By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-979252.mp3
Albany, NY – The latest "phone hacking" scandal involving allegations that reporters at News of the World listened to or tampered with voice mails of, potentially, over 10,000 victims, has left many in shock. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas explores the possibility that your phone could be hacked into
Security software maker McAfee says Internet-enabled mobile devices like smartphones and tablets provided new opportunities for cybercriminals. There are information-stealing viruses or trojans that can embed themselves in Google's Android and in some Nokia phone apps. And politically motivated hacking is on the rise, it said, with the highest-profile protagonist being the "Anonymous" activist group that targeted the websites of organizations it perceived to be hostile to controversial site WikiLeaks.
How safe is YOUR cellphone? In the past, hackers could simply call the cell carrier's support center, impersonate an actual cell phone customer, and obtain the password for the voice mail. John O'Malley with Verizon Wireless responded to a request for comment by email - he says American cellular carriers' support reps are trained to verify callers' identities to ensure they are actually the customer.
But there are "new" security holes: gmail and facebook have areas where users can input a telephone number. Tony Martino says it's an "identifier" - a place where someone with malicious intent could try to open a window into your data - so how would you know, for example, your voicemail was compromised? Tony Martino, director of the Computer Forensics Research and Development Center at Utica College, suggests users treat smartphones as if they were computers. Verizon'a John O'Malley notes that it's virtually impossible for anyone to intercept your cell calls given the security that's built into the modern digital signal.