Cell Phone Hijacking
 

Someone just sent a video of a news clip about hijacking cell phones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCyKcoDaofg) to me. Evidently there's software that allows you to track someone's location, monitor text messages and phone calls, and even activate the microphone and listen in when they're not on the phone.

Scary stuff. Anyone know the best way to protect yourself from this type of software? ..or how to detect it?

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

I checked out the news network's article on the matter. I found this part particularly funny:

Based on WTHR's test, here are some subtle signs that could suggest your cell phone is being secretly tapped:

- Cell phone battery is warm even when your phone has not been used
- Cell phone lights up at unexpected times, including occasions when phone is not in use
- Unexpected beep or click during phone conversation


Yeah...or they are signs you're using an HTC phone! :)

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

lol at post #2

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

Found another Youtube video that has some helpful tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujosfSkHFrQ&NR=1

Basically, if you notice your battery draining much quicker than usual or that your phone is staying warm/hot between calls, it's probably constantly sending data.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

this has to actually be put on your phone for someone to spy on you... nothing really that scary if you don't leave your cellphone lying around.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

+1 for the above. Additionally, my expectation of privacy in the digital age that we now live in is about zero...as well yours should be too.

I could go on but we all know that this thread is be monitored.

late,
Coz

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

When I see thread like these it always reminds me of Flexispy as seen in the video.

http://www.flexispy.com/

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

So what should we do for this things not to get happen to us,,,,,, and even i heard they will hijack through bluetooth also we should not keep on the bluetooth in the public,,,,,

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

I think you guys are talking about Phone Creeper >
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=527423

I was keeping up with the thread at the beginning but lost interest.
The developer was supposed to develop a program to counter the original program so it could be detected and disabled.
I am not sure if he did or not.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

Does it install over the air?

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

No. You need access to the device that you want to install it on.
Once you install it, you can then access the device regarding eavesdropping, text recipients, numbers called, etc.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

It shouldnt be too much of a problem then if they have to have the phone to install it.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

not to mention you would hopefully notice a random program either with a decent task manager or remove programs

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

a great FREE software to help conter this is...flexis (or something like that) and it detects phone creeper

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

Bluetooth is surprisingly easy to hijack phones with.

Same here, I lost interest in that thread also.
I kept posting how it was a bad idea from the beginning...
but no one ever listens to me. :D

There's otherways to install actually.
Could be attached to a program you download from forums.
PPC programs that have been cracked could also have this program secretly in it.
If you really want to be technical a simple webpage and some javascript to detect if it's a phone browser could then download it to your phone as a "cookie" or something that could install itself in the background.
There's always ways to do that.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

Just to clarify, if you wanted to put this application on your Spouses device, you would need access to the device to install it yourself.
After that, you would be able to access the features remotely.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

I live in Indianapolis (WTHR is our local news) and saw this air while sitting with my wife. Knowing that I'm constantly messing with both of our phones, she gave me that look when it aired like "you better not". LOL! I told her that I can't stand to listen to her and her friends gab about what happened last night on Real Housewives of Atlanta, and had ZERO interest in listening to ANYTHING they were talking about. :)

Kinda cool to see a clip from our local news made PPCGeeks news!

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

Thankfully, HTC phones are not in the same league. Because they are more diverse and offer more features to counter the possibility of hacking into a phone like that of a WinMo, its easier to be safe than say, with a BREW phone people can hack into.

usually its hacked via bluetooth, and they transfer the files over. The next best thing is to hijack the phone and install via USB

anyways, I think its not an issue for us because.

1. I dont use bluetooth

and,

2. I'd never leave a $500 luxury phone out of my sight

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

No. In order to install this application to a device, you must have physical access to it.

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

See: Trojan Program

Much as you could install a cool game such as "Tower Toppler", but end up with the executables "Patch.exe" or "SysEdit.exe" installed on your system as a side effect. (Netbus Trojan). It worked fine in the 90's for infecting PC's, it only makes logical sense that it would also be done on PPCs where root authority is granted by default.

Wirelessly posted (HTC Touch Diamond: HTC-P4600/1.2 Opera/9.50 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en))

+1 for that statement.

Not much privacy left in this age, guys..

and it will only get worse.. get used to it, I guess lol

Re: Cell Phone Hijacking
 

Mobile spy. Not bad.