Report reveals NSA can access most smartphones

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The National Security Agency’s (NSA) ability to hack into most leading smartphones, including iOs and Android systems, has been revealed in a Sunday report by news outlet “Der Spiegel.”

The internal documents expose the NSA's ability to gather contacts, call lists, SMS traffic, notes and even users' past and present location.

Each operating system allegedly has a dedicated hacking team, which we assume is for the purposes of gathering saved data in an efficient manner. However, iPhone users were apparently most prone to being hacked as a mini-program called “scripts” can gain access to dozens of vulnerable iOs features.

The findings do not come as a revelation, considering that we revealed US$52 billion dollars had been set aside for intelligence programs in the latest budget.

Der Spiegel says the phone tapping is not a mass surveillance tactic and claims only certain individuals of interest are targeted. It is not clear how the magazine obtained the documents, which haven't surfaced until now. However, there is speculation that American filmmaker and Der Spiegal author Laura Poitras may have obtained the information through whistleblower Edward Snowden.

At this stage, information about the number of phones that can be monitored is unclear. Until then, we certainly hope that the number is nowhere near the extent of the internet surveillance capabilities.

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Related Forum: Mobile Devices

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/report-reveals-nsa-can-access-most-smartphones

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"Report reveals NSA can access most smartphones" :: Login/Create an Account :: 60 comments

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RaciPosted:

Skeletons Well.. I do and don't like this... The reason i do like this is to help prevent national attacks and threats.. But then again i don't beacause they have all my information at their fingertips..


It happens when you have a phone in the US

KillzonedPosted:

Well.. I do and don't like this... The reason i do like this is to help prevent national attacks and threats.. But then again i don't beacause they have all my information at their fingertips..

clapperPosted:

Zeff
McNuggets_Jr Shame this only majorly happens in the US...


I think it's mostly to prevent terrorist/rebel groups.


You thought correct, but theres other reasons spys/agents you know?

ZeffPosted:

McNuggets_Jr Shame this only majorly happens in the US...


I think it's mostly to prevent terrorist/rebel groups.

TomorrowLandPosted:

Shame this only majorly happens in the US...

TitanFallPosted:

The very sad thing is NSA could possibly help you and well help the world because they would be able to keep tabs on things that are planned such as robberies and stuff you never know and tbh i don't have anything to hide

DiniPosted:

That's nice, too bad they can never track me :D

slapshot101Posted:

How many people are they actually catching with these programs, is it really worth the money or the invasion of privacy to catch one or two people and it inconveniences millions. This is why Blackberries are better then people think.

-InsanelyAwesome-Posted:

It should come as no shock to anyone, governments spying on us its just what third party companies have been doing for years. Its common sense if you have a device that connects to the internet or you can speak to people over, it is going to be monitored.

Dr-PonyfilePosted:

This does not surpirse me either with all the media focusing on the NSA with the Edward Snowden scandal this is just another thing to add to the blow of the NSA. I Personally dislike the NSA and think they creep to much.


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