and ignores.

[Guts3d]

Maybe a jealous clerk at the phone store, who would have access to the phone to load just about anything.

[slgrieb]

The girl in the video can easily come down with a small list of suspects -

To install the SW etc.. someone would physically need the phone in their hand for several minutes.

Prime suspect: bratty little brother (if she has one).
Suspect #2: Ex-boyfriend
Suspect #3: Jealous "nice guy" friend she always blows off and ignores.

Unless it were a cop, of course. Following 9/11 police have the ability to do all of this to any newer cell phone without installing any software. Thanks to the Department of Homeland Security throwing around billions, even very small police departments have the equipment to do it. Of course, there are legal protections in place.

[Draggar]

Unless it were a cop, of course. Following 9/11 police have the ability to do all of this to any newer cell phone without installing any software. Thanks to the Department of Homeland Security throwing around billions, even very small police departments have the equipment to do it. Of course, there are legal protections in place.

1) She didn't seem like a terrorist - I doubt the resources would be worth it.
2) Any of that would require the assistance of the carrier.

I don't think your average police officer will have the capabilities or authority to do what was being done to her.

[slgrieb]

What's truly interesting about the hardware that most PD's have is that it really doesn't require technical expertise, or the consent of the carrier. It's pretty much turn on the system, pick a number to tap, and it's off to the races.

The degree of protection you have from unauthorized eavesdropping is a function of the integrity of your police department. Right now a cell phone tap is much easier to implement than a wiretap on a land line, because it can be done right at the station with no outside cooperation needed.

So, if you're confident that your local police force wouldn't engage in a little rule-bending for a fellow officer who had a grudge against an ex-wife, someone who owed him money, or whatever, then there really isn't any need to worry.