Hacking a mobile phone

Captain Slow IRL

Is it possible to remotely hack a phone and activate things like skype, the camera function and listen into conversations?!

28064212

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Is it possible to remotely hack a phone and activate things like skype, the camera function and listen into conversations?!

The NSA could. Google/Apple/Microsoft probably could. For anybody else, it's going to depend on an awful lot of variables

EGriff

It could probably be done, but the hacker would need physical access to the phone for a while to sideload their own app(s). I don't think you could activate skype or the camera without the person using the phone noticing since they'll appear on screen.

Captain Slow IRL

A family member was concerned that his phone was hacked, I was trying to tell them it wasn't possible. They were claiming skype was going off and their camera was activated a few times.

When you say it depends on variables; could anyone go on the internet to download software or information that would help them do it?

28064212

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

A family member was concerned that his phone was hacked, I was trying to tell them it wasn't possible. They were claiming skype was going off and their camera was activated a few times.

When you say it depends on variables; could anyone go on the internet to download software or information that would help them do it?

Couldn't be done remotely. If someone had access to the phone, it's just about conceivable, but still exceptionally unlikely.

If they're that worried, get them to wipe it and reset it to factory settings

EGriff

What kind of phone is it? To be honest i think the chances are very slim.

Someone could sniff the packets of data and maybe get their skype password if they have access to the same network but that wouldn't allow them to activate it on the phone itself.

Even getting the password is unlikely since I'm sure its pretty well encrypted.

Unless someone physically had their hands on the phone and installed some kind of remote access software I don't see how they could access the camera either.

Are you sure they're not just pressing buttons by accident?

TBi

I'd generally say this is almost impossible, but if it's an android phone and they got a virus that took control of the phone it is conceivable. Haven't heard about it in the wild yet though.

Tom Dunne

Remotely hackable? Unlikely.

Hackable if the user downloaded bogey software from an untrusted source? Possible.

First thing to check - what software was downloaded recently.

Captain Slow IRL

That's fine lads, thanks for yere help!

Qwerty?

If Cerberus was installed on it, isnt is possible to take control of it on the internet, take photos etc. And afaik it can be hidden in the background.

Obviously someone would have needed access to the phone in the first place

paradisepaddy

Is it an android phone? apparently 99% of devices on this platform are vunerable to a trojan exploit so it is possible. Isn't there antivirus software available though that should probably detect programs asking for access to camera etc.

look on google news for 'android exploit'

or
http://bluebox.com/corporate-blog/bluebox-uncovers-android-master-key/

PP

Tom Dunne

From the BBC website on the BlueBox discovery:

The danger from the loophole remains theoretical because, as yet, there is no evidence that it is being exploited by cyber-thieves.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23179522