Smartphone users are highly sensitive about privacy, not least because so much personal data is stored in just a few square centimeters. We shudder at the thought of what happened to Jennifer Lawrence and company, and that it may happen to us; someone spying on our most intimate data.
Yet that’s not all we should be wary of: There are some spy programs that can even remotely activate the microphone on your device and record you. One of the most infamous of these is StealthGenie, a spyware app that behaves like a Trojan and supports iOS, Android and Blackberry. It can geolocate the device, listen to conversations, capture messages and images and even activate the microphone, tracking all your actions throughout the day.
A company video claimed that the app had more than 100,000 satisfied customers, though it looks like the game is now up. Last October the company’s CEO was arrested in the USA for promoting and selling this phone monitoring app..
It is paradoxical at least that this arrest should have occurred in the United States, where it has been revealed, thanks to Edward Snowden, that the government has been spying on the phones of so many users around the world. Such revelations from the CIA’s ex security analyst revealed that the NSA was using all types of systems to spy on smartphones, even using apps such as Angry Birds. And you thought killing a few pigs from your cell phone wouldn’t have any consequences!
A simple search will return a host of apps that promise to enable you to spy on your neighbor’s phone. So next time you need to visit the bathroom, perhaps it’s best not to take your phone with you.
Researchers at Stanford University have been analyzing these apps and the ease with which our phone mikes can be turned against us. For this purpose they have developed their own app, Gyrophone, which turns the phone gyroscope into a means for capturing acoustic signals between 80 and 250 Hz (e.g. the human voice). This demonstrates how easy it is to spy on users.
By using this app, they have shown that it is possible to identify both the person speaking as well as what they are saying by measuring the acoustic signals in the vicinity of the phone. The researchers have already demonstrated this on Android devices and are now working on iPhone.
Other universities are also concerned about smartphone spying. Researchers at Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto have analyzed the Italian ‘Hacking team’ spyware. They have worked out how it manages to store all user information, take screen grabs, record audio conversations, use the GPS tracker or activate the microphone when users are connected to a public Wi-Fi network.
The researchers have also uncovered the existence of 350 servers in 40 countries around the world storing data from this tool. Are governments around the world using these tools to monitor our every move?
So if you thought that tapping phones in hotel rooms, with a group of police or high-tech criminals monitoring all conversations belonged only in spy movies, you were wrong. Be aware that your smartphone, which you always keep within arm’s length so as not to feel lonely, is potentially a tool for spying on every sound you make. All you can do is be more careful with your phone security and pray that your life is so boring that nobody wants to spy on you.
More | 10 Reasons to install an Antivirus on your phone or Android Tablet
Panda Security specializes in the development of endpoint security products and is part of the WatchGuard portfolio of IT security solutions. Initially focused on the development of antivirus software, the company has since expanded its line of business to advanced cyber-security services with technology for preventing cyber-crime.
28 comments
I notice that a flashlight app can spy on you. Your Mic, your Camera , Sms and contacts. How can this be prevented? And is it true that mobile phone companies can remotely operate your cell phone? If this is true, how do we prevent this from happening.
Thank you
It’s been over a year and I see noone has answered the question-“how can we stop this”. Your article was useless.
Hello,
Prevention it is the most important action one should take. As we mention in another post: “Preventing your microphones from being compromised relies on two principles: installing anti-malware tools to block hackers, and applying common sense – paying attention to the apps you install and use. You must pay special attention to the apps you give permission to access your microphones. If you notice that your microphones are being used without permission, there may be a problem.”
We hope this helps.
Thanks for reading us!
Best regards,
Panda Security.
I myself have had hacking issues for several years now from a crazy x who knows a guy who did contract work for big companies in tech industry. It is very possible to have access to your phone even via Bluetooth where they can synchronize another phone to mimic yours in every possible way. Microphone, aps emails, phone calls the works. I’ve spent a lot of money on encription only for it to be eventually cracked and I’m hacked again. It’s virtually impossible to know sometimes when it’s been cracked or what they can and can’t hear, see ect. It’s destroyed my life to say the least. The only thing I’ve been able to do is continuously have my phone scanned have it removed re install encryption and wait for a while and re do the process…. I believe my case is much more rare than most since I do know people who are capable of hacking others and most of them are only able to see texts and emails. Sometimes location, but that can be turned off and becomes useless. I have yet to find anyone who has a sustainable solution to preventing these infiltrations. Some larger companies who do work for police agencies and fbi charge upwards of $900 to rid the malware. Problem is most tell u they can not provide safety in any of the apps. So my best advice at a minimum is this….
. Never disclose any info over a phone call that you don’t want someone else to know, all your apps are an open book never disclose info in apps either, nor an app wallet, never store card info on your cloud for instance apple will store your info. BAD IDEA my I cloud was hacked easily exposing card numbers and info on all synched devices. Texts is a givin incoming and outgoing all can be seen.
The worst is the microphone!! It’s on at all times so they can hear eveything so being careful about what’s said while your phone is out becomes very difficult to remember. Ie…( where we r going to dinner so my crazy x can staulk me or when I’ll be somewhere so she can break into my home while gone ect. ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED BTW!
They can see all your pics to so never store personal pics or take pics of anything such as important papers or documents ect.
I hope this helps to be safe your only safe bet is to have the phone checked and wiped regularly but always assume there watching and listening our world is not what it seems my friends.
I also have been hacked/ harassed for several years and no one can help me. I am at a loss of what to do. I though I was the only one that had this issue. I have no clue who it even is or who has the ability to do such a thing. I have filed several reports with the FBI and the Local Police with zero help from them. They infiltrate everything, including email, cell phone, home WiFi, work phone. social media and so on.
True I’m even being brain read constantly with the cell camera with the use of the microphone constantly it never stops its hard to convince people that you can hear the talking amazing that there are people that are that infatuated with someone that they go to extreme lengths to destroy someone’s brain
Wow this is happening to me as well. People always look at me like I’m crazy and say its not possible. But it sure is. if u are tech savvy enough it is possible. I wonder if you can prove who is doing it then they would get charged. But that is hard to do as well. Its amazing what people with no life will do to other people. If anyone else has some great suggestions how to stop this kind of harassment that would be so good! And i’m so sorry this happened to you i sure can empathize since I’m going through the same thing except with a crazy neighbour.
Wow. This is exactly what is happening to me. Is there anyway to disable the microphone? That is such an extreme invasion of privacy- how can there not be some sort of prevention or help to stop this ??
Jesse, if you could please offer some sort of advice I would greatly appreciate it. This is such an extreme form of harassment – especially to have all your conversations and whatever you do heard through the microphone-even when your phone is off!
My neighbors sexual harassing me every day and night but I don’t know what to do to prove it. I can hear them they got a device that can hear us with us even opening our mouth to talk, they know when we call cops and stock me every where, what device can that be?
I have the same exact situation happening to me for more than 1.5 years but caught the pervert about 9.5 months ago. I am currently working on how to prove this crime is happening to me and found that it’s a crime called voice-to-skull. I have come very far and actually found a way to record these idiots. Have you received any help or a way to prove this? If not, I can tell you my process in hopes it might help you.
Need help. Could you please help me as how to get rid of this? All my phones, including my parents and friends. internet router, everything is hacked. Need to get rid of this malicious spyware
Ah ha that device has to be called bipolar
I also have perv neighbors spying on me I’m figuring it out a little at a time. Any help to put them outta business so to speak would be great 🙂
May be this is a solution a hard-ware based one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uSUCUjbB_c
such an informative article dear.
We are glad to know you are enjoying our content!
Kind regards,
Panda Security.
it is very genuine…i have used it for a lot of clients
That is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
Short but very precise info… Appreciate your sharing this one.
A must read post!
nice article
I use Mic Control for android… keeps your mic muted until you place or receive a call
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tailor.media.mic.app
amazing
Zena,
I Need Help. Could you please help me, how can I get rid of this malware? All my phones, including my parents and friends. internet router, everything is hacked. Need to get rid of this malicious spyware
Thank you, buddy, I was searching for such great information. Loved your detailed and comprehensive guide. Thank you once again and keep it up.