Protect Yourself from Cell Phone Spies Robert Siciliano www.IDTheftSecurity.com

9 May 2010 · 3 min

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This content was created by Robert Siciliano. This content was uploaded by Robert Siciliano. This is a YouTube video titled "Protect Yourself from Cell Phone Spies Robert Siciliano www.IDTheftSecurity.com" (posted May 9, 2010) that features a multi-speaker discussion about mobile-phone spyware and privacy risks. Participants include a narrator/host (Speaker A), Robert Siciliano (CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com), security expert Chris Wysopal, and several other speakers. The piece describes how easily spyware can be purchased and installed, what capabilities such spyware has (listening to calls, reading texts, accessing GPS and photos, activating cameras), signs a phone may be compromised (battery drain, background noise, odd texts), and offers basic advice for detection and response.

Chapters

Our mobile phones know all our secrets. Everything we search, say, and text. Even everywhere we go. So just imagine if your smartphone became a spy phone. They can view all the call logs, all the GPS logs. Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, says a degree in espionage these days is not required to electronically stalk someone. It takes as little as 10 minutes to take control of a phone. It costs as little as $15 to buy the software, and it's easily found online. Listen to live calls, view photos, read call logs, dominate other people's cell phones. You get the picture.
Anybody selling spyware today, they're telling you straight out exactly what it's for: to monitor your 12-year-old daughter, to monitor your employees, and to monitor your spouse to find out what he or she is doing.
So this text message means that he's made a call.
This woman installed spyware on her husband's phone. Every time he sends or receives a call, text, or email, her phone is alerted. She can even secretly conference herself into any of his calls and listen in from anywhere she has service.
Yeah, too bad you can't have somebody come out just to vacation with you.
I just can't believe that they have no clue that I'm now listening to this conversation.
The software also allows access to a your phone's GPS coordinates—where you are, where you have been, down to the street address. Even more eye-opening, perhaps, some spyware can actually activate your phone's camera, capturing your every move. As mobile technology advances, professional hackers are advancing from computers to phones.
It isn't just thrill-seekers trying to spy on people. It's really a criminal operation where they want to get personal information, financial information that they can use.
Software security expert Chris Wasopal says it's hard to tell if a phone has been bugged. Signs include sudden drops in battery life, ambient noise in the background during a call, and strange text messages from unfamiliar numbers.
Chances are if there's spyware on your phone, you're not gonna know about it.
Siciliano says the best thing to do is trust your instincts. If you think someone is spying, do not Trust your phone.