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FBI Using Cell Phone Microphones to Eavesdrop »
Posted by: charbarred 1 year, 8 months agoCell phones are capable of providing more information about us and our whereabouts than we usually realize. We familiar with the ability of cell phones to be used to track users' locations, but now the FBI has begun using them for eavesdropping-even when they are turned off.
Read Full Story at arstechnica.com »
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Comments: 87
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Aidenag
Dec. 4, 2006, 6:35 a.m.this needs to be followed up by a "How to disable feature" submission. Anyone?
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Changingconstant
Dec. 4, 2006, 12:55 p.m.The recent Stephen King novel "Cell" is based on the widespread use of cell phones and a potential "problem". It is fictional and has the King twists to it but is a good read.
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JenMurdock
Dec. 4, 2006, 1:11 p.m.You know how to keep your cell from being used as a bug? Easy! Store it inside your underwear, near your butt. Then, when you break wind, they can't hear what you are saying! Of course you wouldn't want to talk on your phone, but if the FBI is listening, why would you want to anyway?
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Cragmonte
Dec. 4, 2006, 1:52 p.m.Say, folks. What are you talking about that you would be afraid of the FBI hearing? I learned early not to say things I wouldn't want the wrong people to hear unless I was very sure of not being overheard. Also, been in electronics a long time and when you're at the top level of your phone menu (i.e.: not having pushed "send" to place a call or to answer one) the only thing the closest cell tower knows is that you're there, and the two closest triangulate to give your location to within several yards.
As the lady said, we choose our own level of paranoia.
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jeffery1
Dec. 4, 2006, 3:10 p.m.Sorry, but this is the U.S. and law enforcement is constrained by the constitution and the law it isn't about not saying things that we don't want the FBI to hear. We have a right to privacy and the government must provide good reason to spy on us to the courts. Paranoia may be required to keep our authorities constitutional and legal.
That said, the FBI obviously did this tapping in accordance with the law and received the appropriate approvals.
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saileyboy
Dec. 4, 2006, 3:19 p.m.I guess what you are saying is that you need no liberty if you are doing nothing wrong - is this correct?
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lfergie812
Dec. 4, 2006, 9:58 p.m."Say, folks. What are you talking about that you would be afraid of the FBI hearing?"
It's not the FBI I would worry about as much as identity thieves using the same technology. They could find out all your private information and steal everything you own. Find out when you're going on vacation and rob your house. If the FBI has the ability to listen in on your calls without the phone on or off, others also have the ability also.
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basil2004
Dec. 4, 2006, 2:48 p.m.There is no level of paranoia.Its real so much for conspiracy theory.This technology was used to bring down crime boss new york.Its in the legal information just google.I read this same story I think in fridays paper where I live.The phone company under court order can turn this on automaticly you will never know.Also disable your microphone and camera internet when not in use.They also can be made to turn on.Good luck and Good night.
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jumpmaster
Dec. 4, 2006, 3:39 p.m.You had better be careful. Netscape may just be a clearinghouse for the FBI to gather data on malcontents.
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RealTalk
Dec. 4, 2006, 3:04 p.m.ooops my cell just fell in the toilet.NOT! This does'nt surprise me after all the FBI bought Nextel.If your life is being lived straight and honest then you have nothing to worry about.
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Meatmallet
Dec. 4, 2006, 3:23 p.m.Oh my Iam so worried about all this, you mean right now someone is sitting back and hearing my boring conversation with my girl friend about holiday decorations!!!
Thats right ya pole smoker zionist if ya have nothing to hide then no worries they cought scum and arrested them this is a good thing ya Bannanas
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RedstateLib
Dec. 4, 2006, 5:23 p.m.Was that a quote from Lenin or Putin?
Isn't that what the leaders in China and North Korea say, If your not doing anything that we should worry about you don't need to worry about us listening to you. Sounds good to me.
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eddie107
Dec. 4, 2006, 4:29 p.m.How many agents would it take to monitor half a billion cell phones? Trust me, if your phone is special enough to be picked to listen in on, you must be a very special person.....
Either you need to go to prison, or simply let them hear and find out that they are barking up the wrong tree, there is a reason that they are looking, and we all want that reason to go away.
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eddie107
Dec. 4, 2006, 9:10 p.m.Joe Padilla is a perfect example, there is volumes of evidence against him, yet you take his side over the government of the United States, no Bush wasnt watching him, a US government official was.
At the moment he was picked up, I was less than 5 miles away in the only high rise apartment near there. I thank God for having someone watching out for my welfare.
And the terrorists will keep coming forever yes, but why should we turn our backs on them and let them do as they please? Trust me, a billion people say bomb every day, unless you really do something to cause them to watch you, you are not that special!
Well maybe you are "special" but not in that way. Take a course in a terrorist training camp in the middle east, then you deserve some attention.
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RedstateLib
Dec. 4, 2006, 5:16 p.m.Very few. The NSA currently monitor millons of phone calls. The same technology could be used for this. It will happen. The service provider upgrades your phone via downloads in the middle of the night about once a month it take 1 person 5 minutes in each city. No problem. Just a few taps on the keyboard and everybodys cell phone is enabled.
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eddie107
Dec. 4, 2006, 9:13 p.m.Our Police officers do it hundreds of times a day, they speed, they blow stop lights, they ride around at night with thier lights off, all of which endanger citizens.
Why arent you crying about them? They have a far greater potential to imapct your life negatively than any of this sad crap being cried about by you people.
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jordan11
Dec. 4, 2006, 10:35 p.m.Either you need to go to prison, or simply let them hear and find out that they are barking up the wrong tree, there is a reason that they are looking, and we all want that reason to go away.>>>>>>
Never mind the overzealous nitwit listening in that will hear something, misinterpret it, and make life HELL for some poor unsuspecting citizen. Never mind, cause it probably won't happen to 'you', eh eddie? And it's really all about 'you' and your fears.
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woodenleg
Dec. 4, 2006, 5:08 p.m.With the tens of millions of cell phones is this country, why oh why would you assume they are after you. They are are more interested in catching bad guys then listen to you get some phone sex from a fat girl.
When the FBI starts shipping malcontents, like those on this page, off to concentration camps in North Dakota, THEN I will worry.
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jordan11
Dec. 4, 2006, 10:46 p.m.When the FBI starts shipping malcontents, like those on this page, off to concentration camps in North Dakota, THEN I will worry.>>>>>
No you wouldn't. If you cared about Americans, you'd care about all of them, not just how things affect YOU. You're a typical self centered CON, who hasn't the slightest clue what it means to be a patriot and defend the Constitution. We've had enough evidence from our past history to show that it is DANGEROUS to allow this 'surveillance', but in your short sighted ignorance, you've decided it doesn't affect 'you', so it's all okey dokey. We've already had one U.S. citizen who was unlawfully imprisoned without council in this country, and that alone should have set up a red flag to you that these bozo's are out of control. But nooooo. Didn't happen to YOU, so no prob.
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redshirt
Dec. 4, 2006, 5:43 p.m.Just don´t step out of line or they´ll get you!!!!!
Too bad America isn´t a democracy any more.
Too bad America let Bush take away the Constitution.
Too bad America lets Cheney pull all the strings.
Too bad a 14 year old boy was executed in Ohio because he threw eggs at the wrong car.
Too bad America lets idiots buy weapons that kill 14 year old boys that throw eggs at cars!!!!
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bobshotme
Dec. 4, 2006, 6:17 p.m.Nothing wrong or illegal about doing what they did....they didnt stomp on anyones right's....it was not even un-constitutional! I nor should any law abiding fair minded person see a problem wit this.
WHats next? they might get a judge to ok a phone tap on a terrorist and stop a criminal! those dirty facsist...give me a break...
So if we look at the facts this has nothing do to with america being a democracy..
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ningyo
Dec. 4, 2006, 6:18 p.m.whala?? what language would that be truth..you mean like viola?..i tink these tools for gps location and remote access could be very useful for 911 and other emergencies..should we outlaw the use of it all because some paranoid loony thinks his silly call will be picked out of the other 9 billion calls so the fascist bush thugs can listen in..ridiculous..and we do need all the tools we can muster to fight this very elusive enemy..and what rights EXACTLY has anyone lost..name one case..not talking points..even one instance where the ever vigilent aclu has jumped in..there arent any ..none..zero..and dont give me jo padilla..this guy is as dirty as they come..and john gotti was a citizen too..what does that have to do with anything
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questionseverything
Dec. 4, 2006, 7:56 p.m.so according to u..US citizens rnt"innocent til proven guilty"?
how can any patriotic American say that?
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random1734
Dec. 4, 2006, 6:21 p.m.It isn't paranoid to be worried about what somebody in the government will do next. It is prudence. Several tims in my lifetime people within the government have oversteped their bounds and people have been hurt (the McCarthy era comes to point) because the government decided what was right for america and told the american people what was right for them rather than have the american people tell the government what is right. It is happening now. Look at the wiretapping that is happening without a warrent.
While I agree with the person that said they don't have the resorces to moniter everyone all it takes is for someone with a dislike or grudge against someone else to do damage. That is what I see as a likely scenerio happening here.
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BattleAngel
Dec. 4, 2006, 6:37 p.m.it seems not many people realize the danger they are in, they think if they are "normal" people, no gov agency would bother listening in on them, well, the technology is there to have a computer monitor certain words, like kill, president, bomb, terror...etc, basically anything they don't like, when such words are said, computer flags your number and turn it to human attention, I should also mention this tech was developed more than 30 years ago. consider another thing then, IF, this country remains a democratic republic, in which freedom of speech is allowed, then no you would have no problem with a "dangerous cell phone". HOWEVER, if this country turns to a facist nation, then you really would have to watch your mouth all the time while carrying your phone wouldn't you. look around you, with the RFID act ready to go, dose this country look more republic to you, or more fascist to you? exactly how a frog is cooked mind you. time to wake up people
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axlesofevil
Dec. 4, 2006, 6:43 p.m.Battle Angel, how do you know such things about this ? it seems like you are making a lot of assumptions about the situation and that you may be a little biased on it.
if you arent a criminal, you dont ahve anything to worry about, id like to know if you have any evidence supporting these claims that youre making.
im not trying to be hostile, just trying to discuss the issue, so dont take it the wrong way.
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abntv
Dec. 4, 2006, 6:48 p.m.This article has given me my best laugh of the day. If anyone thinks that information can be taken off of a piece of equipment that is not even turned on they deserve to be paranoid.
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Tcaros
Dec. 4, 2006, 10:47 p.m.abntv
Is your monitor really off when it's in stanby?
Oh, yeh they leave a small LED on to let you know it's barely on. Do you think the cell phone features could be on if the battery is still connected?
Obviously, you don't know much about electronics.
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slate
Dec. 4, 2006, 7:06 p.m.Do people really believe thee are people lurking, watching everyone 24/7? Must be tough to live life thinking there's a boogie man in every dark shadow.
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BattleAngel
Dec. 4, 2006, 7:14 p.m.to answer your question axle, back to a couple years ago the NSA had the power to computer monitor all international phone calls, in multiple languages for that matter, in just the way I have discribed, if not 10 times more advanced. I can not tell you what law actually says that is okay, because I simply don't have the time to search for it, however, the knowledge is rather common, there are plenty of books and movies touching the same topic, if you do a search into NSA's anti terrorist capabilities, i'm sure you'll find things that's far more disturbing than what I've said. now if such techs do exist and are being employed, I would ask you to zoom to the present days, when domestic wiretap is all but legalized, when the gov has the power to declare any US resident a terrorist through the PATRIOT act1, you tell me if the gov has the capability to apply the same technology to common folks.
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BattleAngel
Dec. 4, 2006, 7:19 p.m.as for the RFID, heck it's in the news man, again, just do a search on it and you'll find more info than I can tell ya, after the RFID would come the microchip implant, well in fact the RFID card is designed to carry a GPS capable chip on it, well, I hope you don't need me to tell you how much closer this country is from being a fascist nation if these 2 things goes through congress. want more info? go to youtube and search for the keywords like RFID, domestic spying, microchip, or what ever else you'd like to learn, good luck
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abntv
Dec. 4, 2006, 7:25 p.m.The simple fact is that when a cell phone is turned off it sits there and does absolutely nothing..And the fact that someone can trace and listen in on cell phones is nothing new.
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BattleAngel
Dec. 4, 2006, 7:28 p.m.oh as for the no crime, no trouble myth many people would like to believe in, well, remember that in a fascist nation, anyone who's anti government or anti regime would be regarded as a criminal, of course there won't be trails for those folks, and certain segments of the public will be trained to punish those so called criminals, exactly how it is in china and russia, so yeah, although the no crime no trouble notion would be true in a free country, don't forget the path we are heading down to. remember the famouse quote, those who give up their freedom for temporary security, shall have no freedom nor security in the end, and this is what we are doing, people of this country are giving up their constitutional freedom one little bit at a time in the name of national security, the future is rather forseeable isn't it?
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axlesofevil
Dec. 4, 2006, 7:53 p.m.Angel, your counter statements to my questions are full of logical fallacies, speculation and appeals to higher power. i would like to see you produce evidence/facts that the "tapping" of our cell phones cause us to fall to a facist state. Again, not being confrontational, just for the sake of argument.
As far as giving up my freedom, i dont have any problems with any of my rights being violated, havent ever in my life. So what if people are monitoring things more closely, remember after the WTC towers fell, everyone was so crazy about "we arent invincible" , "this is what happens when you think youre untouchable" ... well now we are taking proper precautions to secure ourselves from these things.
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questionseverything
Dec. 4, 2006, 8:10 p.m.monitorin things more closely....the current admin had like 58 dif warnings that terrorists would crash planes into buildings..they did nothing to prevent it..u want to reward them for that incompidence with ur God given rights?
and as far as ur selfish statement that ur freedoms r untouched...thats what the nazis counted on
if it happens to one of us it happens to us all
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axlesofevil
Dec. 5, 2006, 10:13 a.m.see heres the thing, just because they CAN monitor everyones calls, doesnt mean they will.
and im still wondering why so many people are so wound up about this.
what reason do you have to be concerned about someone hearing your cell calls? list some good reasons and id be happy to listen.
as far as the constitution being the only thing separating us from a dictatorship, i think you are way off. the PEOPLE, not the constitution are what prevent this from happening. the constitution is a set of guidelines, not unchangable laws, written on a peice of paper. the constitution has been amended and over ruled so many times that it is no longer news. its not hte constitution OR the law, because the people in power are the ones that make the laws, but we , the people allow them to enforce these laws. I have a strong inclination to believe that the PEOPLE of the united states would be the ones that are keeping us from falling to a dictatorship.
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questionseverything
Dec. 19, 2006, 1:20 a.m.well spelling teacher....i wont bother to debate u if u r so un American as to not respect the constitution but i think its a beautiful idea thats worth fighting for
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BattleAngel
Dec. 4, 2006, 8:15 p.m.it surprises me that there are people who would go on about to judge someone's words without actual research, because the simple fact is, had you done the keyword search as I suggested, you would know that my " comment" were not based on logic or speculation, but public knowledge that are in open circulation, here's your link, just one of the many I found during my 2 minutes of web search.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSA_electronic_survei
also, I did not say that cell phone tapping causes us to fall into a facist state, I said it would be a tool to hamper freedom in such a state, so please do not twist my words.
lastly, in hope that you still keep an open enough mind to accept researched fact rather than simply being told, I would suggest you to research operation northwood, as well as 9/11 mysteries video, judge for yourself, if it is at least POSSIBLE, that 9/11 was at least allowed to happen by our own government. good luck.
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charbarred
I'm the editor and writer of The Plugg (www.thplugg.com) and also a member of the band Shrugged (www.myspace.com/shrugged).
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