Mobile Devices Banned From UK Cabinet Meetings Over Surveillance Fears

MightyMartian writes "British securities services fear foreign intelligence agencies have developed the ability to turn mobile devices such as phones and tablets into bugs without the owner's knowledge, allowing them to eavesdrop on confidential meetings. According to the article, UK security services fear China, Russia and Pakistan have figured out a way to turn mobiles into microphones, and have them transmit even when they're off. Ministers in sensitive government departments have been issued with soundproof lead-lined boxes, which they must place their mobiles in when having sensitive conversations."

Comments

Good Lord!

[Austrian Anarchy]

British securities services fear foreign intelligence agencies have developed the ability to turn mobile devices such as phones and tablets into bugs without the owner's knowledge, allowing them to eavesdrop on confidential meetings.

This is positively ancient. Just so happens the elected officials are finally beginning to use the precautions that have been used in the military and other corners of government for quite some time.

Ever been in a SCIF ?

[mbone]

They won't let you take phones in there, either, for the same reason. And they haven't for decades now.

Worried about the wrong country?

[maroberts]

. According to the article, UK security services fear China, Russia and Pakistway have figured out a way to turn mobiles into microphones, and have them transmit even when they're off.

I'd be more worried about the likelihood the NSA is listening in after recent revelations

Re:Off?

[HiThere]

A lot of modern "off" switches should really be named "sleep". They don't turn the power off. If they did you couldn't use, e.g., wake on the network. Nothing that allows remote activation really turns itself off...and that includes a huge number of things with off switches.