Former C.I.A. employee Edward Snowden – who famously leaked classified info showing the National Security Agency was spying on US citizens – has warned that spy agencies have the power to take over smart phones.
Speaking to the BBC, Snowden warned UK citizens that Britain’s digital spy agency had a range of phone intercept capabilities known as “smurfs”.
“Nosey smurf is the hot mic-ing tool,” said Snowden.
“So for example, if it’s in your pocket, they can turn the microphone on and listen to everything that’s going on around you.”
Then there’s “tracker smurf”.
“That’s a geolocation tool which allows them to follow you with greater precision than you would get from the typical triangulation of a cell phone tower,” he said.
Snowden also claimed spies could control phone microphones, use phone cameras and turn phones on and off.
“They want to own your phone instead of you.”
WATCH part of the interview at top of page.
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