Russian Spy Agency Says Foreign Spies Turned Officials' Smartphones Into Surveillance Devices

Russia's FSB claims foreign intelligence services compromised smartphones belonging to senior Russian officials, allegedly turning them into surveillance devices capable of stealing data, recording conversations, and activating microphones or cameras. "This software is used to steal existing data, eavesdrop on ongoing conversations, and conduct covert acoustic and video monitoring of the environment near electronic devices, all aimed at obtaining sensitive information," the FSB said. The Register reports: The agency said it had opened a criminal investigation into illegal access to computer information and the distribution of malicious software. It did not identify the alleged intelligence service responsible, disclose how many officials were affected, name the malware involved, or provide any technical indicators that would allow independent verification of the claims. As things stand, the FSB has revealed the accusation but not the proof.

piggy backing?

[algaeman]

Did they just add an additional endpoint to the collection gathering the FSB had already installed on the phones?

Re:

[unfriendlyLLM]

Likely. Since there was a period of openly trading spyware when it was "friendly" to do so, thank you, congress. Some nations even claimed authorship to justify their own versions in the wild. Then its was down the shit slide to where we are now.

so you're saying . . .

[kencurry]

Same as a regular mobile phone.

Is it wrong?

[mackil]

Is it wrong to feel okay with Russia complaining about hacking for a change?

Re:

[Tablizer]

If our luck keeps up, Hillary has Putin's emails!

You know what they say

[CEC-P]

Those in glass houses should
Dang it, it erased the Russian characters. Anyway, it said fuck off lol.

Are normal russian phones NOT spy devices?

[gurps_npc]

Because all western smart phones are spy devices.

I would be shocked, shocked to hear that russian phones were not already spy devices.

Re:

[bill_mcgonigle]

They forked SailfishOS to create a domestic OS to avoid these kinds of problems.

Russian linux devs still contribute to that tree though Linus banned their ethnicity from his tree.

Since we're all speculating, probably their phone is clunky and some Generals kept their iPhones against advice or orders because they're more featureful and convenient.

We'll hear eventually.

Re:Are normal russian phones NOT spy devices?

[karmawarrior]

Linux did not ban "ethnic Russians", he banned Russian nationals. He made it clear at the time they were welcome to rejoin if they could provide documentation proving they aren't a legal problem - ie do not have Russian citizenship and aren't employed by a Russian entity.

Russia is under sanctions by most of the world after they unilaterally and without provocation invaded Ukraine and murdered large numbers of its citizens, kidnapping huge numbers more. This war is ongoing, and unsurprisingly Russia is considered a Pariah by most of the world with the noteable exception of the Trump regime. Even the US however is participating in sanctions, and the Linux foundation would be in violation of those sanctions if they allowed Russian legal entities including citizens to participate in Linux development.

I don't know where you get "Ethnic Russian" from, but that's absurd.
 

Re:

[caseih]

Yes all Russian phones are spy devices. All Russian citizens who own phones are required to have the government spy software on it, called appropriately enough, "Max." It acts as a means of identification and authentication for government services, and it also a government-authorized replacement for Telegram, WhatsApp, etc. All wrapped up in one little spying app. Very convenient.

Person Of Interest (TV Show)

[Archangel Michael]

We are living out the TV show. Everything in that show is coming true (if it wasn't already).

If you haven't seen it, it is very entertaining, and now almost seemingly prophetic.

USA or China

[Bruce66423]

We'll never know. The interesting question is whether the Russians will ever know...

Really?

[davidwr]

Some conversations should never be done using devices that you or your organization doesn't fully understand and control.

If this means meeting in person or going to fixed locations that have secure communications channels, so be it.

If this means using only using devices that your organization can verify are secure enough to meet its needs, so be it.

It's in the EULAs they probably agreed to

[misnohmer]

A lot of mainstream app EULAs contain this language allowing the app to collect all kinds of data, including things like "collecting ambient noise" which means turn on your microphone at will and record. I remember seeing the ambient noise recording clause in Google Maps EULA few years back, might still be there, unless it got reworded for better obfuscation.

Re:

[BoogieChile]

No it doesn't. It means that when you butt dial someone, Google gets to listen to the sound of your hip pocket.

In a way, I pity them for having to suffer through that.

Re:

[karmawarrior]

That surely wouldn't count as ambient noise nor as something an app would collect though?

Or are apps allowed to listen in to, and transmit to their creator, phone conversations now? (For context, most users wouldn't even expect or agree to the Phone app sending "ambient noise" to Google)

Re:

[BoogieChile]

"Ambient" noise is the noise that is present, but is not the noise you're interested in. A phone conversation is not "ambient" noise, it's "primary" noise. The chatter of the office in the background, that's the ambient noise. And your phone can't filter it out without listening to it.

And nowhere in the definition of the term "ambient noise" is contained the phrase "We can turn on your microphone any time we want"

Re:

[dsgrntlxmply]

My diet is concentrated upon legumes. I fart in their general direction.

Putin Just Back From China

[SlashbotAgent]

All I'm saying is that Putin just got back from China.

Still didn't poison random people though

[ArithonUK]

None of those devices were leaking radioactive polonium, or stabbing people with neurotoxins, so they got off lightly, based on their own track record.

Excuse me

[codeButcher]

... but which part of "spy" don't you understand?

Oh noes! Ehm what was fsb doing ...

[MxMatrix]

... with EU politician's smartphones again in the past 3 decades?

Who cares

[Uldis Segliņš]

Why is anything from Putins regime source reposted here at all? They also have said that there are combat geese and mosquitoes. They make most ridiculous statements for propaganda purposes and should not be taken with credibility. Will we in all seriousness contemplate on statements that the great leader Pu has no anus just like great leader Un?