I have been informed by a security expert that the security services (or others with the correct equipment) can listen in to your conversations through your mobile phone, even when it is switched off. Does anyone know if this is true?
Yes, but if you make a little tinfoil hat for your phone to wear, you’ll be okay.
I have also heard this in the general sense you describe, but I am not sure if the story is mixing the fact that you (at least used to) be able to listen in on conversations taking place in a room with a regular telephone, and the bug that some Ericsson cell phones had a few years back which was that when they were turned off, they actually stayed on, and it was possible to ring to and from them in their “off” state, so people could and did listen to conversations being held by somone who had accidentily rung them etc.
I have it on good authority that mobile phones and other electronic devices that can transmit are not allowed at all in rooms or buildings where classified government information is discussed.
So, I don’t know the ins and outs of how the eavesdropping can be done, but I’d say that’s confirmation of what you heard.
Your a real smart cookie aint ya son!
That’s not confirmation of the OP’s question of third parties being able to listen via your phone. They could restrict the mobile devices simply because you might make a call and slip the phone into your pocket with it still active in the call, accidently or otherwise.
Technologically, it would be a very simple matter to make a phone that could do this without the user’s consent. The problem would lie in keeping this a secret; making sure all the employees developing the software, testing it, and supervising would keep it a secret.
Also, you would have to keep these calls off the user’s bill. This would be harder, as it would take cooperation from the service provider, and the secrecy of all those involved there as well.
As an employee at a cell phone service provider I can tell you we don’t have this sort of service!
One thing about this sort of “trick” is that cell phones are not really that good at listening in unless the room is very silent. Having a “listening” cell phone on your hip is only going to net you a few words. Many new cell phones have all sorts of noise reduction systems in place.
Also, such a cell phone would only last 45-90 minutes.
There are “auto answer” features on cell phones so I suppose you could do it in a limited fashion but a “stock” cell phone isn’t a very ideal bug.