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Cyrano

(15,063 posts)
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 09:06 AM Jun 2013

Could the NSA remotely turn on your smart phone and its camera?

No, I’m not paranoid. The technology is there to build SIM cards that can be remotely accessed. And as we’ve seen since … well, forever, what the government can do, it will do, – Dem or Repub.

Forget about “national security.” How would you like to be in bed with whomever while your smart phone is sitting on the dresser (possibly) being controlled remotely even though you turned it off? It’s enough to make you put the phone in the closet under a large stack of pillows every night.

As for me, I still use an old cell phone with no camera and no GPS in the SIM card. Don’t know what I’ll do when it finally goes. Maybe I am paranoid. Paranoia may become today's new normal for everyone.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Could the NSA remotely turn on your smart phone and its camera? (Original Post) Cyrano Jun 2013 OP
I think it's possible. In_The_Wind Jun 2013 #1
Yes. This is why I keep my cell tucked below my belt between my cheeks. NYC_SKP Jun 2013 #2
You're Paranoid. Get some sleep. ksoze Jun 2013 #3
Those two guys on the cover of The NY Post, Cyrano Jun 2013 #4
Sory about teh typos, butt I'm more focussed on flashing my cellphon righi now. MiddleFingerMom Jun 2013 #5
I dunno. They'd have to get reception first NV Whino Jun 2013 #6
Meh. It's probably possible. JoeyT Jun 2013 #7
Maybe someone can create an app to keep that from happening warrior1 Jun 2013 #8
Can the NSA or hacker get into your computer and use it? Arctic Dave Jun 2013 #9
? jakethesnakehalsted May 2014 #10

In_The_Wind

(72,300 posts)
1. I think it's possible.
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 09:11 AM
Jun 2013

If you can imagine it someone has it already figured out.
Years ago spy technology was built into our TVs.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
2. Yes. This is why I keep my cell tucked below my belt between my cheeks.
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 09:12 AM
Jun 2013

One look at that and they won't be coming back!



Seriously, folks in another post claim that they can do it now:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022968623

ksoze

(2,068 posts)
3. You're Paranoid. Get some sleep.
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 09:26 AM
Jun 2013

Anything is possible with technology, but it's a slippery slope taking your fear of privacy too far. If your not in bed with one of Osama's wives, I suspect you can do what you want without fear of an audience. Aside from the cat at the foot of the bed.

Cyrano

(15,063 posts)
4. Those two guys on the cover of The NY Post,
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 10:01 AM
Jun 2013

Last edited Sat Jun 8, 2013, 10:43 AM - Edit history (1)

at the time of the Boston Marathon bombing, were completely innocent. (Their pictures were also all over the net.) The 24/7 surveillance of everyone all the time turned their lives upside down.

"... you can do what you want without fear of an audience" just ain't true anymore.

By the way, those two guys are suing the Murdoch Empire. (Murdoch owns the NY Post.)

MiddleFingerMom

(25,163 posts)
5. Sory about teh typos, butt I'm more focussed on flashing my cellphon righi now.
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 10:26 AM
Jun 2013

.
.
.
Brinng it ON!!!! (chik-a-bow-bow)
.
.
.

JoeyT

(6,785 posts)
7. Meh. It's probably possible.
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 06:21 PM
Jun 2013

But if it is possible, it's only because the people that made your cellphone put it there.

We really need some privacy laws to protect us from corporations as well as the government.

10. ?
Sat May 31, 2014, 01:22 PM
May 2014

I don't understand what there is to be paranoid about. With the cooperation of the carrier (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, TMobile) of COURSE you can bring a "smart phone" from sleep to fully awake. The processor goes into a low power state when you power a phone off, it doesn't turn all the way down. That's why the battery discharges even though your phone is powered off. The RF control circuitry has a mechanism of interrupting the processor to bring it to a fully awake state.

Who cares? Take the freakin battery out. If you're worried about being looked at naked, put it in a drawer, I'm sure there is some perverted Republican out there looking at people naked through their smart phones. oh well.

I don't keep personal information on mobile devices, only on a desktop computer. That's why.

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