Beware Smartphones, Someone Might Be Listening: Intelligence Bureau Alert

Officials said there have been instances where smartphones made in a neighbouring country have been infected with virus to drag out information.

New Delhi:  Suspecting that a number of smartphones manufactured abroad are compromised, the Intelligence Bureau has asked officials of the Home ministry and para-military organisations to cut down its use as much as possible.

There have been instances where smartphones made in a neighbouring country have been infected with virus to drag out information, officials said. Several efforts to hack into smartphones in India through WiFi have traced to Pakistan and China.

Smartphones should never be carried to sensitive meetings and briefings, or connected to official computers or laptops with Bluetooth, the agency has said.  It has also asked officials to use only those apps that are vetted for security and "declared safe".

The home ministry has already issued a circular headed "Prudent Smart Phone Security Norms" to paramilitary and other security organisations, warning of inadvertent information leaks from phones. The agency has also asked officials to avoid smartphones while make sensitive calls. For unverified callers asking for sensitive information, officials have been asked to take the caller's details and then call him back on landline. The agency has also briefed officials on threats from smartphones and how to negate them and deal with attempts by Pakistan and China to hack into IT infrastructure and smartphones. The Home Ministry had earlier informed Parliament that Pakistan's espionage agency ISI was trying into spy on military and security personnel who are using smartphone by embedding malware into music and mobile gaming apps. These apps include Talking Frog, Top Gun, vdjunky, mpjunkie, and others.

Source: Beware Smartphones, Someone Might Be Listening: Intelligence Bureau Alert