FBI taps cellphone mics to eavesdrop on criminals

While we figured the NYPD could just install Magic Message Mirrors in every mafia hotspot in the Manhattan area, the Genovese family has proven quite the eagle-eyed bunch when it comes to spotting wiretaps, tailing, and other (failed) attempts of bugging their conversations. In order to tap into critical conversations by known mafioso and other, less glamorous criminals, police are utilizing a "roving bug" technique which remotely activates the microphone of a crime lord's cellie, giving the boys in blue convenient access to their secret agenda(s). The presumably controversial tapping was recently approved by top US DoJ officials "for use against members of a New York organized crime family who were wary of conventional surveillance techniques." Software hacks (and actual phones, too) have previously allowed such dodgy eavesdropping to occur, with "Nextel, Samsung, and Motorola" handsets proving particularly vulnerable, but this widespread approach in tracking down criminal conversations could hopefully pinpoint future targets where prior attempts failed. Of course, if mafia members hit the internet every now and then, they're probably removing those batteries right about now anyway.

[Dominic @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:14PM]

woohoo springfield missouri :D

[Matt O @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:18PM]

Now why would you post something like this? trying to help out the bad guys?

[Bad Moon Rising @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:26PM]

It's been in the news all over the place, including the wire-services. I don't think Engadget has much to fear about potentially tipping off any mobsters.

[Matt @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:25PM]

Heh, if I were them I would just take an external wired headset, lop off the cord, and plug it in to the jack which would mechanically disable the internal microphone on most phones whenever I went to go do my dirty deeds. That way my phone would still ring, and I would still be able to use my phone for text messages, but my mic could not be exploited in such a way.

[Eddie @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:26PM]

I wasn't aware the bad guys read tech blogs.

But still, good point. Same goes to the media, when it comes to US intel ops.

[RijilV @ Dec 4th 2006 1:05AM]

yeah, and after all as long as we're not 'the bad guys' we have nothing to worry about the every disappearing civil rights...uhg. Yeah I slept through history class too, but come on...

[riggs @ Dec 3rd 2006 10:47PM]

tsk tsk, someone never saw an episode of the wire!

[Eddie @ Dec 3rd 2006 11:42PM]

@Riggs:

Just after I made my comment, I thought of the wire. But still...

[sshelato @ Dec 3rd 2006 11:05PM]

Aww man, now I'll have to send out all my illegal communications via text messages. This is going to take forever...

[John Gotti, Jr. @ Dec 3rd 2006 11:05PM]

Thanks for the tip, Engadget.

[Zhoe Garcia @ Dec 3rd 2006 11:11PM]

stringer bell, eat your heart out!

[captain obvious @ Dec 4th 2006 1:36AM]

Strange. Nobody else creeped out by this?

.....can we get some tips on how to deactivate this feature without having to remove the battery? With the NSA thinking they can do wiretaps without warrants I want to preserve my privacy.

[HyperHacker @ Dec 4th 2006 2:35AM]

Reason #45864 I'm not getting a cell phone.

[captain obvious @ Dec 4th 2006 3:07AM]

btw, most "mafia types" use DISPOSABLE cell phones.

This technique is really only useful for spying on people who think nobody would have any reason to spy on them...NON criminal types...creepy.

[Aaron @ Dec 4th 2006 6:13AM]

Just because the technology is there doesn't mean they will use it. To track a person's cell phone takes around 12 pages of paperwork to get it cleared. A lot of the time the time it takes to authorize the use of some of the new technology is longer than it would take to catch the criminals the old fasioned way. If they have activiated your cell phone mic, then, well... damn. You are in some seriously deep shit. I say start unplugging your phone after your second body or 100th kilo of sold crack, whichever comes first.

[Emceay @ Dec 4th 2006 6:57AM]

Helping the bad guys? Didn't catch the controversial aspect of it didja?
I for one, welcome our secret cellphone tapping overlords

[Day @ Dec 6th 2006 8:49PM]

the most alarming aspect of people's responses to this news story is that they let the public know about this technology to test the degree of public outcry concerning the technology. they will always use it first for criminals, then companies will begin to monitor their employees, cell phones, Bill collectors will start to use it,then private citizens will get their hands on this information to spy on their neighbors. as far as getting a judge's permission to tap into someone's cell phone conversations. You have to think how many times have law enforcement agencies tapped into someone's phone conversations without a court order so that they can gain information or insight. how many members of law enforcement agencies have abused this technology for personal gain. Are do you think all law enforcement is righteous?

[Rusty @ Dec 4th 2006 8:20AM]

drat.......someone beat me to it.......in case you are wondering, the "MCFP" stands for Medical Center for Prisoners. We've had a bunch of them. The last one that went "Tango-Uniform" was that slob Gotti.